Growing up in Canada, we basically have two seasons: winter and summer (not to be confused with a little warmer winter). Being that most of Canada is actually quite rural as compared to our American counterparts, when we get to that magical age of sixteen driving for most of us is pure freedom! Naturally, we are more focused on being great drivers and getting the hell away from the house and being able to go far more places than you could walking or riding a dreadful bicycle. So, what are my other four top reasons for Canucks being better drivers?
Weather
Driving in snow and ice is quite common for most of us; it is something that even as an early driver you get very used to. Just look at what is happening in Texas at the moment. Thousands of drivers backed up massive freeways because of a few days of sleet. Here, that was last Saturday and a lot of people finished up Christmas shopping. About to slide into the ditch? In many parts of America, drivers make panicked phone calls to tow truck companies (preferably while local news is filming) and then proceed to hopefully shed a few tears to get the ratings up. In Canada “Hold my coffee and watch this!”
Wildlife
Moose, deer, bears, rabbits, squirrels, and crows, these are just a few of the wildlife we can see on a daily basis. Quick dodging, alert braking and paying constant attention are just a few of the skills we learn as a young Canadian driver. Times have changed though with the advent of cell phones, these same people may try to take a picture of the near-miss and tweet it to friends. (Not a good idea, but probably quite entertaining)
Talk to someone who has ever hit a Moose, and they will tell you “you are going to have a bad time!” It’s not pleasant for the Moose either, I am sure.
Please & Thank You’s
As Canadians we are known as being a country of nice happy people. Why would this make us better drivers? Well, less road raging incidents for one. In a lot of Canada the go go-go lifestyle has not hit us yet allowing us to be more relaxed and giving us more time to get where we are going. Look at your average Tim Hortons drive-through in the morning. Cars are entering from various points are being let in by various drivers. “After you,” “Oh, pardon me!” Please, go ahead” Such courtesy, it’s all very lovely!
Safe Driving
While this will be less entertaining, I have actually looked at the per capita accident numbers. As per 100,000 drivers in Canada we sit at 6.8 whereas America is at 10.4. So as you were reading this, you may have thought to yourself: Nooooooo! That’s craaaaazzy! Well it isn’t actually! The numbers back it up. People will say driver training, and graduated driving programs in Canada are better than in America and that’s fine too. But far less interesting.
