Smarter Driver Podcast

About Smarter Driver Podcast

Welcome to the smarter driver podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Rick August. Here, we're going to get you on the road to being a safer, smarter driver. And no…my degree's not in driving. My degree in fact, is in legal history, which many of you know is the study of policing, courts and prisons. My expertise is in policing as it relates to traffic. Here we're going to look at the fundamental conflict of traffic which is: Collisions vs. Congestion And we're going to look at the arena of social driving. The challenges you face as a driver, the challenges you face when getting a license, or starting a career as a truck or bus driver. The car's all gassed up, we're ready to go. Let's get started. With the smarter driver podcast we provide the stepping stones towards your success in driving. We empower you to achieve your goals and aspirations as they relate to getting your first license, becoming a safer, smarter driver, or starting a career as a truck or bus driver. If you're just starting out and working towards getting your first license, be sure to check out the smarter driver course package down in the description. Guaranteed to pass first time. As well, if there's something about driving that really irks you, and you'd like to get it off your chest, please leave a comment. I'm your host, Dr. Rick August. Thanks very much for listening. And remember, pick the best answer not necessarily the right answer. Have a great day, bye now.

Publisher

Rick August, PhD

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jun 2022

Latest episode

2 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jul 2026

   The 100 Deadliest Days: Summer Driving Tips That Could Save Your Life

   Summer is the most dangerous time of year for new and novice drivers, often called the 100 Deadliest Days. Learn the defensive driving habits that can dramatically reduce your crash risk and help you stay safe on highways, intersections, construction zones, and city streets. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ►  http://youtube.com/c/smartdrivetest **************** COURSES & CHECKLIST Get My Driver's Test Checklist ► https://www.smartdrivetest.com/ Click for COURSE Package that includes: 1) Pass Driver's Test First Time 2) Defensive Driving Smart 3) Winter Driving Smart https://www.smartdrivetest.com/smarter-driver-course-package/ "GUARANTEED Pass Your Road Test "First Time" Pass Your Road Test First Time Coupon - youtube30 **************** DESCRIPTION Summer driving presents unique challenges, especially for new drivers and anyone preparing for a driver's licence road test. In this episode, Smart Drive Test founder Rick August explains the defensive driving strategies that help prevent crashes during the "100 Deadliest Days" of summer. You'll learn why space management is the foundation of defensive driving, how maintaining a proper following distance gives you more time to react, why stopping one vehicle length behind traffic can reduce rear-end collisions, and how to safely navigate intersections, freeway merges, construction zones, and heavy summer traffic. Rick also explains how to identify traffic patterns, avoid road rage, deal with aggressive drivers, stay out of truck blind spots, and use shoulder checks effectively. Whether you're preparing for your road test, teaching someone to drive, or simply want to become a safer driver, these practical techniques will help you drive with greater confidence and reduce your risk of being involved in a collision. Good luck on your road test. #SmartDriveTest #DriversTest #defensivedriving #roadsafety **************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Summer Driving Safety: The 100 Deadliest Days Begin 00:20 - The Minimum Safe Distance Rule That Prevents Crashes 01:03 - How to Safely Merge & Avoid Semi-Truck Blind Spots 03:03 - What Is Smarter Defensive Driving? 03:53 - The Biggest Mistake Most Drivers Make on the Road 04:54 - Space Management: The Secret to Avoiding Crashes 06:02 - Why Following Distance Gives You More Time to React 07:02 - Why You Should Drive Between Traffic Clusters 07:54 - Old Defensive Driving vs. Modern Defensive Driving 08:58 - Don't Get Angry When Drivers Cut You Off 09:54 - How to Read Traffic Patterns Before Problems Develop 11:00 - Construction Zones & Why Zipper Merging Doesn't Work 13:07 - Mapping Intersections: A Life-Saving Driving Skill 14:35 - Two Simple Habits That Can Prevent Most Summer Crashes 15:46 - The MIT Method: Mapping Intersections & Tracking Road Users 16:16 - Are Driver Assistance Technologies Making Drivers Worse? 17:21 - Fatigue, Driver Monitoring Systems & Staying Alert 17:43 - Final Summer Driving Tips to Stay Safe This Season *************** SOCIALS www.smartdrivetest.com www.facebook.com/smartdrivetest www.twitter.com/smartdrivetest www.instagram.com/smartdrivetest/ Join the Smart Driver's Mastermind Group: https://goo.gl/h5Q8Vd Music: BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack - Epic Song **************** MONETARILY SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can donate via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/smartdrivetest This is appreciated and helps the channel, but please don't feel that it is necessary to be part of the smarter driver community.

2. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Emotional Driving vs Defensive Driving—Which One Keeps You Safe?

   Most drivers think they're good drivers and that everyone else on the road needs to change. That mindset, known as social driving, can lead to road rage, crashes, and even failure on your driving test. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ►  http://youtube.com/c/smartdrivetest **************** COURSES & CHECKLIST Get My Driver's Test Checklist ► https://www.smartdrivetest.com/ Click for COURSE Package that includes: 1) Pass Driver's Test First Time 2) Defensive Driving Smart 3) Winter Driving Smart https://www.smartdrivetest.com/smarter-driver-course-package/ "GUARANTEED Pass Your Road Test "First Time" Pass Your Road Test First Time Coupon - youtube30 **************** DESCRIPTION Most drivers believe they're good drivers and that everyone else on the road needs to change. That mindset is called social driving, and it's one of the biggest causes of road rage, poor decisions, and preventable crashes. In this episode, Rick explains why reacting emotionally to other drivers can increase your risk of collisions and even cause you to fail your driving test. Learn how professional defensive drivers stay calm, manage space effectively, maintain safe following distances, and avoid the common traps of tailgating, road rage, and aggressive driving. You'll also discover why "space buys time, time buys options, and options prevent crashes," how phantom traffic jams happen, and what to do if another driver becomes aggressive on the road. Whether you're preparing for a road test, teaching a new driver, or simply trying to become a safer driver, these practical strategies will help you drive smarter and stay safe. Good luck on your road test. #SmartDriveTest #defensivedriving #roadtest #roadsafety #drivingtips **************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Social Driving Can Fail Your Road Test 00:22 - What Is Social Driving? 02:20 - The Dangerous Mindset Behind Road Rage 03:54 - Reactive vs Proactive Defensive Driving 04:47 - Why Following Too Close Causes Crashes 05:46 - Phantom Traffic Jams Explained 06:32 - Communication Failures on the Road 08:02 - Emotional Driving & Road Rage Triggers 09:36 - Top Causes of Traffic Collisions 10:18 - Best Road Test Practice Strategy 11:28 - What To Do During a Road Rage Incident 13:06 - How Social Driving Increases Crash Risk 13:57 - Space Buys Time, Time Buys Options *************** SOCIALS www.smartdrivetest.com www.facebook.com/smartdrivetest www.twitter.com/smartdrivetest www.instagram.com/smartdrivetest/ Join the Smart Driver's Mastermind Group: https://goo.gl/h5Q8Vd Music: BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack - Epic Song **************** MONETARILY SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can donate via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/smartdrivetest This is appreciated and helps the channel, but please don't feel that it is necessary to be part of the smarter driver community.

3. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Highway Driving Tips for New Drivers: Stay Safe on Freeways & Interstates

   Learning to drive on highways and freeways can feel intimidating—especially for new drivers. In this episode, Rick from Smart Drive Test breaks down the essential highway driving tips, defensive driving strategies, and freeway skills you need to stay safe at high speeds. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ►  http://youtube.com/c/smartdrivetest **************** COURSES & CHECKLIST Get My Driver's Test Checklist ► https://www.smartdrivetest.com/ Click for COURSE Package that includes: 1) Pass Driver's Test First Time 2) Defensive Driving Smart 3) Winter Driving Smart https://www.smartdrivetest.com/smarter-driver-course-package/ "GUARANTEED Pass Your Road Test "First Time" Pass Your Road Test First Time Coupon - youtube30 **************** Driving on highways and freeways is one of the biggest challenges for new drivers. In this Smart Drive Test podcast, Rick shares practical highway driving tips, defensive driving strategies, and freeway safety techniques that can help keep you safe at higher speeds. Learn why stopping on the shoulder of a highway can be dangerous, how to maintain a safe following distance, and the proper way to merge onto fast-moving traffic. Rick also explains highway lane positioning, predicting road user behavior, avoiding clusters of vehicles, shoulder checking at highway speeds, and using cruise control to reduce fatigue. Whether you're preparing for your road test, nervous about freeway driving, or simply want to become a safer, smarter driver, this episode will help you build confidence and improve your highway driving skills. Watch now and become a safer driver on highways, interstates, and freeways. Good luck on your road test. #SmartDriveTest #HighwayDrivingTips #DefensiveDriving #DrivingTips #NewDriver **************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Highway Driving Tips to Stay Safe at High Speeds 00:16 - The #1 Highway Rule: Never Stop on the Shoulder 01:56 - Why Highway Speeds Scare New Drivers 03:09 - Following Distance & Space Management on Freeways 04:06 - Avoid Vehicle Clusters & Phantom Traffic Jams 05:02 - Predicting Driver Behavior on Highways 06:04 - Why "It Won't Happen to Me" Causes Crashes 07:36 - Shoulder Checking & Blind Spots at Highway Speeds 08:42 - Why Cruise Control Makes Highway Driving Easier 09:16 - Roadside Emergencies & Flat Tire Safety 10:33 - How to Merge Safely Onto a Highway 11:57 - Using Deceleration Lanes Correctly 12:20 - How to Pass Your Learner's Permit Test Faster 14:39 - Night Highway Driving Tips & Fatigue Prevention 15:18 - Sharing Space With Merging Vehicles 16:20 - Right-of-Way Rules at Two-Way Stops 16:40 - Final Highway Safety Tips for Smart Drivers *************** SOCIALS www.smartdrivetest.com www.facebook.com/smartdrivetest www.twitter.com/smartdrivetest www.instagram.com/smartdrivetest/ Join the Smart Driver's Mastermind Group: https://goo.gl/h5Q8Vd Music: BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack - Epic Song **************** MONETARILY SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can donate via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/smartdrivetest This is appreciated and helps the channel, but please don't feel that it is necessary to be part of the smarter driver community.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Smarter Driver Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.