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Driving Tips For Learner DriversOnly through experience can a driver begin to understand the on-road environment they will have to contend with. Below are some tips to help you on your way to becoming a good driver. Oil PatchesVehicles with leaky engines drop oil onto the road and it tends to accumulate at stop signs and stop lines where cars are often stationary. Over time, the oil creates a very slippery surface, unfortunately heavy or late breaking is often needed at precisely the same spots where the oil has accumulated and it can cause accidents. Be aware of the dangers and try to avoid braking heavily in these areas. Blind SpotsWhen driving on a freeway it is scary how other vehicles can hide in your blind spot. Vehicles can be hidden if they are traveling at the same speed as your vehicle in the next lane for a period of time or, a speedster accelerating across three lanes can quickly move into your blind spot. Regular checking of mirrors will reveal motorists moving in and out of your blind-spot. When changing lanes on a freeway it is absolutely essential to signal for a very long time before driving into a new lane. After signaling and discouraging other motorists from driving into the lane next to you it is important to check over the appropriate shoulder for approaching speeding vehicles and to ensure that the driver in the next lane is not about to drift over without a head-check. It is okay to leave the signal on for a long time when you get into the new lane because nobody will assume you are about to turn as there are no intersections. The Finer Points of DrivingIf you are approaching a stop sign, don't rush up. You need to behave like you intend to stop. Look at the mirrors while coming to a halt, the driver behind you knows you will not proceed without looking up the road ahead. When stopped, keep hands on the steering wheel ready for a rear shunt, keep your foot on the brakes, (brake lights on) this will allow you to steer in the safest direction if you are shunted from the rear. When traveling down a hill keep the car in a high gear, this allows you to have your foot above the brake not the accelerator. Be economical with brake lights, use them when serious about slowing or when you need to get rid of a tailgater. Check mirrors while approaching a green traffic light, be ready for amber. Overtake buses as the bus is stopping, it's the safest time. No passengers are getting off yet and the bus won't drive off. Signal early on lane change but cancel early especially on left lane change. Keep up with traffic when passing through traffic lights - safety in numbers, keep up with the pack. When opening doors; first ajar, then slowly, then fully. Don't throw it open - ever. Use a friendly 'bip' if others give wrong body language or approach a situation in a threatening manner. Open window when unable to see up the road - use your ears to listen for traffic. Beep dogs before they dash out. Prevention is better than cure and you can't offend dogs. Choose same, consistent, predictable moderate speed through intersections and busy shopping strips. Scan the scenery intently. Don't travel in the left lane on freeways (entering merging traffic). Narrow bitumen road - drive on gravel edge when an oncoming vehicle approaches to avoid windscreen damage. Truck drivers sometimes use the engine to slow down and the brake lights don't come on. Large trucks turn left from the centre lane so don't drive down their left side. Use your horn to warn others when they are in danger (red light and pedestrians). Watch other driver's reactions to the road up ahead (parked cars for example). Windy day, watch for falling branches, power lines and debris on the road. Young drivers are distracted by the opposite sex (or the same), images, loud music, changing CD's. Turn wheels left while stopped on a left turn or straight ahead on a right turn to deflect away from collision from the right when shunted from the rear. Watch a driver's face or direction wheels are turned to determine whether they will pull out. When one driver comes out of an intersection, another is sure to follow (like sheep). When following a taxi, the driver could respond to a sudden instruction from the passenger. Just before going down a steep hill, test your brakes. At night, look for headlights shining across the carriageway from a side street as evidence of a car entering your carriageway. Use reverse gear so that the reverse lights alert others that you are moving back, don't just roll back using gravity. Use headlights on rainy days because other driver's windows fog up and impair their vision. Older drivers may not be able to turn their heads or look back very easily, so watch them when you are in their blind spot or driving past the driveway and reversing. Put headlights on early in the evening - especially dark cars (or white cars in fog). Full beam obliterates on-coming headlights so only turn them on occasionally and when there is no oncoming traffic to light up dark areas when on a bendy, hilly road. Signal for a turn before disappearing over a hill or around a bend so the following vehicle knows what to expect when he reaches you. Light rain after a hot week is treacherous. Dust and light rain make a very slippery driving surface. When you are blinded by the sun, shielding your eyes from the sun with your hands. Oncoming drivers may give you more of their portion of the road if they know you are having trouble seeing. An oncoming driver with sun in their eyes may not be able to see you at all. Don't assume that they can. Look out for squinting eyes and sun visors that are in use. Be aware that people with diminished judgment may step out on to the road. Be especially aware around Pubs and clubs, sporting events, schools, and elderly citizens clubs. When backing out of your driveway are you sure there isn't a skateboarder on the footpath about to cross your driveway? Hang back before overtaking to get a better view. If in doubt - don't do it. When turning right from a main road to a small road, leave space in front to move forward to meet the gap in the approaching traffic. When railway barriers are going up, wait. There might be a second train. Ensure that the red lights and bells have stopped and the gates are completely up before proceeding. Don't accelerate up to stationary traffic, or speed away from it. Doing so causes a chain reaction and may cause collisions five or six cars back from you. Is there an oncoming vehicle turning right at the lights? If you can't see him, he can't see you, make a point of looking for him. Follow trucks at a distance so you can see and be seen by the driver. Be aware that it is possible for loads to become loose and accidentally drop off the back of trucks and trailers. Sometimes following a heavy truck is good because it will never be able to stop quicker than you. Beware, if it is following you, you may stop too quickly for it. Before approaching a green light, check the characteristics of the driver and car behind you. If the driver is distracted, perhaps arguing with a passenger, they may not notice a change in traffic lights. When searching for a side-street, look for a group of powerlines crossing your street – they often lead to a street (a single powerline might just be going to a house). |
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