Articles

How Managing Driver Fatigue Can Help You Stay Alive

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:07:00 GMT

A tired driver is a dangerous driver. There are no two ways about it. Drowsy drivers tend to make more mistakes on the road because sleepiness slows reaction time and impairs judgment. While nobody is immune to feeling tired, studies show that some people are more likely to be sleep deprived than others, such as shift workers and 18 to 25 year olds.

The 18–25 age group tends to be involved in more fatigue-related accidents because of inexperience behind the wheel, lack of sleep and irregular sleep patterns. The latter holds true for shift workers as well. Your brain is programmed to put your body to sleep at certain times of the day. In the mid-afternoon and especially in the early hours of the morning, your brain will send signals to your body to go to sleep. At night, your body temperature falls, digestive system slows and hormonal production rises to repair your body. All these changes will make you feel drowsy and, try as you may, you will not be able to fight the fatigue by opening the window or playing loud music. Despite what you may have heard, cooler temperatures will not keep you awake. While you may think that you are more alert, the fatigue remains at the same level. Only sleep can cure tiredness.

The best way to survive the drive is to be aware of the symptoms of fatigue and effectively manage them.

Spot the symptoms of fatigue

There are several signs of tiredness that you should watch for when you’re on the road. Driving instructors will tell you that the moment you spot any one of these signs, it is time to pull over and take a break.

You cannot remember the last few kilometres driven. This is always a good indicator of fatigue because it shows that you haven’t been alert while driving.
You find it difficult to keep the car on a straight alignment, drifting from one lane to another.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate, and keeping your eyes open and your head up are almost impossible.
You yawn repeatedly.
You tailgate or miss traffic signs.

You should consider yourself extremely fortunate if you’ve spotted any one of these signs and haven’t already crashed the car. Now that you recognise the symptoms of fatigue, do not hesitate to take a break and recharge.

Surviving the drive

You may not be able to fight drowsiness but you can protect yourself from having a fatigue-related crash.

Get a good night’s rest before you leave for your journey. Because sleep is important, avoid leaving for a long trip straight after work. Chances are, you’ll be tired when you start your trip.
Keep driving to a maximum of eight to ten hours a day and drive at times when you are normally awake.
Avoid carbohydrate-laden foods that will make you sleepy. Choose protein-laden foods instead.
It is useful to have a co-driver in the car. This person can take over the wheel at any time and can keep you company while you are driving.
Make sure air is continuously flowing into the car from outside. Car cabins build high levels of gases such as carbon monoxide so it is important to have fresh air constantly coming in.
Take a break! Do this regularly, at least every 2 hours, even if you don’t need to stop at a petrol station or feel spritely. When you do take a break, make sure you stop for at least 15 minutes and get out of the car for a stroll.
Stay sober. If you think that driving when you’re drowsy is bad, can you imagine how much worse it would be to add alcohol to the mix?

Everything you’ve learnt in your driving lessons will help you during your drive. But remember, the only cure for fatigue is sleep. So if you feel tired when driving, it will do everyone some good for you to pull over for a power nap.

Useful Tips for Driving in the Rain

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:59:00 GMT

Wet weather is often blamed for the thousands of accidents that occur on the roads yearly. Do you know that many of these accidents are in fact preventable? Unfortunately, most drivers are not aware of the fundamental differences of driving in fair weather and driving in bad weather.

The first few hours of rain are often the most dangerous. In dry weather conditions, the roads are covered with a thin layer of oil from car engines. When it rains, water mixes with the oil to create extremely slick and slippery driving conditions. If this isn’t bad enough, rainwater on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Add a loss of visibility and you’re headed for disaster. Thankfully, there are several useful steps, often taught during driving lessons that you can take when driving in wet weather to prevent accidents.

Firstly, always make sure your windscreen is clean, both inside and out, and the windscreen wipers are in good working condition. You never know when it might rain so it is always good to be prepared.

As visibility is reduced in wet weather, switch your headlights on, even if you’re driving in the day. However, be sure to turn your headlights on to low beam so as not to blind the driver in front of you. Another useful tip is to switch on your air conditioner. This will prevent your windscreen from fogging up.

You should drive at a slower pace during wet weather. Driving slowly allows more of the tire’s tread to make contact with the road, providing better traction. Bearing in mind that you will have to drive at a slower pace than normal and that traffic will be moving slower as well, try to leave for your destination earlier, giving yourself extra travel time. Rushing when it’s pouring cats and dogs and when the roads are wet is dangerous. Additionally, stopping during wet weather requires a much greater distance, so a good general rule is to drive 10km/h below the speed limit during wet weather.

The rule of thumb when driving in normal conditions is to maintain a distance of 3 seconds from the car in front of you. This distance should increase in wet weather. As the stopping distance required increases when the roads are wet, you will want more room should you need to make a quick stop as vehicle control and traction is reduced. It is also extremely important to stay alert. Always watch out for brake lights in front of you! While it is impossible to refrain from using your brakes completely, it is advisable to use them only when necessary. Instead of stepping on the brakes to slow down, take your foot off the accelerator. If you’re driving a manual car, switching to a lower gear earlier or even driving in a lower gear allows for faster stopping. These methods of slowing down are often taught in driving schools.

Last but not least, try to stay on the middle lane, as water tends to collect on either side of the road when it rains. If you stay in the middle lane, the chances of hydroplaning or aquaplaning (where your car loses contact with the road) is reduced. It helps to follow in the tracks of the car in front of you, as it would have paved a clear path through the water.

Now that you are aware of the steps to take when driving in wet weather, you stand a better chance at reaching your destination safely.

The Art of Braking - Learning the Proper Braking Techniques

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:51:00 GMT

Braking is a lost skill. Although this is unfortunate, it is not unfounded. Most cars today are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (or ABS) so drivers simply slam on the brakes in any given situation. While this is not an entirely flawed technique, it may not be the best solution because handling capabilities are reduced, putting you in greater danger. Thus, learning to brake properly is important to ensure safety and control. It is also important in driver etiquette.

What is ABS?

ABS is one of the most significant safety advances in automotive engineering in recent decades. First developed in 1936, ABS is designed to prevent skidding. It helps drivers maintain steering control when they have to perform an emergency brake. Because the wheels don’t lock when the driver steps on the brakes, the driver has the ability to steer around hazards if they cannot stop in time.

Braking Tips

Avoid “riding the brake” and “brake checking”. To “ride the brake” is to keep your foot on the brake, applying it even when it is not needed. Brake riding confuses the driver behind you because he or she will not be able to figure out what you are doing or about to do.Meanwhile, a “brake check” is when you hit the brakes abruptly. This can cause serious accidents, not to mention upset other drivers on the road. Instead of brake checking and riding, try braking moderately and slowly. Not only is this the safest way to apply your brakes, it also increases the lifespan of your brakes by allowing the brakes to cool. This will save you some money in the long run.
Brake earlier, not later. Apply your brakes firmly and early, not at the very last minute. This allows for a smooth stop and it increases safety by allowing sudden stops if required. Moreover, braking early gives the driver behind you ample warning to apply their brakes and prevent them from crashing into you. By braking late, you also risk stopping too close to the car in front of you and a backward jolt will occur when you come to a complete stop.
Do not brake and turn at the same time. Your car may not turn as well and may not slow down as much if you brake and turn at the same time. Even racecar drivers have learnt the skill of separating turning and braking, and these racers are always on the edge with their vehicles! What you will learn with a good driving school about braking and turning is important if you want to prevent accidents in the future. Essentially, when making a corner, apply your brakes before you make the turn.
Expect the unexpected. Ideally you should always look as far down the road as possible so that you are aware of the obstacles, if any, you may face. Having said that, we all make mistakes, including experienced drivers. Always be prepared to stop abruptly. To do this, hit the brake pedal firmly and as early as possible to give you the most braking control. If you brake too late, you could still lock the brakes, your tires will skid, and you will lose control of the vehicle. The earlier you are able to brake, the more control you will have. While you are doing this, keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel because the car will most likely swerve and if that happens, you will need to have maximum control over where you are driving.
Practice, practice, practice. It is good to get a feel of your car’s maximum braking potential and one way to do this is to practice braking in an empty parking lot. Start by intentionally over-applying the brakes then reducing your braking force. Accelerate to a safe speed and apply your brakes as hard as you can. You should hear a good amount of squealing. Do this over and over again, applying the brakes less each time until you can barely hear the squealing. This is the absolute limit of your tires’ traction and the quickest way to stop.

It’s never too late to learn how to brake properly. If you’re a learner driver taking driving lessons, you should be taught the proper braking techniques. The thing to remember is to always focus on where you want to go and not on what you want to avoid.

Choosing the Right Driving Teacher

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:37:00 GMT

If you’re at least 16 years old then you’re ready to learn how to drive. While learning to drive sounds easy enough, the truth is, driving is hard work. It helps if you’re prepared for this journey and have weighed your various options.

The first thing you need to do is pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT). Reading the Road Users’ Handbook which is available on the RTA website will be of great help. When you’ve passed the DKT, you become an L-plater and can now get into the driver’s seat! Your learner licence is valid for five years and you’ll be given a Driver Log Book at the motor registry. The logbook is your guide and it’s for you and your supervising driver to record your driving experience.

At this point, the question to ask yourself is, who should I pick as my supervising driver? This person is someone who has a current full licence and has not been disqualified from driving in the past two years. Mum and Dad may certainly qualify but are they the best people to teach you how to drive or should you hire a professional driving instructor? Before you make a decision, here are some pointers to keep in mind.

Parent vs. Professional -- who is the best driving teacher for me?

Building a solid foundation is the key to safe driving. This means that even though your parents may be good drivers who follow all the road rules, they may not know how to teach the correct driving techniques. A professional driving instructor on the other hand, has undergone extensive training and assessment to receive his or her accreditation. They are also re-assessed at regular intervals. Thus, it may be worthwhile to employ their services, at least for the first few lessons.
You only get one chance to learn how to drive. What you learn and practice will eventually become habits. You need to bear in mind that whoever you’ve chosen to teach you how to drive may pass on certain driving habits to you, habits that will affect the way you drive for life.
Get better, quicker. Driving instructors have been taught what to teach and how to teach it. They know all the little tricks that will help you get better, quicker. This is why the RTA have implemented a new scheme for lessons with driving instructors, and we will cover that in more detail below.
Two heads are better than one. Supervising a learner driver can be challenging. A supervising driver needs to teach the learner the proper driving techniques and act as a coach by giving the learner ample opportunities to practice what they’ve been taught. Parents are not professional instructors but they have lots of well-meaning and good advice to give their children. Thus, taking lessons from an instructor and practicing with your mum or dad may be a good way to learn how to drive. While the instructor teaches you the techniques, mum and dad can reinforce what you’ve learnt by providing added assistance and encouragement.

You will probably know by now that you have to log a minimum of 120 hours of driving over at least 12 months before you can move onto the next step -- getting your Ps. But did you know that from 19 December 2009, learner drivers who complete a one hour structured driving lesson with a fully licensed driving instructor can record three hours driving experience in their log book? This is perhaps one of the biggest benefits to you personally, you learn to drive faster with the instructor and you can get your license faster.

A maximum of 10 hours of lessons will be accepted and recorded as 30 hours in the logbook. These structured lessons aim to develop and enhance your practical application of low risk driving principles. It is worth considering going to a driving school for structured lessons with a professional instructor so that you can use this new provision to your advantage.

At first, 120 hours of supervised driving may seem like a daunting task. But once you’ve started, with or without the structured driving lesson scheme, learning to drive should not only be fun, it should also be a breeze!

It is Never too Late to Learn How to Drive Well

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

There are those who hit their 17th birthday and take their first driving lesson on the same day. But there are those who for some reason never got around to getting a driving instructor and learning how to drive. Some people reach this stage and think that they simply don’t have it in them to learn how to drive, and some people even think that they are too old. But there’s something important that they should know—it is never too late to learn how to drive.

Whether it is age that is putting you off or simply the lack of confidence that is telling you that you won’t be able to take driving lessons, you have to break through this barrier. Even if you’re in your eighties, as long as you are physically in good shape then there is nothing to stop you getting behind a wheel and taking driving lessons.

A good driving instructor will help you to realize that driving is a skill like any other, and that it can be taught to anyone. What’s more, it can be taught in a relatively short amount of time. Learning to drive is not like learning to play an instrument. People can become accomplished drivers and pass their tests in just a few months of lessons as long as they go to an established driving school and get the right instruction. So if for some reason you think that you have missed out on the opportunity, you have to realize that you still have time.

Driving is one of those great life skills that will always be useful. Even if you don’t currently need to drive, you may need to in the future. In Australia many people take driving lessons early on in their lives. But that doesn’t mean that just because all your friends have been driving for 5, 10 or 50 years you can’t start learning to drive as well. If you want driving lessons, Sydney is a great place to be because there are plenty of schools available so that you don’t have to wait any longer to start to drive.

And here’s something you should know—you may even find that you are a better driver than your friends! Of course driving improves over time to a certain extent as drivers become more confident with the roads, but there is nothing to say you won’t catch up to the other people and reach, or even exceed, their standards.

You too can be a master of the roads, whatever your age and whatever your situation. Just make sure you take the time to look for a good driving school. Sydney is full of qualified driving instructors, and when you find one this will help you to increase your confidence more quickly and pass your test. If you do this then you can be looking forward to a lifetime of driving, whatever your age.

Be Road Ready in Less Time, With Driving Instruction

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:59:00 GMT

If you’re thinking of attempting to pass your driving test then you may be under the impression that it will be easy. Indeed, you may have even had a go driving in your parents’ car or a friend’s, leading you to think that it’s just a matter of jumping into a car and getting your license. But the truth is it’s not that easy, as anyone who has passed their driving test will tell you.
Everyone needs a driving instructor if they want to pass their driving test. Granted, there are some people for whom learning to drive will come easier than for others and they’ll pass their driving test in less time. Some people pass their test in just a few months, whereas others can take a lot longer. This may be down to natural ability, but it can also be down to more obvious reasons such as the amount of driving lessons you take each week, and even a little bit of luck on the test itself.

But one thing is for sure – if you want to pass your driving test quicker then you should find yourself a qualified driving school. Forget whatever ideas you have about learning to drive. It will be tough, and the money you spend on driving lessons will be money well spent.

But it’s not just a matter of passing the actual driving test. Equally important is actually being ready to drive on your own on the road and to deal with new situations as they arise. If you take lessons with a driving instructor then they will not only teach you how to perform the maneuvers you need to pass your test, but they will also teach you how to deal with the unexpected.

And driving is all about the unexpected. There’s no way that a driving instructor can teach you everything that is going to happen, but they can certainly prepare you for how to deal events when they arise.

Finding a decent driving school that can provide you with a qualified driving instructor will help you to reach the level where you can happily get in a car and drive it on the road by yourself. Yes, you have to pass your test, but driving lessons are about much more than that. Good driving lessons with an instructor will teach you to be responsible, more alert on the roads and tuned in to your surroundings.

Driving instructors are essential when it comes to learning how to drive. If you try to go it alone then you will take longer to be ready and longer to pass your test. Driving instructors will also provide you with more skills that may not even come up in the test to fully prepare you for a life of driving, so it is always worth making the investment as you will be benefiting from it throughout your life.

A Good Driving Instructor is Assertive, Not Angry

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:03:00 GMT

What are you looking for in a driving instructor? The most obvious things that you will probably be looking for are an instructor who is available to pick you up from different places such as your place work and your home, and of course one who offers a good but affordable service. But if you just base your choice on these two factors when looking for a driver then you could end up disappointed.
The best driving instructors are characterized by being assertive. Driving is a serious business, and it’s not all about having fun. Don’t forget that your instructor’s life is more or less in your hands every time you get behind the wheel. They owe it to you, other road users, and to themselves to be strict when they have to be in order to prevent you from making the same mistakes again. If they chastise you for a mistake, you shouldn’t take it personally and should instead learn from it.

But there’s a difference between being assertive and getting angry. Inexperienced driving instructors may get angry when their students make mistakes, and this is often down to a lack of experience and even a real fear that they are going to have an accident. But if you know anyone who’s learnt to drive, they will tell you that someone who is calm in a crisis is always a preferable choice. It’s easy to panic, and if you have a driving instructor shouting at you all the time then this is only going to make things worse.

If your driving instructor is strict with you, however, this is still a good thing. If they’re too relaxed then they simply won’t get across the seriousness of driving and the responsibility that comes with it. But there are different ways of dealing with students, and some of these are much better than others.

If you live in Sydney and are looking for a driving instructor, try to ask your friends and family members to see if they can recommend a good driving school. Sydney is full of instructors, but you need to find an instructor who will help to get the most out of you and help you to develop into a better driver through solid instruction which does not involve shouting at you every five minutes.

The aim when it comes to your driving lessons is to try to find an instructor who is in control at all times but does not get angry with you. After all, you are just a beginner and you’re certain to make mistakes along the way. Constructive teaching is far more effective and will make driving a positive experience rather than a negative one.

If you don’t enjoy taking driving lessons then there’s a good chance you’ll give up before you get to the standard where you can pass your test. Don’t let that happen and find a driving instructor who can help you to not only pass your test but will also help you to enjoy the experience of learning to drive.

Look for a Very Professional Driving School with Good Instructors

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:54:00 GMT

It pays to look around when you want to start learning to drive. Driving can be hard work and very stressful at times, and it can really take it out of you. But the job can be made even harder if you don’t find a good driving instructor working for a professional driving school.
So where do you begin your search for driving schools? Sydney is a great place to live because there are so many to choose from. Driving schools thrive off personal recommendations, so if you have a friend or sibling who has had a good experience, get them to recommend the school to you. If you have no one to recommend a driving school or instructor then the best place to start is your local directory of businesses where you are sure to find numerous driving schools vying to attract your attention.

On top of that, the internet is a fantastic resource for finding potential driving schools. Sydney has a lot of schools to choose from, if you have already found one that you like the look of, you can go on the internet and try to find some reviews. But always remember that some people will always have a negative experience with a driving school or instructor and are more likely to write about it, so take any odd negative comments with a pinch of salt. You can also find forums where people will be discussing what to look for in a driving school and an instructor.

So what do you do when you find a driving school you like the look of? There are a number of things you may be looking for, but price and location are probably the two most important factors. You are limited to a company in your area, but you also want to get the best price. Generally speaking, the best driving instructors will be busier and charge more money.

Phone around a few driving schools and prepare a list of questions to ask them. Find out how much they charge, whether they have discounts if you take a certain amount of lessons a week, how many people they have helped to pass in the last six months, how much availability they have, whether they are flexible with times, and anything else you can think of.

Essentially, don’t just go with the first driving instructor you find. Look around, ask questions and try to get a feel for a company before you decide to go with them. And if you find a few driving schools that you like the look of then that’s great. You may find that you don’t get on with your initial choice, so you can always have a few backups.

Make the job of taking driving lessons easier on yourself. It is hard enough learning to drive as it is, and you don’t need to make it even harder by going with a bad driving school. If you follow these steps then you should easily be able to find a great driving instructor and get driving in no time.

Pass the Driving Test on the First Attempt

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:32:00 GMT

If you’re facing the challenge of a driving test soon, you’re no doubt nervous about passing the test on your first attempt. While most driving centers offer testers multiple attempts, there is something to be said for the driver whose confidence and skill allows them to pass the first time out. Fortunately, this is not a matter of luck. Passing a driving test on the first try, like anything else, just requires dedication, practice, and some practical advice, such as that which follows.

Clearly, the first thing to do to increase your chances of passing any kind of test is to study. When dealing with driving, “study” means the actual physical practice of the skills involved. In other words, one should practice driving as much as possible to prepare for a driving exam. Moreover, practicing driving in the correct way is essential to developing your skills. What does it mean to practice driving the “correct way”?

First of all, it matters who you have along for the ride. If you don’t have your full driver’s license yet, you’ll be forced to drive with a licensed driver accompanying you. While it may be tempting to drive around with your friends, it’s far better to enlist the help of someone you know to be an excellent driver, or even a professional who can critique your techniques and show you more efficient and effective ways to drive.

Secondly, it matters where you practice. What good would it do if you spent all your time practicing in empty areas and deserted roads, only to have to pull onto a crowded highway during the exam? The best thing one can do in this regard is to find out where the tests will be conducted. Tests are often conducted either on closed courses, or on the city streets themselves near the testing center. Whatever the case, you can likely inquire about access to these areas, and then practice driving on them. Failing that, many driving schools often have courses that simulate actual driving test conditions. That way, you’ll be thoroughly prepared to do exactly what you need to do on the day of the test.

One other thing you should keep in mind is the critical need to remember all of your basics. Driving test administrators will be looking for all the little details that you’re like to miss if you become nervous, such as adjusting your seat to the appropriate height, fastening your seat belt, and checking your mirrors. Even if you drive perfectly, you can still fail the test if you overlook these common steps. This is another area where a driving instructor can be a tremendous boon, as they’ll drill these steps into you during practice, to the point where they become nearly automatic.

As with any test, the key to passing a driving exam is to know what’s going to be expected of you, and then to study and practice those very things. As mentioned above, you’re going to be expected to know the basics of driving in various conditions, and to have mastered all the fundamental elements of driving safety as well. As such, these are the things to practice, and if you master them, you should have no trouble at all during the exam itself. Good luck!

What is Defensive Driving and How Could it Help Me?

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:51:00 GMT

Defensive driving refers to a specific style of driving that can best be summarized as “better safe than sorry”. When it comes to driving, there’s something inherently dangerous about the practice that most people are willing to overlook just because of the odds involved. After all, most of the time, when we set out to drive somewhere, we get where we’re going without incident. However, as a precaution against those times when we might find ourselves in a jam, it’s important to learn the principles of defensive driving from a qualified driving instructor, and then practice them consistently.

Watch What You’re Doing

The number one rule of defensive driving is to pay attention to what’s going on around you. Think back to all the descriptions of automobile accidents that you’ve ever heard. Chances are good that most of them contain the phrase “I never saw him coming!” at some point or another. The reason for this is that this is by far the most commonly used explanation for why an accident occurred. What it really means, however, is that at least one of the drivers involved wasn’t paying attention. If they had been, they would have seen the other driver coming, and they could have avoided the accident.

Never Trust the Other Guy

It might seem somewhat cynical, but one of the first things that you’ll learn in defensive driving lessons is that you should never trust the other guy to do the right thing. If you’re approaching an intersection the same time as another car, and you have the right of way, and it seems like the other car might not stop… don’t chance it. It’s much better to assume that the other car is going to make a mistake and be wrong, than to assume that they’ll do the right thing and be wrong. There’s an old saying that goes hand in hand with this principle: “no one ever yielded their way into a car crash”. What this means is that it’s very hard to be TOO cautious when driving. Again, better safe than sorry.

Keeping Your Distance

When we take our driving tests, most of learn the car-length rule for space, wherein we’re taught to trail behind the car in front of us one car length for every ten miles per hour we’re going. The problem with this rule, however, is that it’s hard to get a handle on just how long a “car length” really is, especially when you’re traveling at high speeds. What you want to do instead is to try and make sure you have at least two full seconds of distance between you and the car in front of you. To determine this, observe the car passing a landmark, and then count how many seconds until you pass that landmark yourself. It should take at least two full seconds or else you’re trailing too close.

Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. There are times, such as when it’s dark or raining, that you want to trail even more, up to 3 or 4 full seconds. By consistently applying the principles of safe, defensive driving, you can stack the odds in your favor that you’ll arrive safely at your destination every time you get behind the wheel. That’s a feeling that’s worth the few extra seconds it takes to play it safe.

Pass the Test the First Time

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:01:00 GMT

Passing your driving test is the last obstacle between you and becoming a fully licensed driver and gaining the freedom that goes along with that designation, capable of going anywhere you like, anytime you like. However, statistics show that most people don’t pass their driving test on the first try, no matter how long or how hard they prepare for it. If you’ve been training for weeks or months, or even years, to pass your driving test, don’t let it all come to nothing. Take the following precautions, and you can ensure that you’ll pass your driving test the first time out!

Nervousness

By far, the number one cause of otherwise qualified drivers failing their tests is nervousness. This is only natural, of course. You’re used to driving along in the company of someone you know, someone who has a vested interest in your succeeding. Now, you’re sitting next to some grim figure with a clipboard, someone ready to mark down each and every little mistake you make. However, there’s no real need to feel nervous in such a situation. As long as you relax, you should have no trouble recalling all that you’ve learned about driving and be able to perform admirably, regardless of the pressure inherent in any exam.

One way to help prepare for the nervousness of a test is to learn driving from a qualified driving school. Sydney has a great number of these, and by learning from a qualified professional, you get used to the feeling of driving with someone else in the car who is judging you… and most importantly, you come to learn that this judgment isn’t a negative thing at all! When the real test comes, you’ll be able to completely relax and do your thing.

Concentration

Concentration is another important matter. Even if you aren’t nervous when you take your driving test, you can easily become distracted as you find yourself wondering things like “am I doing well?” or “what are they writing on that clipboard?”. If this happens, it’s all too easy to make a mistake that can end up preventing you from passing the test. Don’t take this risk!

Of course, that’s easier said than done. How can you keep your focus in an inherently distracting situation? Again, the services of a professional driving instructor can be a major help here. As you learn to drive at a driving school, each day you go out will involve someone observing your driving and making minor corrections to your techniques. As such, you’ll be used to this feeling of observation and appraisal and come to recognize it as the valuable service it really is. When the test comes around, you’ll hardly even be aware that what’s going on is anything out of the ordinary, and as such, you’ll be able to focus and concentrate much more easily.

Rules of the Road

Of course, it goes without saying that the reason some people fail their driving tests isn’t because of nervousness or concentration, but also just because they don’t properly understand the rules of the road, or didn’t study and learn them properly. This is obviously quite vital to passing any test and even if you have no anxiety at all, if you don’t know the rules, you won’t be getting your license. With the help of a professional driving coach, you can be positively certain that you know all the required rules and regulations well ahead of time, thereby increasing your likelihood of passing even further.

Instructors Can Help You Overcome Your Fears

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:51:00 GMT

Many people cite overconfidence as the number one source of driving accidents. After all, what else could give people the mistaken impression that they’re capable of driving while applying makeup, shaving, or carrying on a conversation on their phones? However, one truism that many don’t grasp is that fearful driving can be just as serious a problem as overconfident driving. Think about this logically; when you take a turn at an intersection, isn’t it just as dangerous to hesitate too long as it is to go too early? Driving is in many ways all about balance, so if you’re experiencing feelings of fear or hesitation as you get behind the wheel, then perhaps it’s time to seek out help from a qualified driving instruction center.

One of the things that professional driving schools are equipped for is helping people to gradually overcome their feelings of fear when driving, so that they can become confident and capable motorists. There are several ways that they can go about doing this.

Firstly, they can help you pinpoint exactly what it is that’s causing your anxiety. Many people have a terrible experience when driving where they nearly get into an accident or experience some kind of small wreck that they feel lucky to walk away from. However, just as many people suddenly develop a fear of driving for reasons that they can’t identify specifically. The sad fact is that unless they can identify the source of their fear, they will never be able to overcome it. This is one of the main values that a driving teacher can offer.

Secondly, a driving teacher can help you to get comfortable behind the wheel. Often when driving alone we can feel intimidated, or when driving with friends we can worry about becoming distracted. However, when driving with a professional dedicated to helping us, we can more easily relax and fall into the role of a competent, safe driver. This is because driving instructors are trained to be able to keep up a natural flow of instruction that is neither taxing and irritating, or droning. You’ll be able to focus clearly on the advice they give without being overwhelmed by it, and you just can’t get this kind of professional touch from a friend or on your own.

Thirdly, a driving teacher will know what you can handle and remove from you the burden of deciding how much is too much or how little is too little when you’re trying to acclimate yourself to the road. You can trust a driving instructor not to put you in a situation that you can’t handle, and to talk you carefully through any tight spots that you find yourself in. This kind of trusting relationship is good, because you can simply focus on the mechanical aspects of driving until your confidence naturally begins to return.

When you’re seeking out a driving school to help you with fear of driving, you might want to call around and ask if certain schools specialize in this area. Many schools, especially those in more urban areas, employ teachers who are specifically trained to help fearful drivers overcome their phobias and get back on the road as soon as possible.

Gaining Driving Confidence is Very Important

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:54:00 GMT

One of the most important aspects of learning to drive is gaining an all important sense of confidence. Note, however, that this is vitally different from arrogance or presumptuousness. Many drivers, immediately upon passing their tests, suddenly feel as if they can take on any situation. They’ll think nothing of immediately going out and driving long distances or in new and unfamiliar situations such as the highway or during a rainstorm, or at night. However, this confidence is very often unfounded, and results in the person becoming “overconfident” and getting into an accident. Instead of this overzealousness, what is really needed to be a good driver is a solid sense of the rules of the road, and an accurate knowledge of one’s own ability to adhere to them.

One of the best ways to gain confidence as a driver then, is to receive profession driving instruction. When you learn to drive from a qualified professional, the grasp you will get on the rules of the road and on safe driving practices far exceeds that which you would gain through other means such as learning from a friend or family member. This isn’t to say, of course, that your friends and family are unsafe drivers, it’s just the case that only professional driving instructors can instill the immense degree of confidence in a driver that comes with total mastery of the road.

Getting behind the wheel can sometimes be a scary thing, to be sure. This is especially true when driving on the highway at high speeds or practicing certain maneuvers such as merging into a high speed lane. The real problem, though, is that nervousness in such situations leads to inaction, which can be dangerous. When you’re driving, it’s often the case that hesitating is just as dangerous to proceeding too recklessly. It’s only with a calm and smooth sense of assurance that you can operate a vehicle at maximum effectiveness.

Of course, it goes without saying that having confidence in your driving isn’t a permanent thing. Many drivers start out confident but then get into a collision or have a dangerous near miss that suddenly robs them of all their preconceptions of their ability. They might suddenly feel as if they’re an unsafe driver and fear getting behind the wheel at all. When this happens, certain steps are needed, and chief among them is getting back on the road as soon as possible.

This is something else that a professional driving teacher can help you with. By refreshing you on the rules of the road, and renewing your ability to adhere to them consciously, driving coaches are often able to help people regain faith in their own driving ability, including those who have gone through some form of trauma.

Whether you’re learning to drive for the first time and want your first solo drive to be one of supreme and total confidence, or you’re trying to regain confidence that you once had, trust in a qualified driving coach to give you the self-assuredness that you need.

Always Think About Traffic Safety

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:08:00 GMT

Every day, people operate deadly machinery without thinking about it. While driving is an ingrained part of our culture, and can be a very pleasurable experience, one should never forget the reality of the situation: when you drive, you’re hurtling a several-ton piece of metal down a narrow pathway at high speeds, sometimes just feet away from other several-ton pieces of metal. If you don’t pay attention to traffic safety, this can become a dangerous situation quite quickly. The following tips, however, will help you to get a handle on safe driving.

Buckle Up!

It may seem obvious, but it’s something many people overlook and one of the first things that professional driving instructors are taught to drill into a student’s head. However, one must remember that the primary function of a seat belt is to save lives, and it does that quite admirably. Statistically speaking, your odds of surviving a traffic accident nearly double when you wear a seat belt, and even in minor collisions, they can drastically reduce your chance of incurring neck or back injuries.

Pay Attention to the Road

While car phones were first introduced, it was thought to be absurd that some people were daring enough to talk on the phone while driving at the same time. Today, however, the trend has grown to an amazing degree and people are doing everything imaginable as they take to the road – putting on makeup, talking on cell phones, typing and reading text messages, you name it! Clearly, this is not safe behavior, and for the driver who wants to be really safe, it’s best not to even go down this road at all. That means, pay full attention to the road when you’re driving, and don’t even answer your cell phone. There will always be time later.

Form Good Habits

A lot of poor driving just stems from bad habits developed during the period during which people are learning to drive. Therefore, if you want to be a truly safe driver, it’s best to learn defensive driving from the very beginning. It’s hard to get rid of bad habits once they’re formed, so if you haven’t learned to drive yet, or even if you have, you might try seeking out professional driving lessons to get a better handle on what you’re doing.

Watch Your Emotions

If there’s one thing certain about driving, it’s that at some point, someone is going to make you angry. Whether they cut you off with haphazard lane-changing, or just honk at you needlessly when you’re already having a bad day, it’s all too easy to lose your cool on the road. Unfortunately, this often leads to serious consequences, and in many cases of unchecked “road rage”, has ended up in death or life imprisonment. This may seem like a somber statement, but it just goes to show that the responsibility one must take for one’s choices is only increased when one is operating a motor vehicle. Many experts suggest using the “one year rule” when you feel angry on the road. Ask yourself whether or not the incident that just raised your ire is something that will matter to you a year into the future. Overwhelmingly, it will be the case that it will not, and this realization will help you to regain your cool when you need it most.

Advantages of One on One Instruction

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:12:00 GMT

When most people undertake learning to drive, they just go to their friends and loved ones for advice. After all, driving is a fairly common skill, and why look further than necessary to find a driving instructor? Sydney alone must have millions of people who can drive. The real question, though, is whether or not this is the best course of action. While just anybody might be capable of instruction, are they really qualified instructors? Is it sufficient to just learn from your friends, or should a person interested in really learning to drive invest in quality driving lessons? The fact is, there are quite a few advantages to one on one instruction that people all too often overlook.

Bad Habits

First of all, there’s the matter that drivers usually form habits, and not all of them good. The more you drive, the more it becomes “second nature”. When you walk down the street, do you think about each and every step you take, or does it become more or less automatic after a certain point? The same is true with driving. The more you drive, the more automatic it becomes, and if you aren’t careful, it’s easy to develop bad habits. While some of these might not amount to much, others could make a catastrophic difference when you finally get out on the open road on your own. As with all matters related to driving, it’s better safe than sorry.

Insurance Rates

As much as people complain about gas prices, there’s another cost attached to driving that can quickly drive up one’s yearly expenses. We speak, of course, of auto insurance. These monthly payments are legally required in most areas of the country, and are a good idea even if they weren’t; nevertheless, you want to be totally certain that you’re getting the best prices. This is another area where taking driving lessons from a qualified instructor can be a real boon.

Most insurance providers are more than willing to provide you with a discount on your auto insurance rates if you can provide documentation showing that you’ve successfully completed a qualified driving course. One has to question why this is so. Insurance providers nominally offer this discount because drivers who have received professional instruction are much less likely to get into accidents and thus much less likely to cost an insurance company any money. For many, this glowing endorsement is enough to convince them of the value of one on one instruction.

Ticket Dismissal

When you receive a ticket for some kind of moving violation, whether it’s running a stop sign or causing a minor fender bender, the result is usually that you get points on your license. Not only do these raise your insurance premiums, but if you collect enough of them, you might even end up with your license being suspended altogether. However, in most places, if you take a driving course after receiving such a ticket, the courts will end up dismissing it and the penalties that go along with it.

Ultimately, there are many benefits to learning the art of driving through a professional instructor, and not all of them immediately obvious. Keep this in mind as you decide which route you’ll take when it comes to learning how to drive.