Spring is here, or at least the Canadian version which amounts to single digit temperatures and incessant rain.
Summer – also known as “those three warm weeks in July” – is just around the corner and that means summer road trip season.
Canadians do a lot of driving when the weather is “good” and that means an increase in risk of accidents and roadside mishap. While we generally take the risks and frustrations associated with winter driving season seriously, we fail to appreciate those present in summer months.
Beneath the veneer of sunshine and warm temperatures lies a disturbing reality. The American Automobile Association calls the stretch between Memorial Day and Labour Day the “100 Deadliest Days” of the year.
There’s no need, however, for you to wallow in ignorance. Take the “Road Sage Summer Driving Road Trip Quiz” and get ready for smooth summer sailing.
1Which of the following is illegal in Ontario?
a. Driving barefoot
b. Driving wearing only socks
c. Driving in flip-flops
d. Driving in high heels
e. Driving wearing plastic bags on your feet instead of shoes
f. None of the above
2Corey Hart wears his
sunglasses at night so he can, so he can watch you weave then breathe your story lines. If he was driving at night, would wearing his sunglasses still be permissible?
a. Yes, “Don’t be afraid of the guy in shades, oh no…Cause you got it made with the guy in shades, oh no.”
b. No, I turn to you and say, “Sunglasses should never be used for driving at night since the level of light reduction can greatly reduce nighttime visual acuity and cause them to be dangerous for drivers and pedestrians oh no.”
c. I say it to you now, I wear my sunglasses at night, I wear my sunglasses at night, I wear my sunglasses at night but only when I am singing, never when I am driving.
b. I say to you now, if you have trouble with glare, consider night driving lenses which reduce glare and help drivers see clearer in dark environments.
3What is the most dangerous season for driving in Alberta?
a. Winter
b. Summer
c. Spring
d. Fall
b. Summer. According to the Alberta Motor Association, more accidents occur between June and September.
4You’re planning a road trip. Which of the following should you be sure to do before heading out?
a. Check all belts and hoses
b. Place bets on how quickly you will regret taking a road trip instead of flying
c. Examine your tires for any visible signs of damage
d. Fill your radiator with high-quality antifreeze
e. All of the above.
5Summer road trips mean sharing the road with large commercial vehicles and that can be dangerous. Each year in British Columbia, for example, approximately 60 people are killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks. Which of the following is not recommended by that province’s “
Be Truck Aware” campaign?
a. Limit the time you spend directly in front of, behind or beside large trucks. Slow down or move ahead to stay out of a truck’s blind spots.
b. Limit the time you spend directly in front of, behind or beside large trucks. Slow down or move ahead to stay out of a truck’s blind spots.
c. Anticipate wide turns – watch for trucks making wide swings to turn right. Avoid driving ahead in the right lane beside a turning truck.
d. To ensure safety and conviviality, distract truckers by waving at them and making the arm movement that signals you want them to blow their horn.
e. All of the above except for “d”.
e. All of the above except for “d”.
6True or False: In 2020, three men drove from Illinois to Alabama while listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” on repeat the entire trip.
a. True. Skynyrd-marathon enthusiast Robert Carpenter said “No one would do that in their right mind. Everyone said it was stupid, and it was, but we did it.”
7True or False: Director Todd Phillip’s college comedy Road Trip (released in May 2000) that featured Seann William Scott and Tom Green is a cinematic masterpiece.
a. True. “What else am I going to do, stay here and learn?”
8True or False: Internet Roadtrippers is a “pleasant cruising journey across America one Google Street View screenshot at a time.”
9True or False: The video of Duran Duran’s song “The Chauffeur” was protested by British chauffeurs in 1982 who claimed it was not an accurate portrayal of chauffeurs.
10True or False: Jack Kerouac did not write, “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” Instead, he wrote, “Ahead was behind me.”
11True or False: According to Penske’s “Summer Survival Guide for Professional Drivers,” weaving in and out of lanes, failing to signal and failure to keep a consistent speed are all signs of a distracted driver.
12What’s the best way to plan for the perfect road trip?
a. Map out the route to your destination
b. Fill up your gas tank before you start the trip
c. Bring snacks and drinks
e. Bring entertainment such as books, music and cards
f. Wave goodbye as your family embarks on their road trip, leaving you alone at home for the first time in 15 years
f. Wave goodbye as you're left alone. They’re all pretty good ideas but I’m going with “f”.
How well did you do?
Answer all of the questions to see your result
Congratulations, you must be a 1970s trucker with that knowledge.
Not bad. You may touch the stereo.
You're sitting in the back on road trips from now on.
What your score says about you:
1 to 3 correct answers = Bad passenger
4 to 6 correct answers = You may touch the stereo
7 to 9 correct answers = Trucker
10 to 12 correct answers = 1970s Trucker
