Professional Safe Reliable Over 15 Years Experience
Learning Goal
Protect crash avoidance space by making an appropriate response to hazards.
Learning Content
Change speed by: setting up the brakes, covering the brakes or easing off { pausing from the accelerator }
Change position by: buffering from the hazard or changing leanes.
Checking your mirrors before changing speed or position.
Facts and Tips
A hazard is anything that can potentially move into your crash avoidance space.
Make safe decisions when joining or crossing traffic, lane changing or proceeding at traffic lights
Learning Content
Left turn decisions
Right turn decisions
Turn across path decisions
Lane change decisions
Check for traffic when moving off from traffic lights
Facts and Tips
Poor decisions at intersections are a leading cause of crashes, especially for provisional drivers. Gaining as much experience as possible with this skill can reduce the risk of future crashes.
A safe gap is one in which you do not cause other drivers to slow down or move to avoid you. When you are crossing traffic you should clear its path with plenty of time to spare – at least three seconds.
Before you start, refresh your knowledge of give way and merging rules.
Maintain crash avoidance space to the sides of the vehicle by selecting appro[riate road positions
Learning Content
Buffering at least one metre from oncoming traffic and parked vehicles
Move to the left on crest and curves
Avoid driving in the blindspots of other drivers
Facts and Tips
Buffering means to create space to the sides of the vehicle by using the available space to the sides of the vehicle to move away from hazards.
Maintain crash avoidance space to the front of the vehicle by managing the vehicle speed
Learning Content
Set and maintain a three second gap from the vehicle ahead
Increase gap and reduce speed in poor conditions
Keep about a car lenght from the vehicle in front when stopped behind it
Reduce speed when vision is limited { crests and curves}
Reduce speed when it is not possible to create space { buffer} from parked or oncoming vehicles
Maintain traffic flow
Facts and Tips
Maintaining space from the vehicle in front reduces the risk of rear end crashes which is the most common cras for provisionsl drivers
Low risk driving is consciously choosing to apply driving behaviours that can significantly reduce the risk of crashing.
Learning Goals.
Speed management
Road positioning
Decision making
Responding to hazards
Where To Go
At this stage it is important to include a wide variety of learning environments. Remember however, that as new skills are taught it may be better to begin in a quieter environment and then increase traffic volume as confidence grows. Try to:
– Use a wide range of environments
– Continue to use back streets as many hazards are still present {eg small children}
– If you haven’t done so already, start to venture into some unfamiliar environments.
Learning Content
Meaning of lane lines: safe and legal places to change lanes and overtake.
Selecting a safe gap to change lanes.
Lane changing procedure
– Check mirrors
– Signal intention
– Check blindspot
– Steer
Merging
Overtaking vehicles { same procedure as lane change but judgement of oncoming traffic required.}
Reduce speed to respond to the changing conditions.
Facts and Tips
Supervising drivers will need to assist with gap selection when lane changing or merging.
Learners may begin to steer the car whilst they are checking their blindspot. Supervising drivers will need to watch for this behavior.
Initial overtaking should be practised by overtaking stationary vehicles in quiet streets. Passing slow moving vehicles in the left lane can be used to illustrate the distance required to overtake.
Learning Content.
Using lanes including meanings of lane markings and types of lanes { bus lanes, transit lanes etc}
Intersection observation including mirror checks and intersecting traffic.
Complex intersections including marked turn lanes.
Multi-lane roundabouts.
Complex traffic lights with turn arrows { can include bus lights etc}
Other road rules { lane markings, edge lines, advisory signs etc }
School zones, pedestrian and children’s crossing.
Facts and Tips
Review the Road Users Handbook about sharing the road with pedestrians, motorcycles and heavy vehicles.
Remember to gradually progress to more complex traffic situations. Avoid higher speed complex situations at this stage, for example motorways.
Supervising drivers may still need to assist with gap selection when joining or crossing traffic.
Pull over to the side of the road in a safe location and discuss various situations and rules before they are encountered.
Return to a quieter area if traffic becomes too heavy to cope with.
Before you start driving in complex traffic refresh your knowledge of give way and turning rules.
Park the vehicle safely and legally.
Learning Content.
Reverse parallel parking.
Angle parking {45, 60 and 90 degrees}:
– Front to kerb
– Rear to kerb
Observation during manoeuvres {blindspots and block outs}
Positioning the vehicle:
– Distance from the kerb
– Distance from other vehicles
Legal requirements for parking.
Facts and Tips
In the driving test you will randomly allocated either; a three point turn, a reverse parallel park, a 45, 60 or 90 degree, front or rear to kerb angle park, so you will need to learn and practice each one.
You should aim to complete your manoeuvres in less than five direction changes.
Practice in quiet areas until you become more confident with your abiilty to position the car accurately.
When rejoining the fraffic you must:
-Check your mirrors
-Signal for at least five seconds
– Check your blindspots before sterring.
Learning Content.
Stop, Give Way signs and T intersection rules.
Intersection observation and including mirror checks and intersecting trafiic.
Correct road position for approach and exit turns at intersections .
Signalling for a turn.
Single lane roundabouts.
Simple traffic lights {No turn arrows}.
Other road rules {lane markings, edge lines,advisory signs etc}
Maintain a three second following distance behind other vehicles.
Facts and tips
Review the Road Users Handbook about sharing the road with pedestrians, motorcycles and heavy vehicles.
Begin now with simple, quiet intersections { single lane, light traffic} and gradually progress to busier more complex ones.
Choose roads with few pedestrians about.
Begin to include single lane roundabouts in your driving.
Supervising drivers may still need to assist with gap selection when joining or crossing traffic.
Pull over to the side of the road and discuss various situations and rules before they are encountered.
If practical, you must indicate left when leaving a roundabout.
Where to go.
Start on single lane roundabouts before progressing to multi lane ones.
Start on simple traffic lights with relatively low traffic flow
Avoid peak hour traffic and complex fast moving environments, eg motorways, at this stage
Return to very quiet back streets for practising manoeuvres. Start with relatively flat locations for reverse parking.
Driving lesson questions call Cameron 0438 364 244