People’s behaviour is often hard to notice unless it is either very good or very bad, or if it has a definite effect on another person. On the road, however, driver behaviour can have serious consequences, and road users need to be aware of the possible impact of their own actions or other people’s behaviour. Knowing how to respond to various types of behaviour can help drivers keep themselves safe and avoid having a negative impact on others.

Aggression and Other Behaviours

Many behaviours on the road can affect others, but one of the most obvious is aggression. According to the website of the Canadian Automobile Association of South Central Ontario, aggressive driving is one of the leading causes of death and injury on the roads in Ontario. Often the issue is speed, which led to 57 fatalities in 2019 and which continues to cause fatal accidents. When drivers speed, they are less likely to have enough time to respond to potential accidents and to keep themselves and others safe.

Although speeding is one of the most obvious signs of aggressive driving, other behaviours are also common. Frequent and excessive lane changes, weaving through traffic, tailgating, blocking other drivers from passing, and cutting off other drivers are some of the signs of an aggressive driver. Some drivers may honk at anyone who gets in their way, and sometimes shake a fist or yell at other road users. If possible, it is best to stay away from these types of drivers, as they can be unpredictable. Staying back an extra car’s length or more can give drivers the space they need to stop smoothly and carefully while giving drivers coming up from behind extra time to take evasive maneuvers if necessary.  

Erratic driving tends to influence other people’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. When people drive very erratically, other road users may not know how to respond, whether to continue in the same lane or to move out of the way. They are more likely to become confused and to make bad decisions, possibly causing crashes or traffic pileups. During rush hour in the morning or evening when traffic is heavy, one small mistake can potentially involve many drivers and vehicles.

The types of driving that people do can affect the likelihood of an accident. According to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics of 2018, personal injuries in urban accidents are three times as common as in rural accidents, but fatal accidents are more common on rural roads due to the high speeds. Another factor in some rural areas is the possibility of encountering farm machinery, which can be large and slow. Unless drivers know how to maneuver around these vehicles, they could potentially crash into the machines themselves or into vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

Sense of Immediacy

Part of the problem, according to the CAA South-Central Ontario website, is the sense of immediacy that many people have. When people are in a rush and feel that they are always behind schedule, they are more likely to fail to perform the necessary checks to ensure that they are operating the vehicle. In some cases, this may compromise the safety of everyone nearby on the road.

Sometimes, this type of driving can have other consequences. When drivers operate their vehicles erratically, they may have to pay fines or lose their license for a short time or even permanently, especially when an accident results in a serious injury or death. A conviction for careless driving can result in high fines, demerits, and even jail time. Aggressive driving can sometimes have serious consequences for the driver as well as for others on the road.

Many other behaviours can make the road dangerous for road users. One distracted driver failing to pay attention to what is happening or not driving to the conditions can put everyone else on the road in danger, for example. Even excessively cautious driving can be problematic if other road users become impatient and try to get past the vehicle. Many different behaviours can make it difficult for others to know what to expect and to make their own adjustments for speed and space. If bad weather or dangerous road conditions are added to that, it may be extremely difficult for people to drive safely.

However, drivers can make a difference by operating their vehicles in responsible ways. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Driver’s Handbook lists several guidelines for ensuring that one driver’s actions do not put others in danger.

Guidelines for Sharing the Road

The first is to share the road with pedestrians, who are some of the most vulnerable road users. As the handbook states, pedestrians are responsible for ensuring that a vehicle has stopped or is about to stop before they step out into the road. However, drivers should also be careful to watch for pedestrians, especially for children, who might not know the rules of the road yet, and for anyone with mobility issues who might need extra time to cross the road.

Drivers should always yield to pedestrians at crosswalks or at intersections where the pedestrians are crossing with a signal. However, drivers must also be careful to watch for pedestrians who are crossing at other places or against a red light. Hitting a pedestrian has very serious consequences for both the pedestrian and the driver.

Eye contact is an important factor in safe driving, especially with pedestrians and cyclists. If someone is hesitating at an intersection, for example, making eye contact and possibly giving a nod can let the pedestrian know that it is safe to proceed. With cyclists and drivers, also, making eye contact can help reduce delays in deciding who has the right-of-way.

When dealing with pedestrians, it is very important to watch for anyone who might not be able to see well enough to be aware of vehicles. Often, people with vision problems will carry a white cane or walk with a guide dog, but less serious conditions can also affect a person’s vision. Being aware of any visually impaired pedestrian who is attempting to cross the road is essential. Slowing down might be the best option if these pedestrians are nearing an intersection, but even just glancing frequently in their direction might be enough.

In areas close to schools, playgrounds, and residential areas, watching for children is an important aspect of safe driving. Especially if they are chasing after balls or riding their bicycles, children may not be paying attention to the traffic around them and might easily dart out into the road in front of a vehicle. They may have only a very basic understanding of the rules of the road, and they might assume that drivers always have the ability to stop for them, regardless of the road conditions or speed.

Hybrid or Electric Vehicles

Drivers using hybrid or electric vehicles should be especially careful to watch for pedestrians and cyclists, but even for other drivers. Many of these vehicles make little or no noise while they are slowing down or stopping, making them difficult to hear for any road user who relies on sound. Even for any pedestrian who might be lost in thought and not paying attention, it is very important for drivers of these types of vehicles to take responsibility for keeping other road users safe.

How drivers respond to streetcars and other forms of transportation can also make a difference for other road users. Scooters and motorized bicycles, motorcycles, and even horse-drawn vehicles can potentially be challenging for drivers. Being able to respond to these vehicles calmly can make a difference to other people’s safety on the road.

Turning is a time when road users are especially vulnerable. Drivers can often be so intent on making the turn that they neglect to watch for pedestrians or cyclists, and they may assume that the way is safe if they look once and see that the road is clear. Unless they are careful to watch for potential hazards, drivers may assume that it is safe to turn when they are in danger of colliding with another road user. Careless driving of this kind can make the road hazardous for everyone in the area. Cyclists, for example, may have to brake suddenly and could easily fall, while other road users may also be in danger.

Road Signs

Watching for road signs or lines painted on the road is a good way for drivers to prepare for the chance that they will have to stop suddenly. Lines painted horizontally across the road, for example, normally indicate a crosswalk where pedestrians have the right-of-way. In addition, if other vehicles are slowing down or are moving out of one lane and into another, it is a good indication that an obstruction is ahead, even if road signs indicating a closed lane are not yet visible.

Proactive and careful drivers know that they should watch for signs like these of an upcoming change in the roadway ahead. When they anticipate problems, they can more easily make plans for how to avoid collisions or other dangerous situations. These types of precautions can help drivers ensure that their own actions are the best possible for helping to keep the roads safe for everyone.