Driving For The Conditions 1
Imagine you are in a 60 Km/h zone
In which of the following situations would you slow down ?
When travelling near or through a shopping centre
When near a school zone just before school begins or after school ends
When there is more traffic than usual
When it is raining heavily
When it is raining lightly
When the sun blinds you for a moment
When there are road works
When the area you are driving in is unfamiliar to you
The answer is in every one of the situations listed above
Speed limit signs indicate Maximum speeds allowable
In every State and Territory of Australia you must adjust your travelling speed below the posted limit if the driving conditions mean that the maximum speed is unsafe.
It is not enough to be within the law: you need to be in control and able to cope with the unexpected.
Being legally in the right is not much comfort once:
* your car is off the road damaged, or
* you or someone else is injured or dead.
Source Key Facts For New Drivers
Some Facts About Driving
In Victoria, there are several hundred thousand crashes every year.
These crashes are not accidents – they are due to drivers making mistakes.
Not all driving mistakes result in a crash. Think about the mistakes you’ve seen drivers make without causing a crash:
-cutting off other cars
-not giving way
-misjudging gaps
-trying to overtake when it’s not safe
-just not seeing other road users
If driving is so easy, why do so many drivers regularly make mistakes, sometimes resulting in crashes?
All young drivers face the same challenges because driving is complicated. It requires a lot of time and effort to become a good driver.
Research has shown that a minimum of 120 hours of supervised practice as a learner and restrictions on new solo drivers for the first few years, can help reduce the risk of a crash. This is why Victoria has introduced the Graduated Licensing System, including the mandatory 120 hours to be completed in the Learner Log Book by those aged under 21 years of age when applying for a Probationary Licence.
Source VicRoads Road to Solo Driving
Tips for your Driving Test
- It is normal to be nervous on your Licence Test so turn that nervous energy in to a positive so as your awareness skills are totally switched on.
- You would not be attempting your Licence Test if your instructor did not think you were ready and at a standard to pass.
- You have been taught to drive defensively.
- You are aware of the Victorian Road law and are required to obey it.
- You have completed a minimum of 120 Hours driving including at least 10 hours of night driving, if not more, over a two year period.
- You have practised on all types of roads and conditions Including freeways highways and city traffic including busy intersections and high volume traffic areas.
- Your car control and observation skills are at a safe standard and your concentration levels are good.
- You are aware of the Victorian Drive Test Criteria and drive to that standard.
- You are aware of the pre drive check and have no problems identifying the controls as they are checked.
- You have driven around the area that your Licence Test will be conducted in and have been shown any unusual traffic situations road markings or intersections that are out of the ordinary.
- You are set to pass
- The driving test is just like another driving lesson with the exception of the licence testing officer being in the back seat.
- If you are not sure of any directions ask and they will be repeated.
- Your driving instructor sits in the front seat as per normal driving lessons.
- Finally: The licence testing officer is not out to fail you, their job is to assess driving standard; and if it meets that standard, [and it will] issue you with your licence.
Written By David – Driving Instructor at Eastern Driving School Melbourne
The challenges of driving
Facing the real challanges of driving.
New solo drivers have often done very little driving.
This can result in them having almost no experience of the real challenges of driving.
These challenges include
Variety of traffic conditions from light traffic in local streets to heavy peak hour traffic.
Extremes in weather rain,fog,or icy conditions
Different driving manoeuvres – driving in roundabouts,making U-turns or turning at different types of intersections.
Effects of the time of day on visability – night driving or sun glare when driving at dawn or dusk.
Unexpected actions of other drivers and riders-stopping quickly, merging or turning without warning.
Types of roads – freeways, roads with trams or undivided main roads.
Imperfect road surfaces – potholes,gravel or slippery surfaces.
Handling any of these challenges when faced with distractions inside the car – radio,noisy passengers or mobile phones.
The worst time to gain this experience is when you are driving solo, on your own – with no supervising driver to give you advice or help. So make the most of your time as a learner driver and don’t think that you can master the challenges of driving overnight – you’ll never really stop learning. Remember, being over confident, especially as a new solo driver can lead to making poor decisions when it counts.
Drink Driving .05 .02 or .00
Should we change the blood alcohol concentration from .05 to .02 ? Debate is about to rage as to change the limit or not and we will all have or should have an opinion. Limits vary between country’s example Australia .05, Ireland .08, Italy .05, Jamaica .08, Japan .03, Norway .02, Poland .02, Romania .00, Sweden .02, UK .08, Us .08, {Source Drink and Stay Alive]
As a driving instructor my view is that the limit should be zero not even .02 we as instructors need to be .00 whilst teaching people to drive. Supervising drivers need to be under .05 and it was not that long ago that the law was changed to implement that restriction.
Anything and everything that the State Government can do to decrease the carnage on our roads should be done let us bite the bullet and make the hard but safer decision.
Australian Driver Trainers Association Conference
The conference is being held at the Bayview Eden in Melbourne. Sunday Date 18-10-09 Time 1.30 To 5.30. The conference is sponsored by VicRoads ,the TAC, the Victorian Taxi Directorate, the RACV and Rowland house.You will hear from guest speakers on The latest road safety trends,Road infrastructure Improvement initiatives,Lessons from the Police and accident investigators,Updates from VicRoads on Graduated Licensing. People who are interested in attending call ADTA Andrew Judkins 03 9809 5777
Changes To Victorian Road law as Of November 2009
The new road rules will be effective from 9 November 2009, the changes will improve road safety and make road rules more consistent across Australia.
The Key Changes are:
Line Marking {centre driving line}
Seatbelts
Parking
Mobile phones and visual display units
Motorcyclists
Cyclists
Wheeled recreational devices
Driving with trams
Drivers and Riders {other rules] Visit
Child Restraints *announced in may 2009
For full reference to road rule changes visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
David’s advice finding a Driving School
It’s important that you select a driving school that has been operating for some time and is affiliated with or belongs to The Australian Driver Trainers Association Of Victoria. The Driving School industry is made up of single operators, small to medium operators 1-10 vehicles and major players.You need a driving instructor who is skilled in manner and people skills and enabled to impart knowledge and create a calm and structured learning experience.
