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Cell Phone Usage Good Driving Habits More Tips... Cell Phone Usage Transport Canada recommends against using cell phones while driving. It is distracting and increases the risk of collision. Your primary concern is the safe operation of the vehicle. While no Canadian jurisdiction prohibits the use of cellular phones while driving, some are considering legislation that would prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving. In any case, use common sense. To avoid collisions arising from the use of cell phones: Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message. If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call. If you're expecting an important call, let someone else drive. If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park. If for some reason you have no alternative but to use a cellular phone while driving, here are some tips: Use only a speakerphone or a hands-free phone. Make sure you put on the hands-free accessories before you start driving. But be aware: hands-free is not risk-free. If you must use a hand-held phone, place it where it will be readily accessible. Trying to retrieve a phone from a briefcase, handbag or pocket can be especially dangerous. Don't answer the phone until you have checked that it is safe to do so. Use speed dial options. If you know you will need to call an unprogrammed number, dial the number before starting off and send the call at your convenience. Driving and talking on a phone at the same time is difficult. Don't make it worse by trying to read or take notes. Do pull over and stop. Keep calls short and factual. Emotional or thought-provoking conversations are distracting. Recent research suggests that decisions made while driving and talking on a cell phone are not always good decisions. It's good etiquette to ask a caller to hold until you can park, or to say you'll return the call as soon as it's safe to do so. Stay in the right-hand lane, where driving may be less demanding. When reporting an emergency situation from a cell phone, pull over and ensure you are not in the flow of traffic. If you must keep driving, remember your primary concern is to avoid causing another emergency. [back to top] Good Driving Habits Good driving habits can save you money in the long run. Here are four smart tips... Accelerate gently but steadily -- jack-rabbit starts can significantly decrease mileage. Plan your trips so you won't get stuck in traffic jams, and listen to radio reports for alternate routes around congested areas. Use the cruise control -- it can save fuel by maintaining a steady speed. When not in a traffic lane, turn off your car engine if stopping more than 30 seconds. Restarting uses less gasoline. [back to top] More Tips... Don't Top Off Don't "top off" at the pump. Spilled gasoline adds to air pollution and wastes money. A vehicle topped off may expel gasoline on a hot day before it has been driven far enough to lower the fuel level. Spilled fuel simply evaporates into the air. Oil For Your Car The choice you make in engine oil can also affect fuel economy. Your owner's manual will recommend the type of oil to use under specific conditions. Reminder: when you change your oil, make sure all used oil is taken to an oil-recycling center. Tire Care Make sure your tires are inflated properly. Every one pound per square inch (psi) of under-inflation contributes to lowered fuel economy. Check inflation regularly, preferably with an electronic device, and adhere to the specifications in your owner' Vehicle Maintenance Make sure your car is properly tuned, spark plugs are firing right, and oil and air filters are clean. Old, dirty oil and clogged filters are a sure way to rob your engine of efficiency and can cause an increase in air pollution. Get Rid of Excess Weight Luggage racks increase vehicle drag, and too much weight in the trunk can cut your mileage. On the average, each 100 pounds of needless weight will cost up to one-half mile per gallon. Select the Right Grade of Gasoline Most cars will run fine on regular, and by using regular unleaded instead of mid-grade or premium unleaded you can save money. So, check your vehicle's owner manual to find out what's right for your car. Click here for more tips at Transport Canada... [back to top]

Driver Tips

Cell Phone Usage
Good Driving Habits
More Tips...

Cell Phone Usage

Transport Canada recommends against using cell phones while driving. It is distracting and increases the risk of collision. Your primary concern is the safe operation of the vehicle. While no Canadian jurisdiction prohibits the use of cellular phones while driving, some are considering legislation that would prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving. In any case, use common sense.

To avoid collisions arising from the use of cell phones:

Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message.
If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call. If you're expecting an important call, let someone else drive.
If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park.

If for some reason you have no alternative but to use a cellular phone while driving, here are some tips:

Use only a speakerphone or a hands-free phone. Make sure you put on the hands-free accessories before you start driving. But be aware: hands-free is not risk-free.
If you must use a hand-held phone, place it where it will be readily accessible. Trying to retrieve a phone from a briefcase, handbag or pocket can be especially dangerous.
Don't answer the phone until you have checked that it is safe to do so.
Use speed dial options. If you know you will need to call an unprogrammed number, dial the number before starting off and send the call at your convenience.
Driving and talking on a phone at the same time is difficult. Don't make it worse by trying to read or take notes. Do pull over and stop.
Keep calls short and factual. Emotional or thought-provoking conversations are distracting. Recent research suggests that decisions made while driving and talking on a cell phone are not always good decisions.
It's good etiquette to ask a caller to hold until you can park, or to say you'll return the call as soon as it's safe to do so.
Stay in the right-hand lane, where driving may be less demanding.
When reporting an emergency situation from a cell phone, pull over and ensure you are not in the flow of traffic. If you must keep driving, remember your primary concern is to avoid causing another emergency.

[back to top]

Good Driving Habits

Good driving habits can save you money in the long run. Here are four smart tips...

Accelerate gently but steadily -- jack-rabbit starts can significantly decrease mileage.
Plan your trips so you won't get stuck in traffic jams, and listen to radio reports for alternate routes around congested areas.
Use the cruise control -- it can save fuel by maintaining a steady speed.
When not in a traffic lane, turn off your car engine if stopping more than 30 seconds. Restarting uses less gasoline.

[back to top]

More Tips...

Don't Top Off
Don't "top off" at the pump. Spilled gasoline adds to air pollution and wastes money. A vehicle topped off may expel gasoline on a hot day before it has been driven far enough to lower the fuel level. Spilled fuel simply evaporates into the air.

Oil For Your Car
The choice you make in engine oil can also affect fuel economy. Your owner's manual will recommend the type of oil to use under specific conditions. Reminder: when you change your oil, make sure all used oil is taken to an oil-recycling center.

Tire Care
Make sure your tires are inflated properly. Every one pound per square inch (psi) of under-inflation contributes to lowered fuel economy. Check inflation regularly, preferably with an electronic device, and adhere to the specifications in your owner'

Vehicle Maintenance
Make sure your car is properly tuned, spark plugs are firing right, and oil and air filters are clean. Old, dirty oil and clogged filters are a sure way to rob your engine of efficiency and can cause an increase in air pollution.

Get Rid of Excess Weight
Luggage racks increase vehicle drag, and too much weight in the trunk can cut your mileage. On the average, each 100 pounds of needless weight will cost up to one-half mile per gallon.

Select the Right Grade of Gasoline
Most cars will run fine on regular, and by using regular unleaded instead of mid-grade or premium unleaded you can save money. So, check your vehicle's owner manual to find out what's right for your car.

Click here for more tips at Transport Canada...

[back to top]