There are many stories about the danger of using cruise control on wet roads. While some are true, all have a good message - turn off cruise control when driving in the wet. You may have heard that cruise control causes aquaplaning. Aquaplaning is what happens when a vehicle hits a pool or sheet of water at speed, causing the tires to lift off the road and skim across the water. Once on top of the water, there is no contact and no grip! Your car is skimming across the water just like a stone … [Read more...]
Teach Your Learner Driver Enough
When teaching your learner to drive, there is no such thing as too much. Once your learner has their P Plates, all you can do is pray you did enough! If you have a young driver in your life, think ahead to when they are driving on their own. Imagine waiting for them to come home. Perhaps it has been raining for a few hours and they are an hour late. What will you be thinking? What questions will you be asking yourself? Will you be wishing you had done more? Peace-of-mind investment How … [Read more...]
Safe Drivers Look Ahead
Over the years we have learned that many experienced drivers do not look ahead as far as they should. Defensive Driving Instructors sit beside many experienced drivers. We watch people drive then help them develop safer habits. The main 'poor habit' we notice is lack of observation. Drivers just don't look around and they definitely don't look far enough ahead. This is not about staring down the road and looking nowhere else. It is about developing good observation habits. Learning to … [Read more...]
Expect Red Light Runners
Red light runners. I have been looking for them for years. Looking every where. Last week I saw one, coming directly at me. I was ready. I wasn't sure what was wrong at first but I saw movement, that was enough. I was on the brakes, staying out of the way. The driver was not a hoon. They were not speeding or texting. They just didn't see the lights. They drove straight past other drivers who had already stopped. Straight through a red light. Fortunately this Red Light Runner stopped several … [Read more...]
The best drivers expect the worst
In life, we get what we expect. On the road, what you expect could save your life. Today a friend of ours was going about her business when she was confronted by the stolen car which made the news today. Fortunately she escaped harm and the police found a way to bring the rampage to an end. We never know who is out there on the road. We don't know what they will do or where they might come from. There are rules which are designed to keep some sort of order but they are not a … [Read more...]
Pokemon GO & Driving – Not the Go
Pokemon GO players are doing it on the go, they're even doing it when driving. Watch out for distracted drivers every where. There are now more than ever. The phenomenon has once again taken Australia by storm, even in our cars. This is a great new concept designed to get Gamers out and about. Let's not play while driving. When stopped at the traffic lights, it might be a huge temptation to capture Pokemon nearby, but at what cost? Distraction is now the biggest killer on our roads. Drink … [Read more...]
Merging Rules in South Australia
Merging Road Rules There are two types of merging situations. Zip Merge and Lane End Merge. Look for lines marked on the road to tell the difference. Lane End Merge. Crossing a dotted lane end line Car B is crossing a dotted "lane end" so must give way, waiting for car A to pass. Car B must also signal because they are preparing to leave their lane. Zip Merge. No lines to cross, two lines of traffic coming together. The … [Read more...]
