- Hi, there smart drivers, Rick
with Smart Drive Test talking to you today
about how to drive an SUV or a larger vehicle.
We'll give you tips and strategies for that.
Stick around, we'll be right back with that information.
(upbeat music)
Hi, there, smart drivers, welcome back.
Talking to you today about how to drive an SUV
or drive a larger vehicle.
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Today, I'm working with Bannister Honda here in Vernon,
family business, family values.
And, they have provided a Honda Pilot
which is one of their biggest SUV's.
It's actually an eight passenger vehicle
and it's going to be really good for showing you
some of the exercises that you can do
to get used to a larger vehicle.
So, we're gonna hook up the cameras in the car
and we're gonna show you how to do that
and get used to and familiar with figuring out
where a larger vehicle is in space and place.
All right, so two by four exercise.
We're in the vehicle here
and we're gonna do the driver's side
and we're gonna go around and then,
we're gonna do the passenger side.
And then, we're gonna do it in reverse.
(board clattering)
Oh, we got about half way on the front there.
On the back, we missed the back.
Oh, and we have the back up camera,
but I don't think I can use the back up camera.
I think we can just use
the mirror, did I get it, I think I did.
Yep, get the front?
It's a little harder because it's, there we go.
We got it on.
There we go, 'kay, so,
we'll do the driver's side, backing up.
There we go, so I can't do this
without looking in the mirrors.
So, there you go, there's the first thing you wanna do.
So, you just wanna move up and drive to the pylon
and nice and easy, gentle and tap the pylon
that way you're gonna figure out
where your vehicle is in space and place.
Right there, reverse, and then,
for this one in the back here,
when you're reversing, just,
reverse camera actually is really helpful here
'cause you can see,
(beeping)
right there and then, what we're gonna do
is we're gonna go beside the pylon here in reverse.
And, see how close you can get on the passenger side.
And, again, looking in the mirror is gonna help you out
'cause the wing mirror is your farthest point
away from the pylon, so right there.
Okay, so backing up along the pylon.
And, again, you wanna be looking in the mirror.
And, the mirror's gonna be your best guide for seeing it.
And then, the driver side's gonna be fairly easy
because this is your smallest blind area on this side here.
(beeping)
And again, you've got the signal warning you
that you're within close proximity to something
and it's on the outside of the wing mirror,
so it makes very easy.
And, for me, it's the mirrors.
I have to look in the wing mirrors.
You can turn around if you wanted to,
but for me I find using the mirrors fairly simple.
'Kay, and it's good practice for you
to get used to using the mirrors.
And again, you want it right on
the outside of the mirror there.
And that, that's your widest part of your vehicle.
(beeping)
All right, so probably the easiest thing to do first,
is to park in beside another car
where there aren't too many cars around.
There's one right here, so we'll just do that.
And then, you can get a sense.
You can see the steering as well.
Pull it back to you and you're straight.
And, you're beside the vehicle, that simple.
Try that.
(upbeat music)
I'm gonna park here 'cause there's two spaces,
so there's lots of room to get in beside,
in between these two vehicles here.
And, you can see because we have a bigger vehicle,
we're not gonna be in the space,
so, but we're straight, vehicle parked, done, reverse.
All right, 360° degree scan,
nobody coming in the parking lot,
check the back-up camera, always helpful.
Drive and proceed.
And, now, we'll go for a drive.
This is the last step of learning how
to drive a bigger vehicle.
Wait for this nice person.
And, if you're preparing for a road test,
make sure you got two hands on the steering wheel.
If you're not preparing for a road test,
and you're working on driving a larger vehicle
after you get your license then two hands
on the steering wheel doesn't matter quite so much.
(upbeat music)
A pedestrian, a little bit of space there,
we just move over to the left.
Make sure you shoulder check
before you move the vehicle laterally,
even though this wonderful Pilot has all the bells
and whistles and tells you where people are in the world.
Try not to run into the big Ford
as we're getting out of the parking lot.
(upbeat music)
Edge forward so we can see.
Make sure that people are committed to the turn
before you pull out in front of them.
Steering tires are moving, so now we can go.
(upbeat music)
And again, for large vehicle, the same principle applies
when you're pulling up into traffic.
Stop, so you can see the tires of the vehicle
in front of you making clear contact with the pavement.
That leaves about one vehicle length
between you and the vehicle in front
and it's really good defensive posturing.
Put my signal back on 'cause it canceled
there on the way up.
And, looking down the road as far as you can,
I'll put the video up in the corner for you
on centering your vehicle in the lane
if that's what you're having trouble with.
And, you can have a look at that
'cause that'll help you out.
(upbeat music)
Again, when you're going around corners,
you wanna stay to the outside of the curve.
So, on that right-hand turn there,
you wanna stay out to the left
that way you're gonna get your bigger vehicle
around the corner.
You're not gonna run the wheels up
on the curb and those types of things.
(upbeat music)
Get a good following distance,
you're scanning the intersection.
You're staying out to the left here
'cause that's your smallest blind area
on your vehicle as opposed to the passenger side
which is your biggest blind area.
(upbeat music)
This area down here where you're gonna get
into congested urban areas is probably
where you're gonna have the biggest challenges
in terms of driving a larger vehicle an SUV or what not.
So, you just stick to all your basics of shoulder checking,
scanning properly, and, again, looking far down the road,
so you can keep the vehicle centered in the lane.
So, when you're driving straight down the road
in larger vehicle most of the time
that fog line, the white solid line,
on your right side of the vehicle should be
in the center of the hood.
If that's in the center of the hood,
that's one of the quick checks you can do
to make sure that your large vehicle is centered
in the lane while you're driving in straight,
in a forward motion.
So, those are some tips and strategies
for driving a larger vehicle.
Do those exercises and you'll learn
where the vehicle is in space and place.
If you don't have a great deal of experience
in different vehicles and those types of things,
work with the pylons, work with the two by four
and that will help you out.
And, remember, the wing mirrors are the farthest points
on the right and left of the vehicle,
so if you're outside of those wing mirrors,
you're gonna miss whatever you're driving past.
And, it's great on this Pilot
because it's got all kinds of sensors
and what not that will help you out
in terms of staying safe on the roadway.
And, I'd like to thank Bannister Honda,
family business, family values
and allowing me to use this great car,
this awesome Pilot to shoot this video.
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and all the best. And remember pick the best answer,
not necessarily the right answer.
Have a great day, bye now.
Now, we gotta come up with some cheesy music.
I'll have to go on YouTube and find some.
- [Charline] Always good for ad-libbing (laughs)
- It's kind of like the Spiderman.
- [Charline] Right.
- The one where he's in the elevator
and the guys asking about his spandex.
(Charline singing tune) (laughs)
- Like, well, it rides up in the crotch a little bit.