Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I agree that you are never in control of what others are doing on the road however if you watch for others and plan ahead you should (apart from very rare cases) be able to avoid a collision. First thing you learn in Young Drivers training is that the word 'accident' is outdated as there is always a way to prevent a collision from happening. It's not always the most obvious thing that will get you out of a tricky situation. I've avoided 2 accidents by slamming my foot down on the gas so as to spin the vehicle out of harm way.

If you look at drivers training in Finland it is far more intensive and thus they produce much better drivers on average.

This isn't to say that safety ratings and the people around you on the road are meaningless it is just to say that for the most part you are in control of your own destiny while driving.

olliemethod wrote:That's nice, I'm sure that philosophy works great for you, unfortunately in my world I seem to drive around people who text while they're drinking morning coffee or who put makeup on while talking on the phone or any other number of idiots who seem to make the worst possible decisions at the worst possible times while driving as fast as they can. Accidents are called accidents for a reason. Things do happen regardless of how careful or good of a driver you think you are, you are never in control of all the variables when on the road. If you think you are, you're fooling yourself. My interest is in the strength of the metal cage that is the last line of defense between them and my family.

Get a tank... maybe you'll feel safer...

olliemethod wrote:Thanks for the info everyone. Still on the fence for now.

FalcoColumbarius wrote:Hear, hear Thedjjack... Learn to drive and take responsibility for your own actions. Also consider the teachings of Don Juan ~ know when not to be in that situation, be aware. Drive in peace.

Falco.

That's nice, I'm sure that philosophy works great for you, unfortunately in my world I seem to drive around people who text while they're drinking morning coffee or who put makeup on while talking on the phone or any other number of idiots who seem to make the worst possible decisions at the worst possible times while driving as fast as they can. Accidents are called accidents for a reason. Things do happen regardless of how careful or good of a driver you think you are, you are never in control of all the variables when on the road. If you think you are, you're fooling yourself. My interest is in the strength of the metal cage that is the last line of defense between them and my family.

As it happens, so do I (drive around people...). This is part of the reason that I keep a big space between myself and the idiot up front. If the idiot behind me is tailgating (and I mean tailgating) then I am likely to slow down gradually and pull over to the right of my lane to make his options more obvious. I make it a point to be aware of what is going on around me: I use my mirrors and have them set up well; I make obvious and pronounced signals Before I make the move; I do shoulder checks (Mirrors Signal Shoulder Manoeuvre) ~ Don Juan would pat me on my back. There is nothing sure in this world. We can take all the precautions in the world and still get run over by a helicopter in the middle of the road. The Japanese people have been training for years for earthquake preparedness and yet so many of them died recently ~ go figure.

Happy Trails,

Falco.

P.S.: Check these out!

ICBC and accidents

G'day from Down Under!