Insights and Inspiration
Stay up to date on the latest information from DriveWise, industry news, and trends. Browse articles and information tailored to students and employers.
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Zen and the Art of Being Stuck in Traffic
You’re stuck in heavy traffic. You see the lane next to you start moving faster and now you’re tempted to switch lanes. You hesitate, wondering if it’s really worth the hassle or if it will just slow you down more. What should you do? According to a study conducted by...
Parking Spots: Why Are All The Goods Ones Taken?
A Different Type of Stampede Alberta’s West Edmonton Mall holds the world record for having the largest parking lot in the world. The massive 20,000-vehicle lot is so big, that if you laid out all the parking, you could fit Disneyland twice in all the space dedicated...
Canada’s Climate Change Solution
Heatwaves, Wildfires and Floods Coming off a record-breaking year for wildfires in Quebec, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alberta, one thing we can be certain about is climate change. In Canada, where nearly a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions...
Get a Grip: The Importance of Tires for Vehicle Safety.
Tires are one of the most important parts of your car if not the most important. Tires are the only thing that stay in contact with the ground while driving. They are the medium through which your car translates power from the engine for acceleration, braking forces...
National Safe Driving Week Tackles Distracted Driving
The Canada Safety Council (CSC) is using its National Safe Driving Week (December 1–7) to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. This year’s message is simple: humans aren’t built for a crash. What is distracted driving? According to Transport Canada,...
DriveWise’s Newest Blended Driving Course
We've got TWO exciting courses for you to choose from! Option 1: Our Weekend New Driver Course Perfect for those who want to dive into intensive learning over 2 weekends! Get expert guidance and hands-on experience. Fast-track your way to becoming a confident driver!...
Why Traffic Jams Happen ‘Out of Nowhere’
Picture yourself cruising down a highway with traffic flowing smoothly when all of a sudden the cars ahead of you start to slow down. Within moments, you’re stuck in the midst of a full-blown traffic jam. You inch forward only to discover there is no accident, no...
The Difference Between Vehicle-for-hire Licence and PTC Licence – Toronto
If you're planning to pursue a professional driving career in Toronto, you'll likely need to obtain two types of licences: a Vehicle for Hire (VFH) licence and a Private Transportation Company (PTC) licence. However, distinguishing between these licences can be...
Drive Test Jitters: How to Calm Your Nerves Before Your Road Test
First of all, congratulations on taking a significant step towards the open road! As you prepare for your road test, it's natural to feel nervous. However, it's crucial to stay calm and composed throughout the process. Managing your nerves effectively is key to...
Fleet Safety: 5 Essential Advantages of Driving Simulators for Corporate Driver Training
Ensuring fleet safety is paramount for fleet managers as it directly impacts vehicle assets, road safety, and overall business performance. Investing in corporate driver training is essential to mitigate risks, enhance safety, and reduce costs, including fuel expenses...
Learning by Doing is Best and Fastest Way to Learn to Drive
How Experiential Learning Prepares New Drivers for a Lifetime of Safe Driving, Faster Everybody learns differently. Some of us are visual learners, others learn best by listening, reading or writing about something. A fourth learning style, experiential learning or...
National Safe Driving Week Campaign Tackles Impaired Driving
This year, Canada Safety Council’s National Safe Driving Week (December 1-7) focuses on impaired driving, which is all-too-common over the holidays. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is among the top causes of fatal road collisions, as well as the most...
Explore what it’s like to be a snow plow driver
What is it like to be a Snow Plow Driver? If you love winter and driving big rigs, you may want to consider becoming a snow plow driver. As a snow plow driver, it’s your responsibility to operate the truck that helps keep the roads clear so that other vehicles can get...
Immersive Simulator Training For Snow Plow Operators
Unlike many other jobs, driving a snow plow comes with serious risks. Winter usually presents hazardous conditions and if something goes wrong, drivers could easily be vulnerable to the elements. Additionally, snow plow drivers must know how to safely and responsibly...
Distracted Driving in Ontario: Ontario Hands-free Driving Law
What You Need to Know About Distracted Driving in Ontario In Ontario, someone is injured in a distracted-driving collision every half hour, and fatalities from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled since 2000. It’s no wonder that Ontario is cracking...
Road Rage in Canada: Staying Safe Around Reckless Drivers
When you think of road rage, you might think of extreme videos of deranged people attacking other drivers on the road; but there’s a lot more to it than that. Anger behind the wheel manifests itself in many ways; and far more frequently as small, impulsive and...
10 Tips For Backing Up A Car Safely
Backing up a vehicle is a challenge for every new driver. Not only are you maneuvering the vehicle in an unfamiliar way -- a vehicle you’re probably still getting used to -- but you also have limited visibility. It is estimated that poor backing up techniques can be...
Summer Road Safety Tips For Drivers With Kids At Home
During the summer, the temperature inside a closed vehicle can be lethal. If it’s 32°C outside, the temperature inside a car can go from 26-55°C in less than 15 minutes. To put this into perspective, the hottest day on record in Canada was 45°C. Extreme summer heat...
New Driver Safety Tips: Avoiding Wildlife Collisions
Wildlife collisions are all too common in Ontario and inexperienced drivers are far more likely to be involved. Over 14,000 collisions with wildlife occur every year in Ontario alone; in addition to fatalities (human and animal) and serious injuries, wildlife...
Why DriveWise Is Your Go-To Driving School
It is common for many of us to believe that all driving schools are created equal, but that is not usually the case. There are also many among us who wonder: Why go to driving school? To answer, Driving is a skill that you are only going to learn once, so you want to...
New Driver Tips For A Safe Summer On The Road
Winter is usually the season most people think about when it comes to driving challenges. However, driving in the summer presents its own set of risks, with more auto-related accidents recorded in the warm weather months. Just because the weather is pleasant, that...
How Corporate Driver Training Can Benefit Your Business
Corporate fleet drivers who are improperly trained can cost your business in more ways than one. That’s why it’s so important to have capable drivers on your team, benefitting both your business and the community by keeping roads as safe as possible. DriveWise offers...
Student Drivers and Covid-19 Regulations Update
For many, the recent pandemic has caused stress and confusion. Some people do not feel comfortable in public spaces, which can make outings challenging. For some student drivers this can be even more challenging. These necessary restrictions have made it difficult for...
Take Road Driving Lessons From Our Driving School In Ontario
Pondering Activities For This April Break? Learn How To Drive If you are a new driver, it is likely you’re feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. No matter how you’re feeling about your first road driving lessons, it’s always helpful to have an idea about what...
How to Drive Safely in Winter Weather Conditions: Tips for New and Experienced Drivers
Driving during the winter can be challenging. There are a lot of factors you need to be cautious of. Black ice and slippery roads can be dangerous if you are not equipped with the proper driving knowledge and skills. Here are a few tips to help you be better prepared...
Introducing our XVR Incident Command Program with the Ottawa Airport
We have developed a virtual reality solution for the training that goes into preparing staff for the critical moments of emergency response. By incorporating the XVR Incident Command Simulator, emergency management professionals can prepare and practice tactical...
Emergency Preparedness Behind the Wheel
Anything can happen when you’re on the road during any time of year. That’s why it’s important to be prepared! Whether it’s a flat tire, inclement weather or a medical emergency, there are several items you should keep in your car in case of any unexpected...
It’s Bike Month! Tips for Safe Cycling
Bike Month kicked off on May 27 and will continue until June 30. Naturally, cyclists have been taking to the streets in order to reap the physical benefits of getting around by bike. While the switch from car to bike for your daily commute is a proactive and...
Driving Tips to Consider as We Approach The Long Weekend
As we head into the Victoria Day long weekend – a long-awaited sign of summer – there’s some important things for motorists to consider. Alarming statistics on collision-related injuries and deaths been shared all week in light of Canada Road Safety Week - which just...
The Art of Simulation: An Innovative Approach to Training
Simulation-based training is widely used in fields such as aviation, the military and even medicine. Who would have thought that simulation could also be applied to driving school? DriveWise CEO, Lesley de Repentigny, did. During her career as an Air Traffic Control...
‘Tis the Season: Safe Driving Tips for Spring
As warmer weather approaches and we spring forward into a new season, there are a couple things that drivers need to take into consideration. The sunny and mild weather encourages people to spend more time outside. This means there will be more children playing near...
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Yesterday was the first of April which never fails to bring jokes and laughter in light of April Fool’s Day. However, one thing that is no laughing matter is distracted driving. Yesterday was also the start of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which according to the...
Everything You Need To Know About The Updated 2018 DOT Testing Regulations
When you’re involved in an industry moving 81.5% of America’s cargo, more than air transport, pipeline, rail and water combined, you play a critical role in the economy, but only if you are up to date on safety regulations and remain compliant with the Department...
The Truth About Demerit Points: How they work and how they are applied.
Demerit points are added to your driver’s licence, if you are convicted of breaking certain driving laws. The rules are different depending on if you are a new driver or have a full licence. This information will explain how the demerit points system works. How...
RSA Canada stresses the importance of sharing the road!
DriveWise is proud to support RSA Canada's # TruceTO initiative which aims to help nurture harmony among Toronto's pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and drivers! Drive safe and BeCooperative with all road users!
Are You Following Too Closely? Here are Some DriveWise Tips and Best Practices to Creating Space
When driving, space is a very important variable when it comes to the safety of you and other road users. Maintaining a safe distance from smaller vehicles and other trucks allows you to manage the risks and help keep everyone on the road safe. Driving is all about...
DZ Class Available!
Are you looking to receive your DZ certification? We will be holding a DZ Class Starting June 26th! The class includes: 4 Days of in-class 1 day of yard work 40 hours in-cab 88 total hours of training! Virtual reality Simulator training is included in the in-class...
Are you driving tired? Relax – Don’t do it! 6 DriveWise warning signs to combat driver fatigue
Steve said it right: “Relax – don’t do it.” He must have been a driving instructor in a different life because relaxing can be a very dangerous thing while driving especially when we are dealing with fatigue. Did you know that your vehicle travels over 100m (350 ft.)...
Everyone should have these essentials in their emergency car kit!
Good day DriveWise Nation and welcome to the warmer weather! It’s been a long time coming and if you’re anything like us you’re more than excited for the summer ahead. We wanted to remind you that even though the winter is behind us it is still very important that...
Save Your Vehicle! DriveWise Spring Maintenance and Wash Tips
Months of winter wear and tear on your vehicle from salt and slush can ruin the paint, wheels and components such as suspension brakes. The interior of your vehicle is not immune to this damage as the salt and slush that we encounter outside is tracked in with us when...
Ramp Safety Fact Sheet
Fuel trucks invariably have a high centre of gravity and are prone to rollover Always check mirrors before slowing To control the inertia and centrifugal forces speed must be slowed to a safe speed for that particular ramp Safe speed varies, depending on ramp...
Tips for March Break
Slow Down When School is Out: With March Break just around the corner and the kids preparing for a week away from school, Drivewise reminds drivers to drive more carefully and with extra vigilance. Kids out of school means kids out on the streets, and it is up to...
The Benefits of Thinking Green
As a professional driver and representative for your company, you realize that time is money. Wouldn’t it be nice to save money as well as wear and tear on your vehicle while you drive? If you drive safely and proactively you are in turn driving efficiently. Greater...
Road Safety Tip: Remember to do a Circle Check
It's essential to remember to perform a circle check before starting your journey. A circle check, also known as a pre-trip inspection, involves visually inspecting your vehicle to ensure it is in proper working condition. Circle check is one of the best ways to...
Protecting Vulnerable Road Users
The term vulnerable road user has become quite common in the last few years, but how is one defined? According to Transport Canada Road Safety in Canada report, a vulnerable road user is one whom "is vulnerable by virtue of their lack of protection if struck by a...
Spotlight on: BDIC Course at DriveWise
This week kicked off the start of another BDIC (Basic Driving Instructor) course at DriveWise. The course was created entirely by instructional designers at DriveWise, and has helped us obtain both Private Career College designation and a Special Recognition Award at...
Collaborate 2017 Agenda is here!
DOWNLOAD/VIEW our latest Collaborate 2017 Agenda Featuring session descriptions and speaker profiles. Please note the agenda may be subject to change. Please check back on the Collaborate page or this news blog for the latest updates. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, please...
Coping with Road Rage
I’ve been an instructor for many years now and I’ve seen some rather interesting behaviors from my fellow road users, and I’ve often wondered why drivers behave the way they do on our roads. I’m sure most of us have been there where some guy cuts you off, or you’re...
Collaborate 2017
Invitations have been going out for our 6th Annual Advanced Learning and Technology Expo on Sept 21st, 2017. If you are a professional involved in training and technology, you will not want to miss this event. Our attendees come from near and far, and include fleet...
Spotlight on: Cooperative Driving
There is a term we use at DriveWise Safety called “co-operative driving” in place of the commonly used “defensive driving” of yesteryear. Co-operative driving is a reflection of the behaviours and attitudes needed to be a safe driver on today’s roads. Our training is...
MELT News
Our inaugral MELT program is fast approaching. All drivers looking to earn a Class A license must complete the MELT (Mandatory Entry Level Training). The DriveWise program adheres to, and excels MTO requirements. Designed with an award-winning instructional design...
Celebrating Canada 150!
How do we love Canada? Well we counted the ways. Canada 150 shirts were given out to our SafeStart students and graduates during the month of May and June, and we connected with members of our community on the things they enjoy that are uniquely Canadian. From...
Summer Tradeshows
Summer is (nearly) here, but our summer tradeshow season has already begun! starting with the AORS Municipal Public Works Tradeshow on June 7-8th in Milverton (Perth East). AORS is the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors. DriveWise is a supplier member of SCRSA...
CHCH visit to DriveWise Burlington
On May 26th, CHCH host Tim Bolen visited our newest corporate location in Burlington to film a segment for Morning Live. Watch it here: http://www.chch.com/driving-wisely/ "Tim Bolen went back to driving school at DriveWise, which has a new location in Burlington....
It’s Tradeshow season!
(OAFC Tradeshow 2017 pictured above) DriveWise had a very busy week, attending the Partners in Prevention tradeshow, the Ontario Electrical League Conference, and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Conference and Tradeshow. The week started with Partners in...
“Day of Pink” march to end bullying
On April 12, 2017 DriveWise marched with the students of Eastview Secondary School during their "Day of Pink" walk to end bullying. " International Day of Pink" is an annual event started by two Canadian students to stop: Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia,...
OAFC Tradeshow Passes
We are heading to a couple tradeshows next month, and naturally we'd like you to join us! Please see below to find out how you can get FREE tradeshow passes to the OAFC Conference - the largest gathering of fire fighters in Canada. Keep your eyes on our blog for more...
SPRING DRIVING
With Spring coming, we have much to look forward to - namely longer days and warmer weather but also different risks to manage on the road. From children playing, to sharing the road with motorcyclists and maneuvering potholes, spring driving doesn't necessarily mean...
International Women’s Day
Here's to the women who lead, who inspire us, who change the world with their bold and innovative ideas and are not afraid to lead the charge - Happy International Women's Day! From our CEO to Director of Programs, Instructional Designer and Marketing Manager - we at...
OGRA Conference and Tradeshow at the Fairmont Royal York
DriveWise had a busy week, attending both the OGRA (Ontario Good Roads Association) Conference at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto from February 26th-28th, as well as the Train in Technology Expo at the Barrie Molson Centre on March 1st. The OGRA Conference brought...
Train in Technology Expo
The Train in Technology Expo held on March 1st at the Molson Centre in Barrie showcased local businesses that are involved with advanced technology. This event was put on by the City of Barrie, the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, and Georgian College. This event was able...
DriveWise at TTSAO Annual Conference
The second annual TTSAO conference and tradeshow took place at the Centre for Safety and Heath Innovation in Mississaga from Feb 15th-16th. The Conference held a panel discussion regarding the new MELT (Mandatory Entry Level Training) Regulation coming into effect in...
Have a safe Family Day weekend!
DriveWise: Wishing You and Yours a Happy Family Day! So what are your plans for family day? Family ski day up north, or how about a trip to the big city or perhaps even visiting family out of town. Well if any of your plans involve driving, here are some things to...
Practice Compassion
February can be a gloomy month, the glow of the holidays is behind us, the well intentions of our resolutions may have weakened in resolve, and it’s the final stretch of a long winter. Looking on the positive side, it’s also the shortest month of the year, the days...
Don’t go skidding my way
skid verb gerund or present participle: skidding 1. (of a vehicle) slide, typically sideways or obliquely, on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly. "the taxicab skidded to a halt" 2. fasten a skid to (a wheel) as a brake. Skidding on an...
Resolve to be a better driver in 2017
1. NO MORE SPEEDING Driving is a complex and high risk activity. Over the last 50 years, more than 110,000 Canadians have lost their lives on the road. More than 85% of these collisions were avoidable. This is a mind boggling number that should inspire serious...
Have a Spectacular 2017!
A New Year is here, and from all of us at DriveWise we hope it's going to be a spectacular year. We resolve to help you be a better driver and continue to get you and yours home safely.
Winter has arrived
Being in Canada, we are no strangers to the cold and inclement winter driving conditions. The first major snow fall of the year has hit the Barrie area (our head office/hometown) with snow squall warnings in effect across the Simcoe Region. To many students' chagrin...
DriveWise @ Skills Ontario Young Women’s Career Exploration Event
On Dec 1st, we partnered up with Skills Ontario, a province-wide charitable non-profit that is focused on building Ontario’s skilled trades and technologies workforce. They enable and empower all youth, including women and Aboriginal youth, to consider a career in the...
Santa Claus Parade 2016
On Saturday November 19th, the DriveWise team transformed into Team Canada for our Hockey Themed Float in this year's Santa Claus Parade in our hometown of Barrie, Ontario. We are a proudly Canadian company, and clearly enjoy our nation's national sport. The weather...
Building Confidence on the Road (and in your life)
Confidence is a crucial skill to have in life. It is a state of being in which you trust in your ability to make the right actions and decisions. It is important to have confidence in order to be effective in a leadership role. Or in any role that requires you to...
Distracted Driving Event with Halton Regional Police @ Burlington Mall
On November 10th, DriveWise teamed up with Halton Regional Police in Burlington during Crime Prevention Week in Ontario to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. We set up a display in the Burlington Mall and invited the public to take the drivers...
DriveWise @ I4PL Conference 2016
DriveWise had the pleasure and privilege of participating in the Institute for Performance and Learning's Conference earlier this month. In addition to being an exhibitor, and our CEO being a session speaker, we were also honoured with a Special Recognition Award. It...