TAC latest campaigns – TAC – Transport Accident Commission
View the latest TAC road safety TV campaigns, share these with your family and friends and lets work together to make every journey a safe one
Source: TAC latest campaigns – TAC – Transport Accident Commission
Safe Driving Tips
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/driver-safety/safe-driving-tips#.VcFmEQzX-4Q.facebook
Fatal Distraction
The Fatal Distraction Symposium was held recently in Melbourne as part of Trauma Week 2015. The event was hosted by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The Symposium explored the correlation between distractions by all road users and the epidemic of road trauma and we provide a summary of some of the presentations here for your information. Thanks to Don Gillies (ADTAV member) who provided this information. Part 2 of this article will be included in the Jan/Feb edition of The Instructor. What is Distraction? Driving is an all-encompassing activity that includes vehicle control, route finding, route following, velocity control, collision avoidance, rule compliance, vehicle monitoring etc. Driver distraction is defined as the diversion of attention towards a competing activity from activities critical for safe driving which may then result in inattention. A key element is that the distraction may or may not be driving related, and that distraction and inattention can be varied. Some examples can be: ? Restricted or affected attention eg tired and dozy ? Incorrectly prioritised attention eg taking too long for a head check ? Neglected attention eg not looking into mirrors at all ? Cursory attention eg insufficient mirror check ? Diverted attention (non-driving related) eg disruptive passenger or changing CD ? Diverted attention (driving related) eg low fuel lamp on or changing mirror settings whilst moving What affect these have on the outcome of a situation can depend on: ? The driver ? The complexity of the task being undertaken at the time eg bends, straight road etc ? The competing task ? The capacity of that driver to self-regulate Trauma Registry Data A statistical study of national road trauma over recent years presented a surprising finding, which has significant relevance to our driver education role – mobile phone usage is only the 3rd highest cause of crash related distraction yet it gains the most media attention. In order of highest to lowest the causes of crash related distraction are passengers; vehicle systems; mobile phones/electronic devices; CDs and radio distraction; and animals. TAC Distractions Campaign The TAC Distractions Campaign was presented and discussed. It was acknowledged that people will make mistakes, even when not deliberately taking risks. During driving there is so much competition for the driver’s attention from both outside and inside the vehicle, it takes a lot to remain suitably focussed. The four pillars of road safety were presented – safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles and safer people. The responsibility for managing those pillars is shared amongst governments, law enforcement, the corporate world, the individual and the community at large. With everyone aware of their responsibilities and therefore managing what they can control we should see a reduction in trauma.
Road Safety
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This email was sent by TAC Road Safety, Transport Accident Commission, 60 Brougham St, Geelong, Australia 3220 to davidputney@bigpond.com.au
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Driving Lesson Gift Vouchers
A Great Gift Idea for Learner Drivers
What would be better to help your learner driver on the way to the120 hour goal than a Gift Voucher from Eastern Suburbs Driving School? Gift vouchers are available in any denominations and or value that suits your budget
The Eastern Suburbs Driving School Gift Vouchers do not have a use by date, so they can be used to suit the individual learner needs. Payment is easy Cash, Credit Card, EFT, Cheque
Give us a call on 1300 888 082 and we will solve your gift giving for you.
Value of Refresher Lessons for Senior Drivers
Driving is important for elderly people as it enables them to keep their independence. This is vital as it enables them to visit friends and family and live their life the way they choose.
Statistically senior drivers cause fewer accidents than younger drivers as they often avoid driving in situations they don’t feel confident in (at night, busy roads, etc.)
Like a lot of skills, driving is a skill that should be continually improved and practiced on a regular basis.
A lot of senior drivers choose to freshen up their driving skills by taking refresher lessons. These refresher lessons help to show senior drivers how to adjust their driving to suit their weaker vision and slower reflexes.
Issues Elderly Drivers Face
It is important to remember that people age in different ways, and it is not age in itself that affects someone’s driving ability but the health conditions that often go hand in hand with old age.
Eyesight Deterioration
The muscles that control the dilation of our pupils become less responsive as we reach old age which can make it a lot harder for us to see in the dark.
As well as a change to the muscles that control our pupil dilation our pupils also become smaller with age which can make it harder for us to see in the dark. A lot of senior drivers choose to avoid night time driving for this reason.
Our vision can cause other problems as we age as we will find the glare of the sun more intense which will reduce or peripheral vision. Light-responsive sunglasses can enable us to carry on driving in these situations.
Hearing Deterioration
Hearing loss can be dangerous when your on the road as it may prevent you from hearing important sounds like the high-pitched tones from emergency response vehicles. It can also prevent you from hearing other warning sounds particularly in situations where there is a lot of background noise.
Reaction Times
Stiffness or pain in joints or muscles can make it difficult for senior drivers to react quickly in an emergency. They can also be affected by their ability to process information quickly and react accordingly. Reaction times can be improved by:
- Increasing following distance
- Limiting left turns
- Eliminate distractions inside the vehicle
- Plan your route
- Avoid busy roads and congested traffic
- Talk to your doctor about your medication
- Take frequent breaks
Fatigue
As we age, we are more likely to suffer from fatigue so elderly drivers should avoid long journeys, especially after alcohol or eating a heavy meal.
Medication Side Effects
Medications often come with side effects which can affect your driving ability.
Frailty
As people age they become frail which can lead to them suffering more serious injuries in accidents.
Benefits of Refresher Lessons
Refresher lessons help you to iron out any bad habits you have picked up over the years, boost your confidence behind the wheel and teach you new skills.
Confidence
If you have taken a long break from driving, you may find you have lost your confidence in your driving ability. Refresher courses are a great way of boosting your confidence on the road.
A lot of road accidents are caused because of bad habits, simple mistakes or a gap in the driver’s knowledge on how to react in that kind of situation.
Environment
When you are in better control of your car you will use less fuel, which reduces the amount of pollution. It will also save you money as you will need to replace parts less often, and the wear and tear on items such as tires will be reduced.
Top 10 Tips to Pass Your Driving Test On Your First Attempt
If you’re looking for some driving test tips to help you pass your driving test the first time, then you have come to the right place! These driving test tips cover the most important things that you should keep in mind before and during your driving test so you’ll see the best results from your efforts.
- Get lots of practice : You can practice in places like empty parking lots with a trusted adult to help you learn the best techniques.
- Get comfortable with three point turns and parking : Practice both of these skills until they’re not a challenge for you at all, because you will be tested on them!
- Get comfortable with your testing area : After scheduling your test, find the area you will be tested in and drive around there for awhile.
- Inspect your vehicle before you show up for the test : Your vehicle will go through an inspection before you even take the test to ensure that minimum standards are met. To avoid having your test cancelled because your car doesn’t measure up, check all the lights and tires the day before your test. Also, make sure you are familiar with all the buttons your car has, such as how to use the AC, windshield wipers, horn, hazard lights and emergency brake.
- Gather all the necessary paperwork the night before : You will be required to present, at the very least, your learner’s permit, and proof of insurance and registration on the car you will be taking the test with. So you’re not scrambling around for this paperwork the morning of the test, gather it the night before and put it all in one place where you will not forget it.
- Use a car for your test that you’ve had plenty of practice with : It takes time to get used to a new car and adjust yourself to the sensitivities of its steering wheel and brakes. There is a time and a place to get used to a new car and it is not your driving test; that is why you should use the car you learned to drive in for your test, if at all possible.
- Wear your seatbelt : Make sure to put it on as soon as you get into the car, or the person performing the test will definitely notice.
- Hold the steering wheel with both hands : The person giving you your test will make sure that your hands are positioned properly on the steering wheel and that you do not let go of the wheel throughout the duration of the test.
- Stop a reasonable distance from the car in front of you : A good general rule to go by in situations where you have to stop behind another car, such as at a red light or a stop sign, is that you should be able to see the tires of the car in front of you.
- Do not cross solid lines : This will most likely result in an automatic failure of your driving test.
By following these 10 driving test tips, you are extremely likely to pass your driving test on your first attempt. Also, make sure to get a good night’s sleep and eat before the test so you aren’t distracted by being tired or hungry!
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Common Mistakes People Make When Driving On The Road
Unfortunately, no one is perfect and even the most experienced drivers are capable of making simple mistakes once in awhile that can lead to road accidents in Victoria. However, the way to avoid making simple mistakes people make while driving on the road is to be aware of what they are. This way, you can modify your driving techniques so you are not making them anymore.
Minimizing the mistakes you make while driving is the best way to avoid road accidents in Victoria, so in order to drive safely, you should definitely review the following most common mistakes people make while driving. This way, you can ask yourself if you are guilty of any of these and find ways to stop them from happening so frequently in your own driving.
Furthermore, being aware of these driving mistakes and avoiding them is essential if you haven’t gotten your driver’s licence yet and you are about to take your driving test in the near future. You will definitely get points off if you make any of these mistakes and, if you make enough of them, they could add up enough to not allow you to get your licence and you’ll have to take the test all over again.
However, even if you already have your licence, it’s important to acknowledge that you’re not perfect. Look over the following common driving mistakes and ask yourself if you’re ever guilty of making them yourself!
- Distractions : Many drivers are easily susceptible to distractions such as their cell phones or talking with another passenger in the car. Things that cause you to take your eyes off of the road, even if just for a couple of seconds, can be deadly. It may not seem like it, but a few seconds leaves room for a lot to happen whiledriving fast on the highway and the consequences of sending a single text message behind the wheel of a car could be fatal. You can wait until you get to your destination—or at the very least, until you get to a red light.
- Speeding : The speed limit is set for a reason by specialists who know how to judge how quickly a car can be going in a certain area while still allotting the necessary time to respond to emergencies. Going the speed limit makes it safer for you to be able to react appropriately to any unexpected trouble you may encounter on the road.
- Following too closely : It is important that you do not follow too closely to the car in front of you. If something occurs that causes them to slam on their brakes, then you may not be able to react quickly enough to avoid rear-ending them. You want to make sure that, if you had to, there is enough space for you to stop without hitting the car in front of you.
- Failing to use turn signal or check blind spots : These are simple things that it is easy to stop doing as you get more comfortable driving, but it is important not to get that relaxed. It’s not the responsibility of other cars to stay out of your blind spot; it’s your job to check if they’re there before you turn or change lanes. It’s also not the responsibility of other drivers to anticipate before you turn or change lanes; you need to signal to let them know.
Keeping these common driving mistakes in mind can help you to avoid making them and drive safe while you are on the road to avoid getting into road accidents in Victoria!
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Why To Avoid Drink Driving
The reasons to avoid driving drink are endless. For one thing, it is extremely dangerous and you could end up severely harming someone else or even yourself if you get into an accident. It would be horrible if one bad decision defined the rest of your life because someone ended up losing his or her life as a result of your actions. Furthermore, even if you don’t get into an accident, you could still get pulled over for your driving and the rest of your life would never be the same after that mistake. Police are trained to know what to look for to spot a drink driver, so there is a high likelihood that you will get pulled over and arrested for your state of intoxication while behind the wheel.
You don’t want to end up taking someone’s life or prematurely ending your own as a result of drink driving. And although this is a much smaller drink driving penalty than death, you probably don’t think it’s worth the risk of getting your licence taken away either. This is why you should take all of the necessary precautions in order to avoid drink driving at all costs.
The following are a couple of tips that will give you ideas regarding how to stop drink driving:
- Be responsible : Before you decide to do something, ask yourself what the possible repercussions are and if they are really worth the risk. Is saving the couple of bucks you would have otherwise spent on a cab really worth losing your licence over? Or even worse, getting into a car accident, harming yourself and others, and getting arrested for driving under the influence? Cabs might be expensive, but they are definitely cheaper than the costs that will incur! Not to mention the guilt and other penaltiesinvolved as a result of your decision.
- Choose a designated driver : This is one of the best ways to avoid drinkdriving, because it removes the need (or ability) for it. If everyone in your group drives to the party in one car, then only one person(presumably the designated driver) has the keys. So long as the designated driver keeps to his or her word and does not drink any alcohol, there won’t be a problem.
- Call a Cab : No one is perfect, and sometimes your designated driver ends up slipping. This is the time that you should call a cab or arrange some other form of transportation.
- Hide keys : If you have a friend who you are afraid might attempt to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, do not be afraid to take his or her keys. You are doing the right thing.
- Stop drinking alcoholic beverages long before you leave the party : Switch to water or soda around two hours before the party ends. This will give you a chance to hopefully be thinking clearly enough to make a rational decision about how you are going to get home.
You should always keep in mind the above tips about avoiding drink driving when you are going to consume any alcoholic beverages; they could end up saving lives.
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Quick Tips for Reverse Parking
Like most things when it comes to driving, reverse parking can be tricky until you have learned the proper technique and have practiced it enough in order to be able to confidently say you have mastered the skill of reverse parking in Victoria. The confidence at knowing how to reverse park comes only after you have practiced carefully, testing out the technique slowly and safely. You will find that, over time, reverse parking your car will become much easier.
When trying to reverse park your car, use the following technique to do so easily and precisely. The following steps detail how to park a car in reverse and you can use them as driving test tips if you are currently preparing to get your licence:
- Start by turning on your signal : This is important in order to communicate to other cars in the nearby area what you are trying to do so that you do not end up confusing them and causing an accident.
- Pull over near the available space and wait for cars to pass : You want to do this so you are not blocking the traffic behind you or coming towards you as you try to park your car. Just wait for the traffic to pass before beginning to maneuver your car into the parking space. Also, remember not to turn across or into traffic until the lane is clear.
- Position your vehicle : Once you have a clear shot to reverse park, drive up until your car is halfway past whatever space you are going for, with your car positioned close to the middle of both of the lanes.
- Put the car in reverse : You’ll want to turn the wheel so it is aimed at the side where the parking space you want your car to occupy is on. Look behind you while you are driving in reverse so you won’t hit any of the surrounding cars. Because you started in the middle of the street, you should be able to use a hard turn in order to get into the space while leaving all of the cars around you completely unscathed.
- As your car goes backwards, straighten out your wheel. Keep an eye on your mirrors as you do this so you are certain not to damage anything around you with your car.
- Finally, you can now straighten out your car within the space as needed if you find that your parking job is a little crooked. You can do this by putting the car in drive and going forward a little, then backing in again at the desired angle until you car is positioned just the way you want it.
It can be difficult to get the hang of this technique on your first try, but as you continue to try it again and again, you will find it getting easier and more seamless with every attempt. Soon enough, you will be a master at reverse parking in Victoria!
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Nervous Drivers
Nervous Drivers Are Our Specialty
A great driver is a confident driver, but confidence comes with experience, and experience comes with time. Fortunately, Eastern Suburbs Driving School specialises in helping nervous drivers put in the time, gain the experience and develop the skills necessary to achieve that confidence.
We make it our mission to ensure that those who are looking for driving lessons in Melbourne, but who are also experiencing a few nerves and jitters, are not put off by this and can achieve their goal of becoming a confident and skillful driver.
How We Can Help
Anyone who is learning a new skill is going to experience a few nerves at some point, and this is only natural. Understandably, the nerves associated with learning to drive can be a little more intense than usual.
Those early driving experiences can be incredibly overwhelming and nerve-wracking, and there are many reasons why novice drivers feel nervous when getting behind the wheel. We’ve outlined a few of the most commons ones below, along with some accompanying information about how Eastern Suburbs Driving School can help you to turn those nerves in energy for positive action.
No Driving Experience = No Confidence
Our instructors are not only highly trained in the art of driving tuition, but also have excellent interpersonal skills. Empathy, patience and friendliness are all key characteristics of a good teacher in any field, and driving is certainly no exception. Because of this, our instructors will be able to coach you competently and with warmth, gently giving you the confidence you need to drive effectively.
The Open Road Is a Scary Place
To a non-driver or a relative novice, high levels of traffic and complicated interchanges and junctions can make the process of driving a scary and overwhelming one. Our team take the fear out of driving by fostering confidence and self-belief in novice learners, helping them progress quickly. Overcoming fear is all about knowing that you have the tools to deal with any problems you might face; Eastern Suburbs Driving School can give you those tools.
There Is So Much to Learn
Learning the rules of the road and gaining your 120 hours’ worth of driving experience means learning a lot in a relatively short time. This is why our courses and lessons are specifically designed
to help you to take all that fresh information on board, without getting too overwhelmed. What’s more, our service is incredibly comprehensive and our range of add-on courses and extras help novice drivers become confident road users in no time.
Why We Are the Best
Our family-run driving school is renowned for its positive and friendly atmosphere, making us the ideal choice for novice drivers seeking to overcome their nerves in a warm and supportive environment. We also know Melbourne like the backs of our hands, which means that we can offer support, guidance and hands-on driving experience directly to you, wherever you are located within
the city and its surrounding suburbs. Looking for driver training from Belgrave to Monbulk and Canterbury to Tremont? We’ve got you covered!
All our drivers are fully accredited and have received the driver training Certificate 4, and so the quality of our service is guaranteed. You don’t spend 25 years at the top of driving school tree by accident, and our thousands previous and current clients can vouch for our expertise, both in terms of driving and in tuition.
Would you like to experience the benefit of an Eastern Suburbs Driving School course? Contact us today at 1300-888-082 to get started! Oh, and don’t forget to pay us a visit on Facebook.
Drink Driving
THOUSANDS of Victorians found boozed-up behind the wheel will have their cars impounded as police roll out harsh new drink-driving penalties.
An extra 67 drivers a week are expected to have their cars confiscated after police launch an unprecedented crackdown on first-time offenders who blow over .10.
Vehicles, even if not owned by the driver, will be impounded and drivers will have their licences cancelled for 10 months.
Being caught will also be a hip-pocket hit with drunk drivers handed a $627 fine and any towing costs.
EDITORIAL: A LAW TO CUT THE CARNAGE
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill warned Victorians not to get behind the wheel after drinking.
“There is no place in our community for drivers who take risks with their life and the lives of others. This legislation will ensure these irresponsible drivers are removed from our roads.
“Drinking and driving are two behaviours that just don’t mix,” he said. “If you are going to drink then don’t drive — plan ahead, catch public transport, organise a designated driver or call a taxi.”
In 2013, up to 3750 first-time offenders were caught by police with a reading above 0.10.
Based on those figures police predicted more than 3500 more people will have cars impounded every year.
All highway patrol areas will require vehicles to be impounded except for Nunawading and Brimbank, which give the option of clamping cars under an immobilisation pilot.
The new rules are part of Road Safety Amendment Bill 2014 dubbed the “cocktail laws” which aimed at getting motorists who drive while on drink and drugs, off Victorian roads. It passed the Victorian Parliament with bipartisan support last year and will take effect on August 1.
Police Minister Wade Noonan warned boozers faced more penalties than ever.
“Anyone driving with a blood alcohol reading of .10 or higher is a danger to themselves and others, regardless of whether it is their first offence,’’ he said.
“Victorians deserve to be safe on our roads without having to worry about boozed-up drivers.
“People who drive with that much alcohol in their system are idiots, plain and simple.’’
Boozy drivers are also facing a higher chance of being caught after the Andrews Government announced 10 new drink and drug buses will be hitting the streets in a new $15 million safety scheme.
Meanwhile, revenue from traffic and red light camera fines will be funnelled into fixing Victorian roads under a new law being drafted by the Government.
The move will see every dollar from bad drivers going into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account to upgrade roads and fix level crossings.
VicRoads and Victoria police are being consulted by staff from the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources who were given the green light to begin work on the bill.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the move during his election campaign.
Legislation is needed because the current fund created under the Business Franchise (petroleum products) Act 1979 is inadequate.
The new law will see millions poured into the trust which will then be boosted to $1 billion by the Government.
alex.white@news.com.au
Lowering the driving age ?
A recent article in The Age newspaper by transport reporter, Adam Carey, explored the issue of lowering the driving age
in Victoria to boost job prospects.
Victoria has long been the only state or territory in Australia with a legal driving age of 18 but, if thousands of people have
their way, the state will join the rest of the country and allow 17-year-olds to drive unaccompanied.
High school student Khalid Issa launched a petition on Tuesday, calling on Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan and
VicRoads to “allow Victorians to obtain their P-plates at 17 years old”. By Friday morning it had attracted more than
18,000 signatures.
Two months shy of his 17th birthday, Khalid is a young man in a hurry. A year 11 student living in Werribee, he would
rather be learning a trade, perhaps as a carpenter, than in school. But the few prospective employers he has approached
have all told him he would need a driver’s licence to be considered, he said.
“I’m definitely not alone in this,” Khalid said. “I have so many friends that just want to start a career a little bit early but
they’re kind of put on hold just because Victoria is the only state that has this rule. In any other state, Khalid could get his
probationary licence at age 17. In the Northern Territory, where the age is even younger at 16 and six months, he would
already be driving.
Khalid said Victorian law was holding him back from getting a job, at a time when the government was looking to generate
more jobs. Victoria has differed from the rest of Australia on the issue for more than 40 years, a stance that, according to
VicRoads, has saved hundreds of lives.
A government discussion paper released in 2005 calculated that if the driving age was lowered to 17, the road toll would
rise by 20 in the first year, with 250 more people seriously injured, and by 13 extra deaths each year thereafter, with 200
more serious injuries.
More recent state-by-state road toll data also indicates that
Victoria has a superior record to other states regarding road
deaths among young adults.
RACV opposes any change to the status quo. “There is too much
risk that it would increase road trauma,” said Melinda Spiteri,
Manager Road User Behaviour. “You’ve got younger, perhaps
more immature people getting their licence. And purely in
numbers, you’re increasing how many people are on the road.”
Transport Accident Commission chief executive Janet Dore said
that anything that encourages earlier driver licensing also
increases crash risk. “When Canada reduced the minimum driver
licensing age to 16 from 18, crash involvement among new drivers
increased by 12 per cent and fatalities increased by 24 per cent,”
Ms Dore said.
VicRoads’ James Holgate said: “Lowering the minimum licensing
age in Victoria would be a step backwards.”
What Types of Accidents are the Most Common?
According to AAMI’s annual Crash Index, Victorian
drivers have the highest incidence of nose to tail
accidents in the country with nearly three out of ten
crashes involving one car colliding into the back of
another.
One fifth of Victorian drivers are also failing to give way
and finding themselves in accidents as a result.
AAMI’s analysis of almost 250,000 accident insurance
claims between October 2012 and September 2013
shows the top five types of accidents happening on
Victorian roads are as follows:
1. Nose to tail (28.8%)
2. Failed to give way (21.5%)
3. Parked car dings (21.1%)
4. Collision with a stationary object (13.1%)
5. Collision while reversing (11.7%)
Over the years there has been little change in the type of
accidents on Australian roads. AAMI’s Crash Index
reports show that the incidence of nose-to-tail collisions
has remained stable for the past decade. Parked car
dings however continue on an upward trend having risen
from 15% in 2004 to 21.1% in the latest Crash Index.
These types of accidents happen because of inattention
and driver impatience, which frequently leads to tailgating
or following too closely behind other cars.
Members are encouraged to discuss these statistics with
their students to raise awareness of the most common
types of accidents and what drivers can do to avoid
them.
Thanks to AAMI for providing this information. More
detail is available at www.aami.com.au.
Medicines Can Impair Your Driving
“Taking medicine is a normal part of life for many of us, especially as we get older. But some commonly used
medicines can impair your driving ability, and can place you, your passengers and other road users at risk.
Research into senior drivers, has shown that use of benzodiazepines, a class of medicines used for sleep or
anxiety problems, increases the crash risk by 5%.”
A brochure containing this information, plus more advice about how medicines affect driving; which medicines
can impair driving and what to do if you are taking medicines, is a good resource for business. Your learner
drivers need to be aware of what medicines can affect their driving and you should be aware of what
medicines your students are taking.
The key point for all drivers is to “discuss your medicines with your doctor or
pharmacist to understand how they might affect your ability to drive safely.”
The brochure “Always ask if your medicine will affect your driving” is produced by
the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, VicRoads and Transport Accident
Commission.
Driving Lesson Gift Vouchers
A Great Gift Idea for Learner Drivers
What would be better to help your learner driver on the way to the120 hour goal than a Gift Voucher from Eastern Suburbs Driving School? Gift vouchers are available in any denominations and or value that suits your budget
The Eastern Suburbs Driving School Gift Vouchers do not have a use by date, so they can be used to suit the individual learner needs. Payment is easy Cash, Credit Card, EFT, Cheque
Give us a call on 1300 888 082 and we will solve your gift giving for you.
Get Your Drivers Licence In Melbourne with our High Pass Rate!
Getting your drivers licence can be a challenge – our high pass rate improves your chances dramatically! Wherever you go for your drive test, be it Burwood, Mooroolbark or anywhere else, we’ll be there to make sure you perform your best. We offer lessons and accompanying instructors for drive tests at affordable rates.
Getting to 120 hours is only part of the picture – what you really need is 120 good hours. What you learn on the roads whilst on your learner’s permit will set you up for a lifetime of driving – if the right lessons don’t sink in, your driving skills may be compromised with serious or even fatal consequences.
Eastern Suburbs Driving School boasts a high first-time pass rate for all of its students, and aims to equip its students with all the tools they need to be safe, efficient drivers. Many students choose to take their drive test in Burwood thanks to its central location and capacity. Depending on your location, we can arrange driving lessons in the area so that you’ll be prepared when the big day arrives. We also have extensive experience with Mooroolbark, another popular testing location. Get to know the streets before you head out for your drive test.
What’s more, our instructors can accompany you during your test for an additional sense of guidance and security. Prior to the test, your instructor will endeavour to get you in the right mindset for success. Remember, the drive test is the culmination of everything that you have learned during your time as a learner driver. Don’t muck it up – call Eastern Suburbs Driving School today, and find out what we can do to help you get your licence!
Driving Fatigue.
Fatigue results in thousands of crashes every year.
What do we mean by “fatigue” You are fatigured when you become tired and can’t concentrate on your driving. You may even have a micro-sleep* or fall asleep at the wheel.
Micro- sleeps {nodding off} typically lasts between 2 and 20 seconds – but if you are travelling at 100 /h, in one second the car will have gone 28 m without you being in control.
How do we know?
Unlike alcohol-related crashes, there are no simple tests to determine if fatigue was a cause in a crash.
Investigators suspect fatigue as a cause when;
> The crash occurs late at night, early in the morning or late in the afternoon,
> A single car has run off the roadway.
> Nothing indicates the driver tried to avoid the crash {e.g. no skidmarks}
There are many warning signs for fatigue. A combination of any of the following signals that the driver is becoming fatigured and needs to take a break:
> yawning
> eyes feeling sore or heavy
> vision starting to blur
> start seeing things
> daydreaming and not concentrating
> becoming impatient
> feeling hungry or thirsty
> reactions seem slow
> feeling stiff or cramped
> driving speed creeps up or down
> starting to make poor gear changes
> wandering over the centre line or onto the road edge
What has research told us about fatigue?
Everybody needs sleep and we all have our own patterns of sleepiness and wakefulness. Fatigue {sometimes referred to as drowsiness or sleepiness} causes crashes because it slows down the driver’s reaction times and affects their scanning abilities and information processing skills.
> Although the need for sleep varies among individuals, sleeping eight hour in 24-hour period is common.
> The effect of sleep loss builds up. Regularly losing 1 to 2 hours sleep a night can create a “sleep debt” and lead to chronic sleepiness over time – and cause involuntary micro-sleeps.
> Just being in bed doesn’t mean a person has had enough sleep. Disrupted sleep has the same effect as lack of sleep. Illness, noise, activity, lights, etc, can interrupt and reduce the amount and quality of sleep.
Fatigue can strike any driver, but you are at greater risk as a young person if you:
> Combine heavy study or work with leisure and late night socialising.
> Change your sleep patterns and reduce night time sleep.
> Drink alcohol and or use other drugs.
Here are some ideas to minimise fatigue when you are driving:
> Plan to get sufficient and regular sleep. Most people need around 7-8 hours in every 24-hour period. Making do with less sleep will affect your driving.
> If you are sleepy or tired, don’t drink even small amounts of alcohol. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system and can make you even more tired or less alert.
> Try not to drive during your normal sleeping hours. Your body works in a rhythm or pattern and when you upset this rhythm it can badly affect you.
> If possible take a taxi or a lift with another person rather than driving during your normal sleep times. {you can always pick your car up in the morning if you have to .
> Think about what activity you were doing before the drive. If it was physically or mentally demanding then fatigue may “kick in” within a few minutes of beginning the trip.
> Know the signs that indicate you are tired.
> If you are fatigued , you must stop driving. Let a passenger drive or take a short “power nap” before continuing with the trip.
> Fatigue can set in even on short local trips. If there is no alternative to travelling a short distance when you are tired then make sure you make your journey as uncomfortable as possible – too cold, noisy or windy for example. If this works it won’t work for long and if it doesn’t work you are putting yourself at great risk and you should stop.
Source: Road to Solo Driving
Suburbs Areas
Popular Driving Lessons Areas:
Abbotsford | Albert Park | Ashburton | Ashwood | Balwyn | Balwyn North | Bayswater | Bayswater North | Belgrave | Belgrave Heights | | Bentleigh | Blackburn | Blackburn North | Blackburn South | Boronia | Box Hill | Box Hill North | Box Hill South | Burnley | Burwood | Burwood East | Camberwell | Canterbury | Caulfield | Chadstone | Cheltenham | Clayton | Croydon | Croydon Hills | Croydon North | Croydon South | Doncaster | Doncaster East | Donvale | Ferntree Gully | Glen Waverley | Glen Iris | Hawthorn | Heathmont | Hughesdale | Huntingdale | Kallista | Kalorama | Kew | Keysborough | Kilsyth | Knox | Kooyong | Kilsyth South | Lysterfield | Malvern | Melbourne | Menzies Creek | Middle Park | Mitcham | Monbulk | Mont Albert | Montrose | Mooroolbark | Mount Waverley | Mt Evelyn | Mulgrave | Nunawading | Oakleigh | Olinda | Park Orchards | Prahran | Richmond | Ringwood | Ringwood East | Ringwood North | Rowville | Sassa Fras | Scoresby | Selby | Silvan | South Yarra | St Kilda | Surrey Hills | Tecoma | Templestowe | Toorak | Tremont | Vermont | Victoria | Wantirna | Warrandyte | Warranwood | Wheelers Hill | Windsor | Wonga Park | Yarra Ranges | Australia
To see more our driving lesson areas, visit Suburb Area.
Car Maintenance for Learners
Most learner drivers need not worry about car maintenance, as they often use their parent’s cars for practice. However, proper car maintenance is an important part of car ownership and will play an important role in a driver’s financial life. It’s thus important that learner’s know the basics of keeping cars maintained as part of their driver education.
The general guidelines are to service your car every six months or so (~10,000 km), though this varies significantly depending on your driving habits and what kind of car you drive. Building a good relationship with a mechanics is very important, as it will enable you to get a good feel for what is going on with your car at any point in time. You can also save money by servicing your car yourself, though this takes time and sometimes training.
Learners can gain an insight into what car maintenance involves by accompanying the car owner to the garage at their next service. Ask questions, and get involved!
Mobile phone usage/ or not, when driving – helpful tips
Please see below helpful tips regarding new laws for mobile phone usage when driving a car in Australia, taken from Driver Training Association News Letter end 2013.
>>>>> Mobile Phone Usage/ or not, when driving a car Australia 2014 <<<<<<
Turning Arrows
Turning arrows can be tricky for someone who is just learning to drive. Though they may seem straightforward to experienced drivers, there are actually many turning rules that learner drivers may not be aware of.
Take, for example, turning lanes. If you are in the leftmost turning lane, you may turn into the left or middle lanes, but not the right lane. If you are in the right lane, you may ONLY turn into the right lane. This can get tough when you take trucks into account – remember, if a truck is in the right turning lane, you need to take extra care not to overtake it, or else you could end up running off the road! Thankfully, trucks usually turn in the leftmost lane.
Learners should also bear in mind that the turning lane lights often go through their cycle quickly. It’s important not to dawdle when you turn, otherwise you could leave the rest of the the queue with a headache. Instead, turn as quickly as it is safe to do so. You still need to leave appropriate distance between you and the incoming car though! An ESDS Driving Instructor will teach you how to balance these finicky aspects of driving, improving your skills in the long term and giving you the best chance at passing your drive test. Book your lesson today!
Lessons for the Long Term
Too many learner drivers tend to spend the duration of their permit with one goal above all else – passing the drive test and getting their probationary licence. While this may seem self-evident at first, we want to remind learners that getting their licence is actually only secondary – the main aim of learning to drive is just that, learning to drive, safely and confidently.
Anyone with enough time can get the required 120 hours. What distinguishes good drivers from bad ones is the quality of those hours. If a learner spends all their time picking up bad driving habits from their supervisors, driving in a small range of conditions and ignoring the rules of the road, they are more likely to have serious accidents and engage in ‘hooning behaviour’.
At ESDS, we focus on equipping the learner with the skills that they need to drive safely and confidently in the long run, not just well enough to get their licence. We believe that driver education leads to greater safety for everyone on our roads, and we do all we can to facilitate it.
We provide lessons at competitive rates with competent instructors. All of our instructors are patient and equipped to handle learners of any skill level. We highly recommend driving lessons to improve the quality of the learners driving, enable them to pass the probationary licence drive test and ultimately become a safe, sensible driver on the road. Give us a call to arrange your next lesson!
Driving Lessons in Winter Weather
The winter months can be the most hazardous for drivers. Heavy rain, fog and even ice and snow all pose risks on the road. Slow traffic through peak-hour rain can provoke dangerous road-rage and driving can get ever-more aggressive at this time of the year. It’s important that learner drivers learn how to manage these risks effectively and negotiate difficult conditions safely and confidently.
There’s no time like winter to start with professional driving lessons. With ESDS, a professional instructor is there to guide learners through every aspect of driving, including parking techniques, road rules, navigation, road courtesy and, most importantly, road safety. In difficult driving conditions, it’s easy for inexperienced driver to panic. This unfortunately increases their risk of having an accident. Driving lessons builds a learner driver’s confidence and enables them to make sound decisions no matter what the conditions are like.
Our instructors will guide learners through situations particular to winter road conditions, should they arise. For example, when do you use your high-beams (fog lamps)? How fast should you go in the wet? How do you anticipate what other drivers will do in low light conditions? What will cause you to lose control of the car? All of these are important skills, not only for passing the drive test, but also for your safety in the future. Call us today to arrange your driving lesson.
Our Service Areas in Melbourne
Popular Driving Lessons Areas:
Find a list of areas where Eastern Suburbs Driving School specializes in below:
Albert-Park | Armadale | Ashburton | Balwyn | Bayswater | Belgrave | Bentleigh | Berwick | Blackburn | Boronia | Box Hill | Brighton | Bulleen | Burnley | Burwood | Camberwell | Canterbury | Carnegie | Caulfield | Chadstone | Cheltenham | Clayton | Collingwood | Cranbourne | Croydon | Doncaster | Donvale | Emerald | Ferntree Gully | Fitzroy | Forest-Hill | Glen Waverley | Glen-Iris | Hawthorn | Healesville | Heidelberg | Kallista | Kalorama | Kew | Keysborough | Kilsyth | Knox | Kooyong | Lilydale | Lysterfield | Malvern | Melbourne | Menzies-Creek | Middle-Park | Mitcham | Monbulk | Mont Albert | Montrose | Mooroolbark | Mount Waverley | Mt-Evelyn | Mulgrave | Nunawading | Oakleigh | Olinda | Park-Orchards | Prahran | Richmond | Ringwood | Rowville | Sassa Fras | Scoresby | Selby | Silvan | South Yarra | St-Kilda | Surrey Hills | Tecoma | Templestowe | Toorak | Tremont | Vermont | Victoria | Wantirna | Warrandyte | Wheelers Hill | Windsor | Wonga-Park | Yarra Ranges | Yarra-Valley | Australia
Need a Driving School? Book a driving now!
Interesting Facts — Did you Know–?
The ADTA attended the Australian College of Road Safety Conference in Melbourne in September and obtained some interesting information.
For instance……
Australia is now outside the top ten OECD countries for road fatalities. The safest countries are Sweden, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom.
By 2020 road deaths will be the third most common cause of death
10% of drivers are involved in 50% of crashes
Fatigue contributes to 20% of crashes
90% of crashes are due to the behaviour / performance of the driver as opposed to driving conditions, vehicle malfunction or road structures.
A teenage driver travelling with a teenage passenger is 50% more likely to be involved in a crash.
Ten years ago there was only 5 one star ANCAP rated cars available. Now three quarters of new cars have 4 or 5 stars.
A 2 star car has double the accident / injury risk of a 5 star car.
Probationary drivers would be 80% safer if they drove 5 star cars, which would equate to 15% less road fatalities.
Wire rope barriers and bitumen on the side of roads with ripple strips lead to a 60%-90% decrease in serious injuries and fatalities.
Sweden has a default speed limit of 70kmph, compared with ours which is 100kmph
{Information provided by Australian Driver Trainers Association {Vic} Inc.
A Good Drive School – A Good Driver
You can tell a good drive school by its instructors. A reputation for excellent driving education rests squarely on the shoulders of the teachers themselves. To ensure that the next generation of drivers are considerate on the road and capable of safe decision-making, it’s vital to supply Learners with effective, clear driving instruction whilst remaining patient and alert to any possible problems along the way.
A good drive school selects only the best instructors in their field, with a significant wealth of experience. They must be skillful educators and know the rules of the road inside-out.It’s their overriding goal to ensure that their students receive the best possible chance of passing their drive test and becoming a safe, skilled driver.
There are a few crucial skills to look for when selecting a top-notch instructor. Patience is an essential virtue. Many young drivers make mistakes when they start out, and it’s important to build their confidence despite this. Driving instructors need to foster a good relationship with their students during their driving lessons to make sure that the learning experience is ingrained.
To obtain their probationary licence, or ‘P-plates’, a learner must be able to assure their assessor that they know how to make appropriate decisions on the road and that they abide by traffic laws. A driving school such as ESDS will cover all the bases for the learner driver, giving them the skills they need to pass their P-plate drive test.
A reputable drive school is based on a solid foundation of professional instructors. Book with us, and you can’t go wrong!
Driving Lessons and Safety
Young drivers are at the highest risk of any age group when it comes to fatal car accident statistics. Although Learner drivers are new to the roads and generally have no prior experience driving, they have the lowest fatality rate of any age group on our roads. Why do young drivers go from being innocuous to the most dangerous demographic of drivers? It’s all got to do with attitude. Young drivers relish the freedom when they finally obtain their P’s. As a consequence, there’s a lot that can go wrong.
Learning to drive without a qualified instructor is detrimental to the ability of young drivers. Though many parents are confident and often considered ‘good’ drivers, bad habits naturally accumulate with age. These are transferred to your children, possibly by accidental misinformation or lenient supervision. It’s nothing personal – we’re all human and make mistakes, after all, but don’t you want the best for your child?
Most learner drivers need some formal instruction to simply pass their Probationary Licence Test – parent supervision alone isn’t usually enough. However, to further ensure their safety on the roads, you need a patient, knowledgeable instructor who will guide your child through the ins and outs of driving. Doing so will enculture them with safe driving habits, making them less likely to take dangerous risks on the road.
Henceforth, Eastern Suburbs Driving School’s mission is to create drivers who will not only pass their P plate test, but also make safe, rational decisions on the road to protect themselves and those around them.
More For Parents Of Young Drivers – Part2
It’s essential for young learner drivers to get independent driving experience outside of their driving lessons. Indeed, most of their 120 hours will be made up of this experience, and the way that you drive with you child will hence affect them most. Our driving coaches impart valuable techniques, but unfortunately a lesson doesn’t go for 120 hours! There are a few things you can do while driving with your child that will help them maintain and practice the techniques developed during their lessons.
First and foremost, brush up on the road rules. Though most of us have been driving for many years, we’re often sketchy when it comes to the actual rules of the road. This fact shows up in our driving, and carries over to our children whose ignorance can have dangerous consequences. We recommend that you read ‘The Road To Solo Driving Handbook’ on the VicRoads website. Thus, if your child has any questions for you as a supervising driver, you can inform them correctly.
Another idea is to communicate with your child’s driving instructor. Our driving instructors are very friendly and personable, and are more than happy to answer any queries you may have about the progress of your child’s driving. They can also help you find deficiencies in your own driving style, and recommend ways of dealing with these so that you child doesn’t pick them up.
Parents play a role in their child’s driving just as important as that of their driving instructor. By assuming the duties of a supervising driver, you cease to become simply a passenger and become highly involved in you child’s driving. It’s important that you know the rules and be wary of passing on poor driving habits. Do this, and what your child learns in his or her lesson will stick and be well worth the investment. Call us today to find out more.
For more information contact us at Eastern Suburbs Driving School.
Parents of Young Learner Drivers
As much as we’d like to, the driving school can’t be there for all 120 hours prior to a learner’s P-plate test. The young driver must build independence and confidence by driving with a parent; developing and practicing the skills they have gained in their lessons. Parents play a crucial role in the development of a young learner driver, as many of their driving habits are passed on to their children. This can pose a problem if these habits are not conducive to proper driving technique.
It’s essential that all parents with children who are learning to drive brush up on the road safety rules, and know where their own technique’s strengths and weaknesses lie. This way, they can be more wary of passing along their errors. A few examples would include placement of feet in an automatic car, or starting the car in an improper fashion. These mistakes, though minor, can contribute to the failure of a drive test.
To ensure that your young learner driver learns the best driving habits, we recommend that you book regular driving lessons with the Eastern Suburbs Driving School. Our driving instructors impart correct, time-honoured techniques of driving to ensure that their students are amongst the safest on the roads. As a result, we have on of the highest first-time pass rates around.
A mixture of lessons and independent practice is essential for the development of a young learner driver. Parents who follow this strategy and brush up on the road rules before taking their child out on the road are destined for success. Who knows – you might even learn something about your own driving!
For more information contact us at Eastern Suburbs Driving School.
An Established Driving School
Eastern Suburbs Driving School is a solid launching pad for your life as a driver. Our extensive experience allows us to produce drivers of the highest calibre. With regular training, you will become a safe driver by learning how to make quick decisions in a wide range of driving conditions. Our driving school lessons are affordable and our instructors are highly trained.
Learning how to drive can be a daunting task, so we at Eastern Suburbs Driving School do all that we can to make the process more comfortable for new drivers. Our driving school cars are equipped with mechanisms, such as dual brakes, to ensure safety. This allows the driving school instructor to guide the learner driver and prevent him or her from doing anything stupid.
Our driving school aims to produce great drivers, not just ones that are good enough to pass. With continuous coaching, the learner driver develops the skills required to survive the road as well as pass the test. The probationary licence test requires ability on both minor and major roads, so we prepare the learner driver for driving on both types. Great driving begins with a good driving school, so ESDS is a wise choice.
So, book your lessons today, for yourself or for your son or daughter. You have a choice of automatic or manual transmission, and can book via telephone or email. Take advantage of our discount rates by browsing our website. Remember, you too can be a great driver – it just takes the right driving school!
For more information contact us at Eastern Suburbs Driving School.
The Challenge of the Test
VicRoads creates its tests to ensure that drivers have the right combination of skills for safe driving. These represent the final challenge for most learner drivers, a kind of gateway before the world of solo driving is at last opened up for them. The result of these tests are a Probationary licence, which now exists in a graduated system of red and green plates. Driving tests consist of two main parts, the Hazard Perception Test and the Drive Test.
It’s usually recommended by VicRoads that the two tests be completed on separate days. This is is done because, if the Hazard Perception Test is failed, you won’t have to relinquish your booking for the drive test immediately afterwards – a costly mistake to make. The Hazard Perception Test is a video-based test that takes place at a selected VicRoads office. A image appears on screen, and the potential licencee must indicate using a mouse when a hazard (such as a cyclist or passing traffic) arises or clears. With adequate preparation, the Hazard Test can be easily surmounted by most young drivers, placing the learner in a good position for the drive test.
The Drive Test is what most people think of when they consider going for their Probationary licence. This involves an on-road test where a VicRoads assessor conducts a series of exercises designed to test driver’s abilities in actual traffic. This is often the most daunting and challenging part of the licensing ordeal. Of course, like the Hazard Perception test, it can be managed with prior preparation. Driving lessons are useful in their capacity for preparing young drivers for the test. The instructors at ESDS know exactly what skills are necessary for passing. That’s why it’s a great idea to book a lesson with us before your next drive test.
Remember, once you get you P-Plates, don’t forget to display them prominently on your vehicle. The tests are the first steps towards the world of independent driving.
The Journey of a Young Learner Driver
It’s a fact that teenagers love independence. The thrill of breaking out into the world is universally appealing; going places, meeting people and building a life outside of school and home. Teens on the verge of adulthood, often around eighteen, are generally just finishing their studies and beginning to understand how the world works. There are just as many risks, of course, as there are assured benefits for these young men and women. Getting one’s first car is one of those great moments in any person’s life – not just as a practical means of transportation, but also as a symbol of freedom and independence. Once a teenager gets their P-plates, a brand new world is essentially opened up to them. They’re no longer relegated to the complicated realm of public transport or forced to bum rides off their parents, guardians or peers.
With such freedom, though, comes a considerable degree of responsibility. It’s a tragic fact of life that road fatalities are highest amongst drivers in their early twenties. This is often the result of inadequate road education. Learning road skills isn’t just about memorising the ‘highway code’ of road rules. It’s also about avoiding reckless behaviour, developing courtesy for other drivers and ultimately responsible driving. The best way to ingrain this kind of safe, rational driving attitude is through professional driving lessons, with a qualified instructor. At ESDS, for example, we teach skills that will stick with drivers for many years to come, ensuring safety on the road and sound behaviour. Explore our website for more.
Special Deals
We have a selection of special offers available for those who wish to book a series of lessons. These are a great way to start off the learning process, arranging for a progression of lessons that teach you new skills as you develop. If you are a parent of a young driver, these special deals provide excellent value for money as well as high quality of service.
Our promotional package deals can be found elsewhere on our website . Simply by browsing these pages, you are eligible for one of our package discounts. For example, if you buy five driving lessons, you can get one free. This represents a saving of $55. Or, book a series of ten lessons, and you can save an incredible $110. ESDS provides some of the best value for new drivers, as well as those needing to consolidate their skills for the final test. Peruse our special packages page, and quote one of the codes when booking your next group of lessons. It’s great value, and a convenient way to get quality instruction.
Safety and Reliability
ESDS is a family-run business that you can trust. We’ve been teaching young drivers sound road skills for years, and that’s why we believe that we have some of the best experience in the business. We pride ourselves on providing a safe learning environment that encourages mature and responsible driving, as well as courtesy on the road. Driving with a professional instructor is the best way to develop proper awareness of the road rules, and ESDS can provide the reliability and reassurance essential for learning these vital skills.
Once you book an appointment with us, either online or by phone, one of instructors will spend time assessing your driving ability and any potential areas for improvement. He or she will then guide you through the driving process, giving feedback and suggestions to help you improve. Our rates include pick-up and drop-off from and to your desired location, so lessons with us are convenient and require a minimum of fuss. Before your lesson, it’s a great idea to browse our website and look through our resources for learner drivers – our FAQ section, for example, has some very useful tips and tricks. Browse around, and book your lesson today!
The Merits of Driving Lessons
Some learner drivers tend to rely on a parent or guardian to provide them with driving knowledge. It’s easy to see why; many older drivers have considerable experience on the roads, often in a wide range of conditions, and are familiar to the learner. Unfortunately, the scope of focus of parent ‘instructors’ is generally limited, and this can take a regrettable toll on the eventual skills of the learner. While driving with a parent can be a great way to get the raw hours of driving experience and culture a sense of independence and confidence, it’s virtually essential that professional instruction is available for the young driver. This will allow them to develop proper skills consistent with the demands of the VicRoads assessors and the regimen of safe driving.
Driving lessons focus on developing crucial skills within pupils. Many supervising drivers, despite their often sound experience, all too often lack an extensive knowledge of the road rules and situations outside of their routine driving patterns. Instructors are trained to educate young drivers on all essential facets of driving, ensuring that there are no holes in their knowledge base. This is one of the reasons behind our very high pass rate. Surprises may often come up in the drive test that can throw inexperienced young drivers, and at worst cause them to fail their drive test. Taking lessons greatly improves their chances of succeeding and remaining responsible drivers.
Whether at the beginning of the learning process or the final stretch before the final tests, driving lessons are excellent ways of consolidating driving ability or establishing a firm, reliable and secure skill base for aspiring motorists. Book a lesson today, and ensure that your skills are honed for the world of driving.
What is the two second rule ?
The two second rule is about the following distance behind the vehicle in front.
The following distance is the space or gap between you and the vehicle in front.
You must keep your vehicle a safe distance from any vehicle in front of you. A safe distance should be enough to allow time to slow down and avoid trouble.
You should be at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front. You can check this by a simple test:
>> Focus on a marker in the distance such as a signpost or tree and note when the vehicle in front passes the marker, then count the number of seconds before your vehicle passes the same marker. Ask your supervising driver to also do this and compare your results.
If your count is not at least two seconds then you are to close.
At least two seconds of time and the distance this represents under ideal driving conditions are necessary to give you time to react to any changes which may happen.
Often, you may need more than two seconds,
This includes:
>> when visibility is poor
>> if conditions are dark
>> if conditions are wet or slippery
>> when you have a heavy load
>> when the road is unmade
You need to develop your judgement skills about what distance at different speeds represents two seconds. This skill will only come with lots of supervised driving experience.
But remember , under any conditions that are less than ideal, a longer gap is recommrnded.
Souce: The Road to Solo Driving
Driving Crashes Types and Causes
Drivers of all ages are involved in crashes. However, young drivers have more crashes than others and are more likely to be involved in the same types of crashes.
Two important things that can help reduce the involvement of young people in road crashes are:
1 Having plenty of driving practice during the learner period.
2 Slowing down to provide plenty of space and time to be able to react to the unexpected.
Common errors made by learner drivers are often as a result of:
>> Not scanning the environment well.
>> Misjudging the speed of other vehicles, particularly oncoming cars.
>> Travelling too close to other vehicles.
>> Travelling too fast, both for the road conditions and for their level of experience.
>> Being overconfident in their ability.
>> Speeding.
>> Inattentiveness or fatigue.
The three most common crash types for young drivers involve:
A Both turning and driving straight ahead at intersections.
B Rear end crashes.
C Veering off the road to the left.
A. Both turning and driving straight ahead at intersections
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash ?
>> Poor or insufficient scanning of the driving environment.
>> Not judging the gap in the traffic well.
>> Overconfidence in driving ability.
>> Speeding.
>> Reliance on other drivers to avoid a crash.
B. Rear end crashes
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash ?
Driver at rear :
>> Speeding.
>> Not enough space left between vehicles.
>> Relying on other drivers to avoid a crash.
>> Driver distraction.
>> Misjudging the required stopping distance.
Driver in front:
>> Driver distracted.
>> Not doing enough or any mirror or head checks.
>> Indicating intentions late or not at all.
>> Misjudging stopping distance, and late braking.
C. Veering off the road to the left.
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash?
>> Speeding.
>> Lack of steering control.
>> Distraction from the driving Task.
>> Fatigue.
Source: ATSB Key Facts for New Drivers
Driving for the conditions 2
Why is it often safer to lower your speed limit to below the posted speed ?
Busy roads are full of unexpected problems. A child may see its parents on the opposite side of the road and dart across without looking. You may be in control of your vehicle but you can’t control what other road users may do.
If you reduce your speed, you have more time to react to an unexpected situation.
When roads are wet and slippery it takes much longer for your vehicle to come to a stop after applying the brakes. When it rains after a long period of dry weather it is even more important to go slower, as the rain mixes with oil and dust on the road, making it even more slippery than usual.
Bright sunlight can blind you just for a moment when a hazard appears in the distance. If you are travelling at a slower speed you have time to react safely.
If you are travelling in an unfamiliar area, you will not be aware of the dangers that are around. By slowing down, even by 5 km/h, you give yourself an opportunity to see any hazards and more time to react.
Remember, the slower you go, the more time you have to react to unexpected situations.
Source: ATSB Key Facts For New Drivers
The new Victorian driver licence
From 23 November 2009, VicRoads is introducing a new and more secure learner permit, probationary licence and driver licence.
VicRoads will no longer issue these over the counter at its Customer Service Centres.
When you obtain, renew or replace your licence VicRoads will mail it to you within about a week.
You will be given a temporary driver licence receipt which you can use until your new licence arrives.
Your old licence remains current until its expiry date and there is no extra cost for this new, more secure licence.
Why the Change
There has been an increase in the illegal use of driver licences to commit fraud.
The new licence has improved security including a new clear, see through section in the centre of the licence.
These features will protect the personal information of the licence holder and make it more difficult to use the licence fraudulently.
This new licence will be manufactured at a highly secure , centralised facility using state-of-the-art technology and advanced printing processes. That’s why you will receive it by mail not on the spot at VicRoads Customer Service Centres.
Source VicRoads Licensing
http:www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/TypesOfLicences/ThenewVictoriandriverlicence.htm
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.
Automatic Licences requests high advises Driving School
120 HOURS: IS THE MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH?
120 HOURS: IS THE MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH?
LEARNER DRIVERS AND DRIVING PRACTICE
Probationary drivers are over-represented in crashes, particularly in their first year of solo
driving. Studies have shown that a minimum of 120 hours supervised driving practice as
a learner is associated with reduced risk of crashing in the first year of solo driving.
VicRoads, TAC and other bodies have implemented programs to encourage and facilitate
the accumulation of 120 hours of supervised driving practice. Beginning in 1999,
VicRoads and TAC commissioned a series of surveys to evaluate the success of these
programs. Each survey samples a cross-section of learner and newly licenced drivers at
different stages of the learner permit period. Responses are used to estimate learner
drivers’ hours of supervised driving practice and professional lessons. The results of the
2004 survey stated that estimated total of hours of supervised driving has risen
substantially since the first survey, and this paper demonstrates where the increases
have occurred as well as charting the variety of driving experience accumulated.
Respondents’ exposure to and perceived helpfulness of the programs is assessed.
Hindrances to practice, attitudes towards supervised practice, and respondents’ thoughts
on what would encourage more practice are also reported.
Introduction
Probationary drivers are over-represented in crashes, particularly in their first year of solo
driving (VicRoads 2006). For more than three decades, the problem of inexperience has been
recognised as a primary contributing factor to crash involvement for novice drivers (see for
example: Pelz & Schuman 1971, Spolander 1983, Levy 1990, Drummond et al. 1993, Cavallo &
Triggs 1996 [cited in Gregersen 2000]).
Studies have shown that a minimum of 120 hours supervised driving practice as a learner is
associated with a 30% reduction in risk of crashing in the first two years of solo driving
(Gregersen 2000). VicRoads, TAC and RACV have implemented programs to encourage and
facilitate the accumulation of 120 hours of supervised driving practice. These include:
• VicRoads’ Keys Please seminars
• VicRoads’ Getting There: from Ls to Ps booklet
• VicRoads’ L Site website
• VicRoads’ Learners Log webpage
• TAC HELP Information Pack
• TAC Drive Smart CD ROM
• RACV Parent Plus driving school program.
TAC has also implemented advertising campaigns on television, radio, print media and roadside
billboards emphasising the importance of 120 hours of supervised practice.
Commencing in 1999, VicRoads and TAC commissioned a series of surveys to evaluate how
successful these programs have been in increasing the number of hours that learner drivers
spend in supervised driving practice. The surveys were conducted in 1999, 2000, 2004 and
2005. ARRB has published reports for the surveys conducted up to 2004 (see Catchpole &
Stephenson 2001, Catchpole & Coutts 2002, Catchpole & Pyta 2005). This paper reports on the
changes in the number of hours of supervised practice accumulated by learner drivers observed
in the 2004 survey. Respondents’ exposure to and perceived helpfulness of the programs are
assessed. Hindrances to practice, attitudes towards supervised practice, and respondents’
thoughts on what would encourage more practice are also reported.
Method
Sample
The sample consisted of 1322 learner permit holders and 209 newly licenced drivers. The
sample of current learner permit holders was stratified by length of time holding the learner
permit. Both the samples of current learner permit holders and newly licenced drivers were
stratified by region, sex and age when the learner permit was acquired.
There are naturally fewer learners living outside of Melbourne and fewer learners in the first two
stages of the learner permit period. To obtain reliable estimates of driving experience for these
groups, they were deliberately over-sampled. The survey response data was weighted prior to
analysis to account for this over-sampling and to ensure the results were representative of all
Victorian learner permit holders.
Design
The study is cross-sectional as it samples at one point in time a cross-section of learner drivers
during four ‘stages’ of the learner permit period. The stages are defined as:
Stage 1: 1-91 days after obtaining a learner permit (first 3 months)
Stage 2: 92-212 days after obtaining a learner permit (4th to 7th months)
Stage 3: 213-1461 days after obtaining a learner permit (balance of the first 4 years)
Final stage: last 28 days before acquiring a probationary licence.
Survey Procedure
Roy Morgan Research recruited and interviewed respondents for the surveys. VicRoads
supplied Roy Morgan with quotas based on the desired stratified sample and the name and
address of 16,496 current learner permit holders and 2782 newly licenced drivers. The surveys
were conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing.
Analysis procedure
The average amount of driving experience accumulated by drivers over the whole learner permit
period was calculated by:
1. Identifying people in stages 1 to 3 who might actually be in the final stage of the learner
permit period and then multiplying their weighting factor by 0.4081 to reduce their
influence (because these people spend more time practising per week).
2. Multiplying the average amount of driving per week during each stage by the average
amount of time spent in that stage to give an estimate of the amount of driving experience
accumulated in each stage.
3. Negating the bias which is present for stage 3 (people who spend less time in stage 3
also tend to do more driving per week in stage 3) by multiplying the estimated amount of
experience by a correction factor of 0.8982.
1 This weight was also calculated from data in the 1999 survey when the date of licence acquisition was available.
4. Adding together the estimates of the amount of driving experience accumulated in each
stage to give an estimate of the total accumulated hours of driving experience over the
whole learner permit period.
Results
Time holding a learner permit
The average time holding a learner permit was 82.7 weeks in 1999 and 83.9 weeks in 2000. In
2004, learner drivers held their learners permit for an average of 86.3 weeks before graduating
to a probationary licence.
Professional driving lessons
Time spent in professional driving lessons is generally low in the first three stages. Most
learners in this group reported not having had a lesson in the last four weeks, and the average
time spent in lessons for this group (including learners who had no lessons) was 4 to 7 minutes
per week. The average increases to 58 minutes per week in the last four weeks before they
attempt their licence test. On average:
• the total time spent in professional lessons over the whole learner permit period was 10.4
hours, a drop of 5% since the 2000 survey
• females spent more time in professional lessons than males
• learners from Melbourne spent more time in professional lessons than learners from the
rest of Victoria.
The latter two figures did not differ significantly between the 2000 and 2004 surveys.
Supervised driving practice
Time spent in supervised practice averaged 52 to 64 minutes per week in the first three stages,
increasing to 160 minutes per week in the final stage. In addition, 83-90% of learners reported
having undertaken supervised practice in the last week. On average:
• the total time spent in supervised practice over the whole learner permit period was 83.6
hours, an increase of 11% from the 2000 survey
• males spent more time in supervised practice per week than females in the first three
stages
• learners from Melbourne spent less time in supervised practice during the first three
stages but more time than country Victorians in the final stage.
Total driving experience
The total supervised driving experience over the whole learner permit period (comprising
professional lessons and supervised driving practice) averaged 94.1 hours, an increase of 9.5%
since 2000. On average, total driving time was:
• lower for females (82.7 hours) than for males (106.2 hours)
• lower for Melbourne learners (90.1 hours) than for residents of provincial centres (96.8
hours) and the rest of Victoria (112.0 hours)
• substantially higher for learners who acquired their permit at age 16 (124.8 hours) versus
at age 17 (71.0 hours) versus at age 18 to 20 (57.5 hours).
2 This correction factor was calculated for the 1999 survey when VicRoads was able to supply information about the
date of licence acquisition. From 2000 onwards, VicRoads was unable to supply this information, and so the correction
factor calculated in 1999 has been applied to subsequent years’ data.
Proportionately, experience was gained through 11% professional lessons and 89% supervised
practice. The proportion of experience gained through professional lessons was higher for:
• females than males
• learners from Melbourne than learners from the rest of Victoria
• learners who acquired their permit at age 17 or 18 to 20 years than those who acquired
the permit at 16.
Variety of driving conditions experienced
Compared with the 2000 survey, the variety of driving conditions that learner drivers were
exposed to increased by a statistically significant 25% in stage 3 (although the changes in the
other stages were smaller and not significant). Country Victorians generally gained greater
variety of experience than Melbourne learners and male learners generally gained greater
variety of experience than female learners in the first three stages.
Recognising the importance of supervised experience
When asked how many hours of experience they believed a learner needs to accumulate before
attempting the probationary licence test, 33-45% answered in the 101-150 hour range. Around
half of all learners reported that they kept a record of their driving practice, and there were
significant increases since 2000 in the number of learners keeping record of their driving
practice across three of the four stages.
Programs to increase learner driver experience
The programs are listed in order of greatest audience exposure:
• VicRoads’ Getting There: from Ls to Ps booklet
– information for supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and effectively
managing the process of learning to drive
– 73-81% of respondents received the booklet
– considered helpful by 59-70% of those who received it, but 15-20% said they had not
read it
• TAC HELP Information Pack
– information for supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and effectively
managing the process of learning to drive
– 45-67% of respondents had received the pack
– 42-64% of those found it helpful
• VicRoads’ Keys Please seminars
– dissemination of information to supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and
effectively managing the process of learning to drive
– 24% of respondents had attended by stage 3
– considered helpful by 87-100% of those who attended
• VicRoads’ L Site website
– interactive quizzes prompting learners to think about how their driving is progressing
and practical advice about how to improve their driving
– 11-25% of respondents had visited the website
– 71-83% of those who visited the site found it helpful
• TAC Drive Smart CD ROM
– interactive driving scenarios and quizzes designed to help learners make safe
judgements and improve real-world driving skill
– 9-25% % of respondents had used the CD ROM program
– 66-81% of those found it helpful
• TAC Learners Log webpage
– interactive website allowing learners to keep record of the hours and variety of
supervised practice they do
– 1-5% of respondents had visited the website
– 72-87% of those who visited the site found it helpful
• RACV Parent Plus driving school program
– a learner who has professional lessons with RACV DriveSchool can receive one lesson
free of charge if they bring a parent along for their lesson
– 0-3% of learners had taken part in the program.
Hindrances to practice
Most respondents (68%) reported that there was nothing limiting their involvement in
professional lessons, although a moderate proportion reported that lessons were too expensive
(10%) or that they didn’t have time for lessons (13%).
Similarly, most respondents (67%) reported that there was nothing limiting their involvement in
supervised practice; although a moderate number stated that they were too busy (18%).
Respondents who were living with at least one parent were much more likely to obtain the
learner permit at age 16, to report that their usual supervisor is a parent and to have two or
more cars and two or more supervisors available for practice. They also averaged more hours
practising per week, and were less likely to report hindrances to practice.
Attitudes towards supervised practice
When asked what would reduce the number of probationary driver crashes, 21-34% of
respondents recognised more driving practice as learners as an important protective factor.
Encouraging more supervised practice
When asked what would encourage learners to do more supervised practice, one third were
unable to answer, and the most popular responses were to allow more time and more access to
a car.
Discussion
There were some encouraging trends revealed in the 2004 survey. A moderate increase in
hours of driving experience prior to attempting the probationary licence test was observed. This
increase was the result of increases in the average time for which the learner permit is held and
increases in the average time spent practising per week in stage three. The variety of driving
conditions experienced also increased significantly.
Exposure to the programs intended to encourage and facilitate new drivers to accumulate their
120 hours of supervised driving practice was good. Most respondents were aware of at least
one of the programs, and most found them useful. Although these results are encouraging,
causation cannot be definitively attributed to them, as we cannot control for other potential
influencing factors.
There are some methodological issues to allow for when considering these results. Firstly, the
sampling method was changed in 2004 to be stratified on the respondent’s age when they
obtained their learners permit, where previously it had been stratified on the respondent’s age at
the time of the survey. This change occurred because results from the 1999 and 2000 surveys
revealed that the total driving experience accumulated by learner permit holders is closely
related to their age at the time of obtaining the learners permit.
Some systematic sampling bias may also have occurred due to potential respondents not being
available when the interviewers attempted to call. This rate was higher for newly licenced
drivers than learners. In future surveys, a higher call back rate will be stipulated for newly
licenced drivers.
This survey used a cross-sectional method to estimate total driving experience over the whole
learner permit period. Another method is simply to ask newly licenced drivers to estimate their
total driving experience. When these two methods were compared, the results showed that the
latter method tended to overestimate total driving experience by about 39% when compared
with the cross-sectional method. Therefore, simply asking newly licenced drivers to recall their
total practice is not a reliable method of gauging the total supervised driving experience
accumulated. It is possible that this over-estimate is influenced by a desire on the part of newly
licenced drivers to meet the ideal 120 hours of practice which is prominent in TAC advertising.
Importantly, the surveys reveal potential target audiences who would benefit most from
increased attention in future programs. These include:
• learners who do not get the learner permit until age 17 or older
• learners not living with a parent
• females
• learners living in Melbourne.
References
Catchpole, J and Coutts, M 2002, Continued monitoring of driving experience among learner
drivers: 1999-2000, Research Report ARR 357, ARRB Transport Research, Vermont South Vic.
Catchpole, J and Pyta, V 2004, Learner driver experience monitoring 2004, Research Report
365, ARRB Group, Vermont South Vic.
Catchpole, J and Stephenson, W 2001, Monitoring driving experience among learner drivers,
Research Report ARR 355, ARRB Transport Research, Vermont South, Vic.
Gregersen, NP 2000, ‘Sixteen years age limit for learner drivers in Sweden – an evaluation of
safety effects’, Accident Analysis & Prevention 32(1) pp.25-35.
VicRoads 2006, Young Driver Safety and Graduated Licensing Program: Discussion Paper,
viewed 10 August 2006
<http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/downloads/Youngdriver_discussion/YDS_v10_web.pdf>,
VicRoads, Kew, Victoria.
Source: Victoria Pyta, ARRB Group, victoria.pyta@arrb.com.au
And
John Catchpole, ARRB Group, john.catchpole@arrb.com.au
Guide for Learners – Driving Schools
Please click here to read full article and open brochure.
Source: VIC ROADS
Speeding. What a sensation!! Driving School Warns
It may seem like fun but it is downright dangerous. The faster you travel the more likely
it is that you will be involved in a car crash, and the faster you go, the harder you hit.
The effects of speeding and being involved in a car crash can change your life forever.
Think about this:
Choose your speed and you
choose your consequences.
In a 60 km/h zone, travelling at:
• 65 km/h, you are twice as likely to
have a serious crash
• 70 km/h, you are four times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 75 km/h, you are 10 times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 80 km/h, you are 32 times as likely
to have a serious crash
than if you drive at 60 km/h.
In rural out of town areas, travelling just 10 km/h faster than the average speed of other traffic, you are twice as likely to have a serious crash. Travelling a bit slower than other traffic on the highway actually reduces the hances that you will have a serious crash.
Dry conditions:
The road is dry, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard. Will you stop in time?
Wet conditions:
The road is wet, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard. Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
Wet conditions:
The road is wet, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard. Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
• In wet conditions, it is much safer to drive below the speed limit. If
a child steps onto the road 45 m ahead, you will have to be
driving under the speed limit to stop in time.
The faster you go, the less time
you have to see hazards,
assess the risk and respond.
Even though you may be a
capable driver, extra speed
always means it takes longer
for the vehicle to stop.
In wet conditions you should
allow much more distance to
stop than on a dry road.
The more distance you keep
from other vehicles on the
road, the better your chances
are of avoiding a crash.
All drivers make mistakes at
times. If you stay at least three
seconds behind the vehicle in
front, you will have time to
react to unexpected situations.
You will also be a lot more
visible to oncoming drivers and
better positioned to see any
vehicles ahead of the one in
front of you.
Do you feel the pressure
to go fast?
Don’t worry if others expect you
to go fast. You are in control of
the car and ultimately you are
the one to face the
consequences of speeding.
Can you afford the costs of
speeding (points and licence
loss, $$s and injury)?
Even if you don’t crash or get
fined, higher speeds and hard
acceleration will cost you extra
money every time you fill your
petrol tank.
Next time you see a person
speeding in and out of traffic,
check out where they are at the
next change of lights or
intersection. Chances are they
are beside you. Speeding can
really only save you a few
seconds or minutes in a total
journey – so it’s not worth the
risk.
Annoyed that someone has
pushed into the gap that you
have left between you and the
next car? Just make another
gap. It’s cheaper and less
hassle than crashing into their
car!
Speeding in an urban area is as dangerous as driving with an
illegal blood alcohol concentration. In a 60 km/h zone, even
travelling at 5 km/h above the limit increases your chances of
having a serious crash as much as driving with a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.05.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death among young
Australians aged 16–25 years.
Fact:
The risk of being involved
in a fatal or serious crash
is much higher for young
drivers when there are
passengers – particularly
when the passengers are
around the same age and
when there is more than
one.
Why is this so?
Having your friends in the car
can:
• Distract you when you have
not fully mastered or
automated your driving
skills.
• Encourage riskier driving
behaviours – such as
driving after drinking
alcohol, speeding, swerving,
and following too close.
• Tempt you to show off your
driving skills.
Here are some tips:
• It isn’t easy to tell your friends that you
won’t give them all a lift home from a
party – so practise some believable
excuses before the end of the night.
‘Mum only loaned the car to me on
condition that I come straight home.’
• Leave the car at home and share a taxi
with your friends.
• If you want to take a friend or friends,
keep the number to a minimum. The
more passengers you have, the riskier
the trip becomes.
• When offering friends a lift, remember
that you are the driver and in control of
the car. Take them on the condition that
they are helpful rather than distracting.
Ask them to: help out with directions;
not fiddle with knobs and dials; not to
point out things unrelated to the driving
task (e.g. good looking pedestrians!!).
• If your friend is driving, allow them to
concentrate on the driving – try to help
by spotting hazards in and around the
road.
During driving practice
• For the first 10 hours of supervised
practice, keep the radio off and
passengers either out of the car or
down to a minimum, and silent.
• As you become more confident and
capable as a learner driver, start
allowing passengers and other
distractions into the car. But be
assertive and ask for silence when
things get busy or difficult.
After you get your Ps
• Avoid taking passengers for the first
few unsupervised drives. You will be
surprised how much more challenging
driving is on your own than when your
supervisor was taking up some of the
workload.
• Be in control of every trip you make –
resist the temptation to show off your
driving skills to your friends or other
road users.
For the complete article please read here: ATSB
THE NEW PRACTICAL DRIVE TEST
· The new drive test is being introduced as part of the new Graduated Licensing System (GLS) to:
oBetter assess the ability of licence applicants to handle the demands of solo driving as P1 driver; and
o Motivate learners to better prepare for their Ps by getting 120 hours driving experience in a wide variety of driving conditions.
· The new test:
o Is longer than the current test;
o Provides a better picture of a licence applicant’s driving ability;
o Incorporates a more thorough assessment system;
o Has Immediate termination errors;
o Introduces scoring of critical errors;
o Is made up of two parts which separate less challenging and more challenging driving tasks;
o Involved extensive trialing with learners with varying levels of experience; and
o Is unique to Victoria and is evidence-based.
· Applicants still need to pass the Hazard Perception Test before taking the drive test.
WHY WAS A NEW DRIVE TEST REQUIRED?
· The new drive test is an important part of GLS and is needed to help support the 120 hour requirement for learner drivers. 120 hours has been shown to significantly reduce crashes.
· Key objectives of the new drive test are to:
· Help discriminate between learners with and without 120 hours;
· Motivate learners to get at least 120 hours in a variety of conditions;
· Replace the current test (POLA) which was developed at a time when most learners had low levels of supervised experience;
· Complement the current HPT;
· Introduce a new test which sets the bar higher and is designed to assess more experienced learners; and
· Better assess the ability of licence applicants to handle the demands of solo driving as a P1 driver.
HOW WAS THE NEW TEST DEVELOPED?
· Developed over 18 months from the results of trials with 1300 learners with a range of driving experience;
· Developed by VicRoads with assistance from road safety and test development experts;
· Not based on opinions but based on evidence; and
· Process was scientific and used:
o best research from Australia and overseas
o causes of crashes for newly licenced drivers
o extensive trials with learners
o input by testers and driving instructors
o occupational health and safety as a key consideration in the design of the test.
TEST OVERVIEW
· 30 minute on-road test (previously 15-20 minutes).
· Has two parts:
o Part 1 – takes 10 minutes and has 7 driving tasks in less challenging driving conditions. Applicants must pass Part 1 before they are permitted to attempt Part 2.
o Part 2 – takes 20 minutes and consists of 14 to 21 day-to-day driving tasks in a range of realistic traffic conditions.
o Applicants must pass both parts of the test to obtain their probationary licence.
SCORING
· The outcome of the drive test does not depend on a single test score – it depends on the number of Immediate Termination Errors, Critical Errors and performance on the specific driving tasks.
· The test scoring involves:
o Immediate Termination Errors – where the applicant does something to create an unsafe situation. This results in the applicant immediately failing the drive test and the test being terminated.
o Critical Errors – where the applicant makes a serious driving error which does not create any immediate danger. Repetition of this behaviour(s) will fail the applicant and terminate the test.
§ Only 2 critical errors are allowed over the course of the test, if a 3rd occurs the applicant immediately fails and the test is terminated.
§ During Part 1 of the test (less challenging driving conditions), only 1 critical error is allowed, if a 2nd error occurs during this part of the test the applicant immediately fails and the test is terminated.
o In addition, to the Immediate Termination Errors and Critical Errors, points are also awarded for correctly and safely demonstrating key driving skills when completing specific driving tasks.
PASSING THE NEW TEST
· The practical drive test checks that licence applicants can:
o Drive safely;
o Control a vehicle smoothly;
o Obey the road rules; and
o Co-operate with other road users.
· Learners are more likely to pass the practical drive test if they:
o Have had more than 120 hours of supervised driving experience;
o Have had supervised driving experience in a broad range of different conditions – such as at night, in wet weather, and on different types of roads; and
o Can drive safely and legally in different driving situations – such as normal and busy traffic, at intersections and on multilane roads.
LOG BOOK CHECKING
· Log Books will be checked by a VicRoads Licence Testing Officer (LTO) at the start of the drive test appointment before the applicant is taken out in the vehicle.
· All licence applicants who obtained their learner permit on or after 1 July 2007 and are under 21 at the time they sit for their probationary licence test must present a completed Log Book i.e. 120 hours (including 10 hours at night).
· Learners who are aged 21 or older or obtained their permit before 1 July 2007 – do not have to present a Log Book.
· Log Book entries must be completed in pen. Blue and black is preferable (as requested in the Log Book), however any pen colour will be accepted if the entry is legible (i.e. the VicRoads LTO can understand the log entry).
LOG BOOK SCENARIOS
· Pass Log Book Check / Pass Drive Test
o If an applicant meets all the requirements of the Log Book check and passes the Drive Test (and other requirements associated with the appointment), they will be issued with a P1 probationary licence.
· Pass Log Book Check / Fail Drive Test
o If an applicant meets all the requirements of the Log Book check and fails the Drive Test, the log book results will be recorded.
o The applicant is not required to re-present their Log Book, when re-sitting for their Drive Test.
· Fail Log Book Check
o If an applicant fails to meet all the requirements of the Log Book check then they are unable to undertake Drive Test.
o The applicant forfeits their Drive Test appointment, all test fees and must wait at least 6 weeks before they can attempt another test.
o The applicant must re-present their completed Log Book, when presenting for their next test.
Source: VIC ROADS, Driving Instructor Industry Update, 06-2008
Key Dates To Protect Young Drivers
KEY DATES
2007
1 January ALCOHOL INTERLOCKS INTRODUCED FOR YOUNG FIRST TIME OFFENDERS From 1 January 2007, a probationary driver or any driver under 26, caught for a drink driving offence involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .07 or higher, will have an alcohol interlock fitted to their car when they return to driving. If the interlock detects any alcohol on a driver’s breath, the car won’t start.
1 July NEW LEARNER PERMIT RULES INTRODUCED From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must stay on their learner permit for at least 12 months before they can apply for their probationary licence. They also have to carry their permit whenever they drive.
1 July 120 HOURS OF SUPERVISED DRIVING From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must have logged at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 10 hours night driving, before they can apply for a P1 probationary licence.
1 July
NEW RESTRICTIONS ON DRIVING HIGH POWERED VEHICLESFrom 1 July 2007, new restrictions make it easier for probationary drivers to identify the car they can legally drive.
2008
1 July NEW ON ROAD DRIVING TEST
1 July A NEW TWO STAGE PROBATIONARY LICENCE WILL BEGINThe current single probationary licence will be replaced by a one year P1 probationary licence (red plate), followed by a three year P2 probationary licence (green plate).
1 July PASSENGER RESTRICTION FOR P1 DRIVERFrom 1 July 2008, a P1 driver can only carry one passenger aged between 16 and 21.
For under 21s – Extra probationary licence stage means 2 P plates
If you get your Ps from 1 July 2008, and you are under 21, you will now have an extra probationary licence stage. In other words, it’s an extra P plate.
As part of Victoria’s new graduated licensing system, there will be two probationary licence stages: a one year P1 (red plates) stage, followed by a three year P2 (green plates) stage.
You will need a good driving record to progress from P1 to P2, then to a full licence.
Any licence suspension, or other serious offence, will add six months to the probationary period, plus the period of suspension.
NEW P1 AND P2 PROBATIONARY LICENCES
P1 Licences (Red Plate)
From 1 July 2008, the new P1 licences will be issued and everyone applying for a probationary licence will need to pass a hazard perception test and an on road driving test. (Drivers with a probationary licence issued before 1 July 2008 will be covered by the current system.)
Probationary drivers aged under 21 years, when first licenced, must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months. During this time all mobile phone use is banned and there is a restriction on towing unless for work or they are under instruction.
Probationary drivers who are aged 21 years or older when first licenced will move directly to a P2 licence.
What’s different about a P1?
P1 requirements include…
Must stay on a P1 licence for at least 12 months
No mobile phone use of any kind.
P1 driver can only carry one passenger aged between 16 and 21.
No towing (unless for work or if under instruction).
Restrictions on driving high powered vehicles
Drink driving offenders may have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle
Any licence suspension, drink driving offence with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) up to 0.05, or drug driving offence will result in an extension of the P1 licence period for six months, plus the period of suspension.
If the P1 licence is suspended, a passenger limit of one will apply for the remainder of the P1 period.
Other existing P provisions will also apply.
What’s different about a P2?
P2 requirements include…
A three year minimum
Restrictions on driving high powered vehicles
Drink driving offenders may have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle.
Any licence suspension will result in an extension of the P2 period by six months, plus the period of suspension.
Other existing P provisions will also apply
(Source: Arrive Alive Mail Out 17 June 2008 and website)
Speeding – Driving School in Melbourne Alerts
Speeding. What a sensation!!
It may seem like fun but it is downright dangerous. The faster you travel the more likely
it is that you will be involved in a car crash, and the faster you go, the harder you hit.
The effects of speeding and being involved in a car crash can change your life forever.
Think about this:
Choose your speed and you
choose your consequences.
In a 60 km/h zone, travelling at:
• 65 km/h, you are twice as likely to
have a serious crash
• 70 km/h, you are four times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 75 km/h, you are 10 times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 80 km/h, you are 32 times as likely
to have a serious crash
than if you drive at 60 km/h.
In rural out of town areas, travelling just
10 km/h faster than the average speed
of other traffic, you are twice as likely to
have a serious crash.
Travelling a bit slower than other traffic
on the highway actually reduces the
chances that you will have a serious
crash.
Dry conditions:
The road is dry, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard.
Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
Wet conditions:
The road is wet, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard. Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
• In wet conditions, it is much safer to drive below the speed limit. If
a child steps onto the road 45 m ahead, you will have to be
driving under the speed limit to stop in time.
(Source: Australian Government Publications; ATSB, Speeding Brochure)
Your Learner Log Book
Get it right or you won’t be allowed to take a licence test
All Learner permit holders less than 21 years of age who obtained their learner permit on or after I July 2007 must have…
• passed the hazard perception test,
• be at least 18 years old,
• have held their Learner Permit for at least one year
• And have recorded at least 120 hours of driving experience (including at least 10 hours at night)
Before applying for a practical drive test.
The checklist on page 12 of the Learner Log Book section of the Learner Kit provides more detail regarding these requirements.
Your hours of driving experience must be recorded in the Log Book that Vic Roads gave you when you obtained your Learner Permit.
This Log Book is a legal document. It is your legal responsibility to make sure all details are completed accurately.
Every detail for every trip must be entered accurately. That means…
• Only use a pen.
• Complete all details for every trip.
• Fill in odometer readings — not trip meter readings.
• If you make a mistake, put a line through the entire entry and rewrite it on the next line.
• Do not use whiteout.
• Make sure the correct total is carried forward from the bottom of one page to the top of the next.
• Ensure the Log Book s not damaged illegible or missing pages.
It is a good idea to photocopy each page you finish. If you lose your Log Book you can use these copies to re-enter details in a replacement Log Book and have them all resigned by the Supervising Drivers (photo copies are not acceptable). You can buy a new Log Book for $16 by contacting Vic Roads on 13 11 71 or online via www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/bookshop
The instructions are described on pages 1 to 5 of the Learner Log Book.
The Declaration of Completion on page 6 must only be completed by you and your main supervising driver after you have finished using your log book.
Each of your Supervising Drivers must complete one of the forms on pages 9 to 11. Extra pages can be downloaded at www.vicroads.vic.qov,au
If on the day of your licence test Vic Roads does not accept your Log Book you will…
• Not be allowed to take the licence test.
• have to wait at least 6 weeks before you can take another test.
• lose all your fees.
Finally, it is suggested you do not stop recording trips once you reach 120 hours. Go for morel you will then have some hours ‘in reserve’ if any entries are deemed to be invalid and have to be deducted. Remember, you must not fall below 120 hours by the time you take your licence test.
Prepared by the Australian Driver Trainers Association (Victoria)
Your Drive Test in VIC
(Effective 1 July 2008, Source VIC Roads)
ABOUT THE DRIVE TEST
New probationary drivers have a high risk of being
involved in a crash.
To increase the safety of young drivers, there are new
rules for learner and probationary drivers:
• Most learner drivers must have at least 120 hours of
supervised driving experience before attempting to
pass the tests needed for a probationary licence.
• After passing the tests, there will be a two-stage
probationary period: P1 (red plate) for one year and
P2 (green plate) for three years.
All learner drivers have to pass two tests to get their
licence – the Hazard Perception Test and an on-road
practical Drive Test.
The Drive Test helps identify drivers who are ready to
drive safely on their own.
You’re more likely to pass the Drive Test if you:
• Have had at least 120 hours of supervised driving
experience.
• Have had supervised driving experience in a broad
range of different driving conditions – such as at night,
in wet weather, and on roads with different speed
zones.
• Can drive safely and legally in different driving
situations – such as in normal and busy traffic, at
intersections, and on multilane roads.
Use the VicRoads Learner Kit to help you get the driving
practice that you need.
Follow the four stages in the Learner Kit to safely guide
your driving practice and make sure you correctly fill in
the Learner Log Book as you go.
You will receive a free copy of the Learner Kit when you
pass your learner permit test (on or after 1 July 2007).
This brochure has general information about what you
need to know and do to pass your Drive Test in Victoria.
Read it carefully to help you prepare for your test.
For more detailed information about the test, and learner
and probationary requirements and to view the Learner
Kit, you should visit the VicRoads website at
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au.
Drink Drivers Risk Of Crashing
Did you know that your risk of having a crash is twice as high when you are at a BAC of .05, and four times as high when you are at .08?
The Police don’t allow any leeway when they catch a drink driver. Being only a little bit over is not an excuse, and the penalties are tough.
Keeping yourself below .05 can be tricky, but you have a better chance of succeeding if you understand more about the way alcohol works.
The TAC launched a new campaign today that aims to remind Victorians that there are a number of factors that can affect your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level. Using standard drinks are a good guide but they should be used conservatively, and if you are unsure about your BAC then don’t risk it.
Tips to help you get home safely:
plan ahead if you intend to drink. Nominate a designated driver beforehand so you know how you’re getting home or leave the car behind, walk, catch a cab or public transport
choose low alcohol drinks and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic options
use standard drink sized glasses
eat before you drink, but avoid salty foods
don’t top up drinks and avoid joining in on rounds, and
pace yourself. Limit your drinking to one standard drink per hour if you are a female and two standard drinks in the first hour, and one standard drink each hour after that if you are a male.
Remember, the only way to reduce your BAC level is to allow time to process the alcohol. It takes about one hour to break down the alcohol contained in one standard drink. Excessive drinking the night before can have an impact on your blood alcohol content the following morning.
(Source: TAC Victoria)
Professional Driving Lessons
It never ceases to amaze me that parents will spend an absolute fortune on educating their children via secondary colleges ,universities and other higher educational venues, including private tutors to help them along the way to a better education
and rightfully so.
Monies are also spent on pursuing higher levels of education in music tuition and sporting endeavours but the perception among
some, is that as far as driving is concerned near enough is good enough.
The number of times we as driving instructors hear that my son or daughter only needs to be taught how to park a vehicle
is alarming and of concern.
When assessing these people we find that the tuition and information given to be either inaccurate or out dated and in fact
dangerous.
This seems to stem from a culture of driving lessons are to expensive and not necessary, by some in the community ,
but when you factor in driving lessons, as a total package of a young persons overall education , it is money well spent.
What price to we put on the safety of our learner drivers ?
