Photo: ZhiCheng Zhang, Pexels
Before your first drive in Canada, set up the car in this order: seat, head restraint, mirrors, seatbelt. Sit upright with a slight bend in your knees and elbows, at least 25 cm (10 inches) back from the steering-wheel airbag, and hold the wheel at “9 and 3”. That is what the ICBC, SGI and NWT handbooks teach. Then learn where every control is so you can use the wipers, lights and defroster without looking down.
Car set-up checklist before you drive
- Seat, then head restraint, then mirrors, then seatbelt.
- Steering wheel adjusted if it tilts or telescopes.
- Doors locked, loose items stored.
- Know where the lights, wipers, horn, hazard lights and defroster are.
ICBC says never adjust your seat or steering wheel while the vehicle is moving.
How to adjust your seat
| Handbook | Seat position test |
|---|---|
| BC (ICBC) | Sit upright with the small of your back pushed into the seat. With your right foot you can reach the floor behind the brake pedal and still have a slight bend in your leg. Arms slightly bent on the wheel. Left foot rests to the left of the brake or clutch. |
| Saskatchewan (SGI) | Sit well back. Move the seat so your right foot is on the floor under the brake and your leg stays slightly bent even when you push hard. Your eye line should be about halfway between the top of the wheel and the top of the windshield, with at least a fist’s space above your head. Use a cushion if needed. |
| Ontario (MTO) | Sit high enough to see over the wheel and hood and to see the ground four metres in front. Check by placing your feet flat on the floor under the brake pedal without stretching. Elbows slightly bent. |
Airbag distance
ICBC and the NWT manual (citing Transport Canada) both say to sit at least 25 cm (10 inches) from the steering wheel airbag. Airbags do not replace seatbelts: every handbook says to buckle up anyway.
How high should the head restraint be?
- BC: top at least level with the top of your head, and as close to the back of your head as possible. ICBC says closer restraints can be twice as effective at preventing injury.
- Saskatchewan: top edge level with the top of your head.
- NWT: centre of the restraint level with the top of your ears, with less than 10 cm (4 inches) between your head and the restraint.
- Ontario: the back of your head should be directly in front of the middle of the restraint.
The aim is the same in all of them: a well-placed restraint helps prevent whiplash in a rear-end crash. Check passengers’ restraints too.
Setting your mirrors to cut blind spots
- Inside mirror: frame as much of the rear window as possible, with your head where it will be while driving.
- Left mirror: lean your head toward the driver’s window, then set the mirror so you can just see the side of your car (Ontario, SGI).
- Right mirror: lean toward the centre of the car and set it so you can just see a sliver of the right side.
Set this way, the side mirrors pick up where the inside mirror leaves off. Mirrors never cover everything: Ontario says shoulder checks are the only way to be sure your blind spots are clear. Some side mirrors are convex; ICBC warns they make vehicles look smaller and further away.
Where to put your hands on the steering wheel
| Handbook | Recommended hand position |
|---|---|
| BC | 9 and 3, or 10 and 2. With a steering-wheel airbag, 9 and 3 or even 8 and 4 may be better, because at 10 and 2 your hands could hit your face if the airbag deploys. |
| Saskatchewan | 9 and 3, or 8 and 4. A hand on top of the wheel can be forced into your face by the airbag. |
| NWT | 9 and 3. |
Keep both hands on the outside of the wheel (ICBC). Never steer with one finger or the flat palm of your hand (Ontario).
Hand-over-hand vs push-pull steering
This is where the handbooks differ most.
- Ontario: teaches hand-over-hand for sharp turns. After the turn, relax your grip and let the wheel slip, or feed it through your hands, back to straight.
- NWT: hand-over-hand to turn and hand-over-hand to straighten out again.
- Saskatchewan: for normal steering, keep your grip in place and twist the wheel until your forearms touch. Beyond that, use either hand-over-hand (for sharp turns at low speed or in slippery emergencies) or hand-to-hand, also called push-pull. SGI says to unwind with hand-over-hand and not to let the wheel slide through your hands, because you lose control of where it stops. It notes push-pull keeps your hands from crossing the wheel, which lowers the chance of injury from the airbag.
For the road test, use the method your provincial handbook teaches and ask your instructor which one examiners expect.
Gearshift positions explained
| Position | What it is for |
|---|---|
| P (Park) | Starting the engine and parking. Locks the transmission. |
| R (Reverse) | Backing up. Turns on the white reversing lights. |
| N (Neutral) | Out of gear. ICBC: use it to restart the engine if the car stalls while moving. |
| D (Drive) | Normal forward driving; the car changes gear itself. |
| L, 1, 2, 3 | Lower gears that stop the transmission shifting up. Use for steep hills or heavy loads (ICBC, NWT). |
Some cars also have an overdrive setting, which the NWT manual says saves fuel at higher speeds. Check your owner’s manual for your car’s layout.
Standard (manual) transmission and the clutch
- Clutch with your left foot only; brake and gas with your right foot (ICBC).
- Start the engine in neutral with the clutch fully pressed (NWT).
- The “friction point” is where the clutch starts to connect as you lift it. Balance it with the gas for a smooth start without stalling (NWT).
- Do not “ride the clutch” by resting your foot on it while moving; it wears the clutch out (ICBC, NWT).
- When stopping, brake first and press the clutch just before you stop, so you are not coasting (ICBC).
Deciding which to take your road test in? See automatic or manual for your road test.
Accelerating and braking smoothly
- Press the accelerator gradually and let the car build speed (SGI). NWT: do not accelerate so hard your tires spin.
- Use your right foot for both pedals so you never press both at once (Ontario).
- Learn how much pressure your brakes need. Power brakes need less than standard brakes (ICBC).
- Wear proper shoes: ICBC warns against high heels and platform soles.
Wipers, defroster and lights: learn them without looking
Ontario says you should be able to turn on the wipers and washers, headlights, high beams, heater and defroster without taking your eyes off the road. Practise in the driveway with the engine off. ICBC adds: know every wiper speed and how to use the washer, and keep the blades in good condition. Never use cruise control on wet, snowy or icy roads, in city traffic, on winding roads or when you are tired (ICBC).
Dashboard warning lights
ICBC’s handbook shows a typical control panel. The lights that matter most to a learner:
| Light | What it means |
|---|---|
| Brake warning | Parking brake is on. If it comes on while using the foot brake, the brake system may not be working properly: have it checked. |
| ABS | If it stays on after you start the car, the anti-lock system may have a fault. |
| Airbag | If it comes on while driving, there may be an airbag fault. |
| Oil pressure | Shows oil pressure, not how much oil is in the engine. |
| Engine temperature | Coolant temperature; warns if the engine is overheating. |
| Alternator / battery | Whether the battery is charging. |
| Check engine | A possible engine fault. |
| Low tire pressure | One or more tires are low. |
| Electronic stability control | Shows the car is equipped with electronic stability control. |
| High beam indicator | Usually blue: your high beams are on. |
Colours and symbols vary between makes, so check your owner’s manual. Ontario’s rule of thumb: if a warning light stays on after you drive away, it could mean a serious problem.
Pre-trip and periodic checks
ICBC recommends a quick walk-around before every drive: tires, lights and signals, glass, fluid patches under the car, and nothing in front or behind. Every few weeks, do a fuller check of oil, coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid, hoses, belts, lights, wipers and tire pressure (checked cold, using the figure on the driver’s door or in the manual, not the number on the tire). For what your car needs to pass inspection before a road test, see road test car checklist for Canada.
Next steps: learn how to handle problems in car emergencies in Canada, look up terms in the Canadian driving licence glossary, or start at learning to drive in Canada.
Sources
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart” (icbc.com)
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook” (sgi.sk.ca)
- Government of the Northwest Territories, “NWT Driver’s Manual: Basic” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting ready to drive” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Changing directions” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Stopping” (ontario.ca)