Learning to drive when you get your learner licence, can be daunting for many learners. Learning safe driving skills are very important from the get go. Then after you have held your licence for at least 12 months and accumulated the required 120 logbook hours, the freedom of getting behind the wheel can be exciting but you also need to consider other things. As you learn to drive, these tips for new drivers can help keep you safe.
Get Familiar With Your Car When Learning to Drive
Before you even consider learning to drive and actually commence driving, you must become familiar with the vehicle your driving. This starts inside the car with the controls and instrument layout of the dash. Get to know the features and functions of your car. Know where things are such as the indicator stalk because depending on the make of vehicle, it could be on the opposite side that you think. If you’re learning to drive in a manual, learn how the clutch works. Know the ‘H’ pattern and where each gear is positioned. If you are driving an automatic, you might find it easier to familiarise yourself with these things because you only generally need to use the gear stick to select, drive, reverse or park. It is important to get comfortable with your car first before you hit the road.
Know Your Road Rules & Signage
Learning to drive also means knowing the road rules and familiarising yourself with different traffic signs and what they actually mean. This can keep you safe on the roads and save you a fine and demerit points. It doesn’t mean you have to memorise and know all the road rules and legsliation in NSW back to front. However, you need to familiarise yourself with common everyday road rules and road signs such as speed limits, stop signs, travelling at unsafe distances from the vehicle in front etc.
Did you know that speed is one of the most common contibuting factors for crashes? And whilst we’re on the topic of crashes, rear-end crashes are one of the most common crash type. Why? Because people drive too close behind the vehicle in front and don’t allow enough distance to stop safely, in the event of sudden braking. Other common offences are conducting U-turns over double lines or near blind spots, failing to give way when required to do so and failing to stop at stop signs.
Practice Defensive Driving When Learning to Drive
Defensive driving refers to continual safe habits that maximise safety on the road. When you start learning to drive, your supervising driver should slowly start to introduce simple defensive driving techniques. This so that you can conitnually pratice and maintain safe driving habits during your learning journey and through your driving life. Many people associate defensive driving as ONLY driving on skid pans, different skids and car control at speeds etc. This is not the case.
Defensive driving includes a multitude of driving skills and includes simple things such as knowing how to control and manage your speed. Always assessing and re-assessing the actions or potential actions of others and planing your response. Identifying hazards and developing hazards and other dangers on the roads. You should always be scanning the entire environment. What’s happening ahead and to the sides of you and what’s happening behind. Simple things such as staying out of a vehicles blindspot on multi-lane roads, can keep you safe in the event another changes lanes without checking.
This is defensive driving and completing a defensive driving course such as the NSW Safer Drivers Course can teach you to be a defensive driver, when learning to drive. As already mentioned, maintaining a safe following distance can keep you out harms way if a situation suddently arises and you need to stop suddenly.
How to Pass Your Driving Test
A lot of new learners find it hard to pass the driving test on the first go. In a 2017 NSW Government survey, it was found that only about 58% out of 233, 000 new learners passed the driving test first go.
A more recent survey found that only about 49% of first-time drivers have passed their first time test in Australia. Many drivers need to take the test twice or more. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver, because many people make simple mistakes due to test nerves. Something as simple as not coming to a complete stop will cause you fail.
While many drivers choose to learn from their parents, other family and friends, there are many safe driving techniques that a professional driving instructor can teach you. getting driving lessons from a reputable driving school like Learn Drive Survive, can boost your confidence and pass rate.
Learn Drive Survive Driving Instructors will teach you techniques to be a safer driver and how to pass the driving test first go. The best thing about going to a driving school is that we can identify and target areas that need improving. We can tailor driving lessons to suit the needs of learners so you will learn how to drive safely and confidently.
A driving instructor will help you learn defensive driving techniques and bad driving habits to avoid.
If you meet the Safer Driver Course requirements, and want to gain an additional 20 bonus logbook hours, click here to book online or call 1800 898 969.
If you want to book a driving lesson with Learn Drive Survive, click here to book online or call our friendly team on 1300 898 969 today!
