In mid-2017, we published a post and video called So, You Think You Can Drive Distracted. They quickly became our most popular posts of the year.

Why did we do it? Because it’s easy to think “it won’t happen to me” or “this is just a quick text” but collisions can happen very quickly, even to the safest of drivers. So, we set out to debunk the myth that driving while distracted is safe. It never is.

During the video, Eric Roeder, one of Bison’s driver trainers, used the term "commentary driving." I had never heard that term before. Roeder explained that even though I hadn't heard of it, within the driver training community, commentary driving is actually very common. He added that you can even use this tool it on your driving test! I was intrigued and had to learn more. 

In short, commentary driving is simply having the driving student comment about everything they see while behind the wheel.

There is a lot happening around us and we can often miss a lot if we are not making an effort to pay attention to our surroundings.

Here is are some examples of what a trainee would comment about:

• It is below zero degrees outside so I need to watch for black ice
• There is an accident on the other side of the road so I need to watch out for unexpected behaviour
• There is a school zone ahead so I need to slow down and pay extra attention
• There is a car going very fast behind me, I need to be prepared for when they pass me

Whether you are a professional truck driver or just learning how to drive a car, commentary driving is a great training tool. It forces the driver to pay attention to all of the things around him or her.

I highly encourage you to give it a try and share your observations below.

Related posts:

9 Essentials of Sharing the Road Safely With Trucks

So, You Think You Can Drive Distracted?