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## think about 

You are about to pull away from the side of the road into traffic. Where should you look? What should you look for? 

## Space conflicts 

A space conflict happens when two road users try to move into the same space at the same time. To drive safely, you need to keep areas of space — called space margins — around your vehicle. If you need to stop suddenly, a driver too close behind you could cause a space conflict. Some other space conflicts are: 

• a vehicle pulling into your path 

• a pedestrian stepping onto the road in front of your vehicle 

• a vehicle backing out of a driveway. 

## Surprises 

Anything unpredictable is a hazard. A car door opening suddenly could be a surprise for a cyclist. If the cyclist swerves to avoid it or falls in front of you, you could be surprised as well. To avoid surprises, think well ahead and ask yourself what could possibly happen in the driving environment. Some other surprises are: 

• a driver weaving back and forth 

• a poorly loaded pickup truck — something might fall 

• a skateboarder who might suddenly dart onto the road. 

