Real-Life Communication
You drive up to a beautiful house and wait for your client to appear.
Eventually, a man comes out, nervously peers at the car and, after hesitating,
gets into the back seat.
His housekeeper tells you that her boss, Raymond,
is very nervous about driving. As you pull away, Raymond leans forward and
asks you about your driving record and about road safety.
It's your
job to make your client feel safe and comfortable. Politely, you tell him
about your driving record and about the safety of the vehicle.
The
client continues to quiz you. You answer his questions, which you believe
will help calm his nerves and make his ride more enjoyable.
As you
turn on to the busy freeway, Raymond asks you about changing lanes.
- What's the first thing you should do if you're going to change lanes?
- How should you think of a shoulder check?
- What direction should you be looking when you change lanes?
- What's the last thing you do after changing lanes?
Changing Lanes Guidelines:
When preparing
to change lanes, mirror check to determine if there is a safe gap in traffic.
Begin by signaling so the driver you wish to move in front of is aware of
your intentions.
Shoulder checking before changing lanes is important
but shouldn't be so pronounced that it impairs your peripheral vision, making
you unable to see the traffic in front of you. Think of it as a shoulder peek
-- turn your head just a fraction and use your peripheral vision to check
ahead and over your shoulder.
Make sure you have sufficient space and
then steer steadily into the other lane, looking ahead in the direction you
want to go. Match your speed and keep a two-second distance from the vehicle
ahead of you. Straighten and center yourself in the lane. Make sure your turn
signal is off.
(Excerpt from ICBC's driving tips:http://www.icbc.com/)
How
would you answer your client's questions?