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How to Prevent Vehicle Theft
Vehicle Safety and Maintenance
Child Restraint Safety
Road Safety
Airbags and Seatbelts
Drinking and Driving
Cell Phones and Safety
Preparing for Winter Driving
What to Do When You Are Involved
in an Accident
Safe Driving Quiz
How
to Prevent Vehicle Theft
Although you can not ensure your vehicle will not be
stolen you can take a few easy steps to prevent the
likelihood of it happening, by making it more difficult
for a thief to steal your vehicle and its contents.
- Always lock your vehicle
- Never leave your keys in the vehicle
- Turn off your ignition whenever you
leave your car
- Avoid parking on the street
- Conceal items left in your car, keep
things in the trunk and never leave money or compact
discs in the open
- Whenever possible, park your vehicle
in a well-lit, well-guarded, highly visible area.
- Ask your neighbours to watch out for
your vehicle and do the same for them
- Install an anti-theft deterrent such
as car alarms or an ignition disabler.
For tips and more information to help you avoid having
your car broken into or stolen please contact the appropriate
industry organization in your area (e.g. Vehicle Information
Centre).
Vehicle
Safety and Maintenance
- Read your vehicle owner's manual to
understand its maintenance needs.
- Maintaining your vehicle according
to the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule
will go a long way in extending the life of your vehicle
and spotting minor problems before they become major
repairs.
- Have your vehicle checked by a qualified
mechanic whenever you notice a change in braking or
handling.
- Consider taking a recognized
driver safety course.
Brakes:
Your brakes are obviously one of
the most important components on your automobile. Proper
care and regular maintenance is essential to protect
both yourself and others from the potential harm caused
by faulty brakes. Some signs that your brakes may be
failing or require maintenance include:
- The brakes squeal, grind or
bang when applied. If this occurs you should immediately
have your brakes checked
- The car pulls to one side when you
apply the brakes
- The brakes stick or a loss of engine
power when you are driving . Your brakes may not be
releasing properly which can lead to total brake loss.
- The brakes grab when lightly applied.
This could be caused by loose or broken brake parts
- The brakes need a lot of pressure to
work or the pedal needs to be near the floor before
it works. This may be a sign that your brakes are
worn and replacement is necessary
- The brake pedal, steering wheel or
entire car vibrates when you step on the brakes
Child Restraint
Safety
- It is important to install a child's
restraint seat properly in order for it to be effective.
- Read the manufacturer's installation
instructions thoroughly
- Many police departments have
programs to help with proper installation
For tips and information regarding child seat safety
please contact Transport Canada.
Road Safety
Road safety is an important issue on today's crowded
roadways. For statistics and information regarding road
safety and its impact on social and medical costs please
contact Transport Canada.
Airbags
and Seatbelts
Airbags have been the topic of much discussion since
they have become a standard feature with newer automobiles.
For information and guidelines pertaining to use and
safety issues of air bags please contact the following
organizations:
- Transport Canada
- Canada Safety Council
- Insurance Bureau of Canada
Drinking and
Driving
Drinking and driving has been the cause of many unfortunate
accidents resulting in serious injuries and loss of
life on our roadways. The following organizations can
provide statistics and information pertaining to drinking
and driving:
- Transport Canada
- Canada Safety Council
Cell
Phones and Safety
Cell phones can be valuable equipment in a car when
you need to call for assistance. However, they can also
be a distraction if they are used while driving, and
many jurisdictions are considering restrictions on cell
phone use while driving.
For safety's sake, don't use your cell phone while driving.
If you need to make a call, stop your car safely away
from traffic before picking up the phone.
Preparing
for Winter Driving
Canadians know that winter driving can be treacherous
at the best of times. The following organizations can
provide tips and information to help you prepare yourself
and your vehicle for safe winter driving.
- Canada Safety Council
- Transport Canada
What
to Do When You Are Involved in an Accident
Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful
event. To help you protect both yourself and your interests,
we have provided some basic hints:
- Call the police immediately, and an
ambulance if necessary.
- Do not admit liability.
- Record details of the accident including
date, time, location, a description of the accident,
any injuries, and any charges laid.
- Record details concerning the other
party and vehicle such as owner's name and address,
phone number, and vehicle year, make and model.
- It is very important to obtain the
insurance information of the other driver. This includes
the name of the insurance company and the policy number
and the name of the broker or agent.
- Obtain a copy of the police report
from the attending officer as this will have the accident
report number for future reference.
These tips are general rules of thumb only, and may not
fit all situations. For the definitive word, contact your
insurance broker for more information.
Safe Driving
Quiz
Are you a safe driver? Why not test your skill and
knowledge by taking one of the Safe Driving quizzes
provided by the Canada Safety Council.
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