How to Practice Road Safety
Learning to drive should be a fun experience, but it’s important not to overlook the dangers involved. Careless driving puts drivers and other road users at risk. The following habits are integral to safe driving; every driver needs to follow these practices.
Always Wear Your Seatbelt
The most important rule of road safety is to ensure that you and anyone riding in your car is wearing a seatbelt. This isn’t just important safety advice, failing to ensure that everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt is illegal. As the driver, you have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that your passengers have their seatbelts on; it is you that will face the consequences if they don’t.
It doesn’t matter how short your journey is, seatbelts are mandatory whenever your car is in motion.
Never Use Your Mobile Phone While Driving
This is another fundamental safety tip that every driver needs to drill into their heads as early on in their driving career as possible. Studies show that driving while using a phone can impair drivers’ reactions to the same degree as being drunk behind the wheel. Even using a mobile phone hands-free via a Bluetooth headset or the speakerphone feature is still distracting.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are unique and that you aren’t distracted by your phone like everyone else; the effect is always there, whether you are conscious of it or not.
Learners, P1 and P2 licence holders are not permitted to use mobile phones while driving. Illegal use of mobile phones can lead to fines and demerit points which could mean losing your drivers licence.
Stick to the Speed Limit
When you’re cruising down an open country road, or sailing along an empty highway, it can be tempting just to floor it and see how fast you can go. But no matter how clear the road is and how confident you might feel, you should always stick to the speed limit. It’s one thing to tear down a road that you know well, but on unfamiliar routes, you shouldn’t take the risk. All it takes is one unexpected sharp bend taken at speed, and you could find yourself flying off the road and into a disaster.
Not only is speeding dangerous, but if you pass a speed camera or a police vehicle while travelling over the speed limit, you can expect demerit points on your licence and a hefty fine.
Remember to Check Your Blindspots
Checking your mirrors before pulling out should be second nature for any driver. But your mirrors can’t see everything; there will still be significant blind spots that you need to check. Any learner driver yet to obtain their licence should make learning to check their blind spots a priority; it is one of the most important techniques for any driver to master.
Never Drive While Impaired
Everyone knows that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous and illegal, but many people underestimate the dangers of driving while stressed or tired. Never drive if you have any doubts about your ability to react quickly and appropriately.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of staying safe on the road. Most road safety is about common sense, but plenty of people get it wrong. For young drivers, in particular, developing good road safety habits is essential.
Courses help learner driver who still feel apprehensive driving learn safe driving techniques that last a lifetime. Learners who complete the NSW Safer Drivers Course can also add 20 hours to their logbook. Contact us today to book your place with LTrent Driving School.