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News
Wild Wing 300 - Presented by DriveWise Barrie Speedway Announces Title and Presenting Sponsors for NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race Wild Wing and DriveWise on board for the Wild Wing 300 Presented by DriveWise at Barrie Speedway. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NASCAR racing has become one of the most popular spectator sports in North America, drawing millions of television viewers and hundreds of thousands of fans to single race events all over the United States. On September 11th, the Wild Wing 300 Presented DriveWise, one of 13 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Races in 2010, will be hosted in Canada, right here in our own back yard, at Barrie Speedway. “We are very pleased to be hosting the Wild Wing 300 presented by DriveWise on September 11th at Barrie Speedway. We want to thank Wild Wing and DriveWise for their support and we encourage all of our drivers, crews and fans to support their businesses with your patronage whenever possible”, said Jim Payetta of Barrie Speedway. This year, Barrie Speedway will be donating part of the proceeds of all VIP tickets sold to help one of our drivers, Garry Reynolds and his family, fight Garry’s battle against cancer. Garry is one of the longest running drivers ever to race at Barrie Speedway and retired this year to face the toughest battle of his life. “We are thrilled to be the title sponsor of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Barrie Speedway this year”, said Robert Stewart, Director of Operations at Wild Wing. “Our company and staff are excited to be part of such an exciting event. The Wild Wing brand is becoming well known. Our customers are some of the most enthusiastic NASCAR fans in Canada and we’re looking forward to seeing them at a NASCAR race in Barrie”, added Mr. Stewart. “The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has been growing steadily over the past few years and is delivering an impressive national audience on TSN”, states Lesley de Repentigny, owner and President of DriveWise. “We are excited about being the presenting sponsor for this event. It’s sure to be one of the biggest events of the season here in Barrie. It’s a great fit for us. We are all about training and educating drivers to be the best possible drivers they are capable of being. Car racing is all about being the best possible driver you can be but it’s also about safety and respect for the other drivers you are racing with”, she added. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the first NASCAR Touring Series in Canada. This year, the series will run 13 races across Canada, one of which will be the Wild Wing 300 Presented by DriveWise. The series is part of NASCAR’s new International Series. Drivers who have competed in the series include Jacques Villeneuve (former Formula 1 world champion and Indy 500 winner), Patrick Carpentier, Alex Tagliani, JR Fitzpatrick, D.J. Kennington and local Barrie driver John Gaunt. If the success of last years race is any indication, this year promises to be even better. The Wild Wing 300 presented DriveWise takes place at Barrie Speedway on Saturday, September 11th. Gates Open at 2 pm, racing starts at 3pm. and the Wild Wing 300 presented by DriveWise starts at 8pm. Tickets are available online at www.barriespeedway.com, and at www.ticketbreak.com and at the Barrie Molson Centre at the Barrie Colts office. Background Information: The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the first NASCAR Touring Series in Canada. The series is part of NASCARS new International Series. Canadian Tire is the title sponsor for the series in Canada and Corona Beer is the title sponsor for the series in Mexico. Barrie Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned track in Ontario and runs the NASCAR Whelen Series every Saturday night. All drivers that race at Barrie Speedway become NASCAR licensed drivers and the points they accumulate at the regular Saturday night races are forwarded and recorded by NASCAR and count towards the NASCAR Whelen Series Championship. Based on those points, each track then has a track champion and each province or state has a champion. Barrie Speedway is a 1/3 mile paved tri-oval located just north of Barrie on the 8th line in Oro, next to Burl’s Creek Family Event Park. Barrie Speedway is owned by The HorsePower Sports & Entertainment Group Inc., who also owns the Barrie Colts OHL Hockey team. A Little Hot Under the Collar Summertime and the livin’ is easy, unless you’re driving up to the cottage Friday night...on a long weekend. Then, livin’ can be frustrating. There have been a few Fridays when I’ve forgotten about commuting cottagers and hopped on the 400 to get to the mall. As I moved at a pace my speedometer didn’t even register, I imagined being a parent doing this regularly. It’s the end of a long work week, it’s hot, the kids are restless, and then some jerk cuts me off. I brake hard, almost getting rear-ended by the car that’s been on my bumper for the last hour. I want to swear, but my eight-year-old is watching me, so instead I squeeze the steering wheel and turn up the music. But what if the same thing happens in half an hour? Unfortunately, every driver is human, which means mistakes are made and emotions inevitably get involved. It can be hard to keep your cool when another driver is careless, but losing your temper will only make things worse. When it comes to aggressive driving and road rage, always take the high road because retaliating is dangerous. If you get cut off, assume it wasn’t done on purpose and give them some room. Tailgating or changing lanes so you can speed up and give the driver a dirty look and the middle finger is tempting, but it’s also hazardous and pointless. Be cooperative, even when faced with inconsiderate behaviour. Always be courteous. Let someone in who’s trying to merge and give a thankful wave when someone does the same for you. When using the horn, use it politely. The toot of your horn is like the tone of your voice; quick and light is helpful, loud and long is aggressive and rude. Keep this in mind the next time the light turns green and the driver ahead of you doesn’t move. The mistakes of others can be irritating, but chances are you’ve made someone else feel the same way. As you’re travelling this summer, be courteous to all drivers, regardless of their actions, and give an apologetic wave or smile should you make an error. This will help keep everyone safe and will likely prevent a few heated moments. Car! .... Game on! It doesn’t take many degrees to get Canadians outside. Give us about 15 and we’ll gladly head outdoors for a walk, a bike ride or a game of road hockey. April is hit and miss, but May usually means warmer weather and as a driver you need to be aware of the added risks this weather brings. Along with May flowers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists will be popping up and it’s important to take extra precautions to make sharing the road with them safer. Traffic collisions involving children are at their highest during summer months because kids are outside playing. Suburbs are especially dangerous because there are curves and parked cars obstructing your view. While some kids might copy Wayne’s World and yell “Car!” when they see you coming, others might not be paying attention. In these neighbourhoods, drive slowly, scan constantly and keep looking ahead for potential hazards. Cover your brake when children are near the road and never assume they have seen you or will stop for you. Take these same precautions when driving in any area with high pedestrian traffic, such as by the waterfront or public beaches. As unprotected as pedestrians, but on the road with cars, are bicycles and motorcycles. Be proactive when driving near bikes by giving them lots of space. When passing a bicycle, signal your intention if you need to cross into another lane; don’t assume other vehicles will give you the room you need. When you approach intersections, scan your surroundings and mirrors for cyclists, especially if you plan on making a right turn. On highways, add extra space behind motorcycles to make up for your longer stopping distance. Regular mirror checks are crucial in keeping track of motorcycles moving in and out of your blind spots. Like other drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists might not always obey the rules, so be proactive in keeping them safe. The RCMP reported that traffic crashes are still the leading cause of death among youth, which is why the Canada Safety Council is holding their annual National Road Safety Week May 18-24. DriveWise will be partnering with the CSC to educate the public by visiting local high schools and talking about road safety. Spring into Earth Day with Eco-Driving, April 10, 2010 It isn’t surprising that Earth Day is in April; after a long winter, most of us appreciate the slightly brown grass we finally get to see again and the 15-degree weather that allows us to go outside without a jacket. By April 22, regular sun and nice weather have us in a good mood and willing to help the world. According to Statistics Canada, there were 19.4 million light-weight vehicles in Canada in 2008. They drove 294 billion kilometres – 980 trips to the sun and back – and used over 31 billion litres of fuel – almost 12 and a half thousand Olympic-sized pools. We can reduce these numbers if we change our driving. It takes 21 days to form a habit, my challenge to you is to follow a few tips for the first three weeks of April and develop fuel efficient habits by Earth Day. Here are five ways to keep your fuel consumption (and fuel costs) down: 1) Follow the recommended maintenance schedule. A well-maintained vehicle consumes less fuel and produces fewer emissions. 2) Plan your route so you don’t waste time and fuel trying to find your way. If you can help it, avoid high-traffic areas and carpool when you can. 3) Abrupt starting and stopping wastes fuel, so be smooth when driving. Maintain a safe following distance and anticipate problems ahead. Accelerate gently and coast as much as possible when decelerating. 4) Follow posted speed limits and keep your speed steady. This is not only safer, but lower speeds coupled with smooth, proactive driving can reduce fuel consumption by up to 39%. 5) Never idle if you don’t have to. According to Natural Resources Canada, if every Canadian reduced their idling time by three minutes a day for a year, it would be comparable to taking 320,000 cars off of the road. We all have bad habits, so let’s develop some good ones. The next time you go get Timmy’s, focus on driving proactively, follow the posted speed limits, and skip the drive-through line by going in. It will take some adjustment, but by April 22 you’ll be celebrating Earth Day feeling like you’ve done your part to save the planet. Kids, Cars and Avoiding Catastrophe For those of us already in the work force, it can be hard to watch schools let out for March break and remember what it was like to get a whole week off halfway through the semester. I grew up near Montreal and although I never went somewhere warm for March break, a trip to Toronto to visit family was customary. This tradition is common in most families and whether the road trip is short or long, it is important to make the necessary preparations to keep your precious cargo safe. Whether you’re driving to grandma’s in Brampton, or making the long drive down to Disney World, it’s important to plan your trip. If you’re going somewhere close, make your life easier and plan to leave when traffic will be minimal. If you’re going somewhere farther, map out your route and plan where you’ll be stopping. Doing this will ensure you never get too low on gas, or end up lost. Knowing when the next stop will be will also help you out when the kids get restless and start asking “Are we there yet?” Make sure to have enough snacks and entertainment to keep everyone happy. If you have younger children, make sure they can stay occupied without being a distraction. If the kids get rowdy and you start to feel distracted and aggravated, don’t hesitate to pull over somewhere safe and let out a dramatic, always-popular, “I’ll turn this car around and we can spend the week at home.” A few more reminders: stop driving if you feel tired, fatigue can be as impairing as alcohol; talking on the phone while driving, even with a hands-free device, is distracting, so make all calls before leaving or get someone else to make the calls while you drive; let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be arriving at your destination and coming back home; and lastly, remind yourself that no matter what, you will eventually get to where you’re going and screaming children eventually fall asleep. If you have any questions, or would like more information on our services, please contact us at 705-730-1130 or visit www.drivewisesafety.com Be a Gold Medal Driver With the Olympics just under two weeks away, Canadians are looking forward to seeing their athletes on the world stage. These athletes have worked hard to master the skills of their sport and actively pursued the goal of being Olympians. They epitomize discipline and while we may not be striving to achieve the same goals, we can learn a lot from their dedication. To get to the Olympics, athletes must first decide they would like to get to that level and choose to work hard. They must choose to be elite, which is not always easy. To make it to the Olympics, you must live with that goal in mind. The same goes for driving. If you want to drive well, you have to choose to be a good driver. Once you’ve made that choice, you have to back it up with action. Olympians practise all year round to master their skills. So must drivers. To be a consistently safe driver, you have to be knowledgeable about proper driving techniques and practise them on a daily basis. If you have weaknesses, you have to make a conscious effort to improve in those areas and increase the quality of your driving. If you usually speed, focus on maintaining the speed limit. If you usually get angry at other road users, find a way to control your road rage. If you often drive without your seatbelt, make yourself buckle up before putting your vehicle in drive. Only practise can bring you closer to perfect. DriveWise was selected as the official driver safety service provider for the Vancouver 2010 Games. Instructors from DriveWise centres across Canada assembled in Vancouver and Whistler to provide elite driver assessment, training and mentoring to over 4,000 volunteer drivers. The training took place between October and mid-January and DriveWise was the only driver training organization to provide such services. If you have any questions, or would like more information on our services, please feel free to contact our office at 705-730-1130 or visit www.drivewisesafety.com You Say You Want a Resolution, Well You Know... It’s that time of year again when bad habits become targeted personal enemies and running shoes stop warming shoe racks and actually get some playing time. The New Year means new resolutions (or revisited old ones) as we vow that this year will be different. Well, this year can be different, and so can your driving. Here are our top ten bad driving habits we think you should kick in 2010: 1) Driving while impaired. This may seem obvious, but it’s important. Driving requires someone sober and alert, so if you’ve had alcohol, taken medication, or just feel really tired, don’t drive. 2) Driving while distracted. Make an effort to keep yourself focused on the driving task. Activities such as texting, eating, smoking, and scrolling through your iPod make driving risky. 3) Speeding. Following posted speed limits will increase your fuel efficiency and keep the roads safer for everyone. 4) Tailgating. Follow at a safe distance so you have time to react if there is a hazard ahead and leave space when stopped. 5) Rolling stops. Stop completely so you are predictable to others and safe if someone runs the stop sign altogether. 6) Idling. You should never idle for more than 60 seconds, so get in the habit of turning off the engine when stopped for more than a minute. 7) Not cleaning off your car. I know it’s cold, but leaving your car covered in snow is dangerous and could land you a ticket. Keep your windows clear and your hood, roof and trunk cleared off. 8) Waiting until you’re on empty. An empty gas tank is damaging to your fuel system and, in the winter especially, makes it harder for your car to start. 9) Leaving your high beams on. No driver enjoys high beams to the eyes, so remember to switch to low beams within 150m of oncoming traffic and 60m when following behind another vehicle. 10) Not wearing your seatbelt. I’m sure everyone puts on their seatbelt before putting their car in drive, but here’s a friendly reminder: Even when driving five minutes down a country road, buckle up!!
Drive Wise and Sober This Holiday Season
by Chantal Poirier-Saykaly (Published December, 2009 in SNAP Magazine) The cold weather has arrived and the first frosts have coated our cars. A couple more weeks and there will be snow on the ground and many holiday parties on our calendars. Whether catching up with old friends, exchanging gifts with colleagues at the office Christmas party, or toasting in the New Year with a loved one, the opportunity to have a few drinks will be present. It will be up to you to make sure that if you mix a drink, you don’t mix it with driving. Everyone has heard the holiday tips for getting home safely, mainly: have a designated driver and carry extra cash for a taxi home. You’ve heard these tips often – from your family and friends, in advertisements, and in articles in community newspapers – but if you’ve never taken them seriously, it’s time you start. This holiday season will be the first with the new limit of 0.05 BAC, so drivers should be aware that even one drink could put them over the limit. If you find yourself wondering if you might blow over, don’t drive. The number of R.I.D.E. programs, always numerous around the holidays, will most likely be increased to enforce the new limit and 0.05 BAC doesn’t give you much leeway. For your most festive nights this month, plan a rotating roster of designated drivers within your group of friends; pool money at the beginning of the night for cabs; ask a friend or family member to pick you up; or have people over and invite them to spend the night. The roads are already hazardous during the winter months, don’t be an added danger. As you head out this holiday season, remember to do your part in keeping the roads safe and put away your keys if you pick up a drink. And when planning your holiday events calendar, be sure to add the DriveWise Green Christmas open house celebration. Stop by our new facility at 121 Commerce Park Drive between 2-5pm on Wednesday, December 16th to take a tour, test our simulators, and enjoy some snacks. If you have any questions, or would like more information on our services, please feel free to contact our office at 705-730-1130 or visit www.drivewisesafety.com
Get Ready For Winter
(Published November, 2009 in SNAP Magazine) As the weather cools and the rain turns to snow, it is important to make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter. The first few snowfalls of the season put most drivers on edge, but there are many ways you can decrease your stress while increasing your safety. Your car should be winter ready before the first snowflakes hit the roads, so make sure to equip your vehicle with everything it needs to get you through the snowy season safe and sound. Getting a tune-up before winter starts is always a good idea, but there are other preparations you should be making as soon as possible. Getting your winter tires should be a priority; your traction will only be as good as your tire tread. Having sub-zero windshield washer fluid is also key, as is a scraper and some winter additions to your emergency kit, which include a blanket, a shovel, and sand or kitty litter for extra traction should you need it. Your car, however, is not the only thing that will need to adapt for the winter. Your schedule will have to as well, as shoveling the driveway and clearing off snow from the car takes extra time and you don’t want to be rushing. Make sure to keep your defensive driving skills sharp and focus on being more cautious when it comes to speed and space management. Leaving extra time and space for yourself will be crucial in keeping safe. To receive more safe driving tips and to practice your winter driving skills, come in to our new facility located at 121 Commerce Park Drive and test out our state-of-the-art, virtual reality simulator. When you do, make sure to bring in a non-perishable food item, as we will be conducting our first “Driven to Give” food drive this November and December to help the Barrie Food Bank and families in need over the holiday season. If you have any questions, or would like more information on our services, please feel free to contact our office at 705-730-1130. Chantal Poirier-Saykaly |
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