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ADTA Members:
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Provide professional driving tuition as an investment for a lifetime of safe motoring, equipping novice drivers with skills and awareness training enabling them to be better-prepared, competent, safe new drivers.
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Are government licensed
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Have public liability and professional indemnity insurance cover
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Many have also submitted themselves for quality audits, something which ADTA has initiated, and which provide the learner driver with the satisfaction of knowing that their instructor is required to comply with a series of 'checks and balances' proving they are providing a service in accordance with international quality standards
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Are sensitive to the needs of learners and have the training and ability to ensure that your own very special needs are met
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They have the job of not only preparing you for your driving test but ensuring that you learn to drive safely and responsibly.
An ADTA driver trainer will teach such things as:
Understanding and applying the Road Rules
Hazard Awareness Techniques, including the 'safety cushion' and safe following distance in traffic which is critical in preventing the most common crashes
Speed control and correct vehicle manoeuvring techniques
How to get the best out of the Logbook so that you can match your driving experience against the professional training you receive
Learning to drive with the help of a professional driver trainer is a one-off cost and cheaper in the long run. Driving safely and responsibly will help keep your car insurance premiums to a minimum
If you need help in finding an ADTA Member Driving School, contact us:
Australian Driver Trainers Association (NSW) Limited
PO Box 706
Avalon NSW 2107
Tel: +61 2 9918 3590
Fax: +61 2 9918 3588
Email: enquiries@adta.com.au
Becoming a driver trainer is no easy task! Candidates are required to submit themselves to police and medical checks, a rigorous and demanding training course covering both theoretical and practical training and education concentrating on teaching skills and the psychology of driving. |
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Tips for Safe
Driving
1. New Road Rules
The road rules are forever changing to keep in touch
with modern vehicles and traffic conditions, eg NSW
recently introduced a fine for using a child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle fitted with a passenger
side airbag. Every year when you renew your registration
log on to the RTA web site www.rta.nsw.gov.au and download
the latest road rules, it could save you a fine.
2. Seat Belts
Remember the last time you took an aeroplane trip and
the flight safety message said please fit your seat
belt “low and tight” well you should do the
same when driving. Keep your seat belt low across your
hips and remove the slack about every 15 -20 minutes.
Correct fitting of your seat belt can reduce internal
injuries in a crash.
3. SRS Air Bags
Air bags are a great safety device, but in order for
them to have maximum efficiency the steering wheel height
must be adjusted to suit the driver’s build. Adjust
the steering wheel as low as possible ensuring you can
still see all the instruments clearly and that you can
operate the foot petals correctly. It is a good idea
to be at least 200mm away from the steering column.
By the way SRS stands for supplementary restraining
system, this means it is used with the seat belt.
4. Braking Technique
In days gone by drivers were told to pump the brakes
in an emergency. A more effective technique with the
modern vehicle is three-stage braking. Stage 1 is to
quickly but gently take the free-play out of the pedal.
Stage 2 is to feed in pressure progressively. Stage
3 is to ease off pressure just prior to stopping. The
benefits of three-stage braking are that there is less
chance of “locking up” and it can be used
every time you use the brakes not just in emergencies.
5. Avoid lane changing crashes
As most good drivers know all vehicles have a “blind-spots”
where the mirror doesn’t pick up, and the only
way to safely change lanes is to have a “head-check”
before you start steering. The only problem is that
not all drivers have a blind-spot check, so it is a
good idea not to drive in other vehicle’s blind
spots in multi-lane traffic. Simply keep behind the
line of their back bumper bar or in front of the driver.
6. Driver’s Perspective
Many drivers externalise after a crash as a means of
protecting their self-esteem. That is to say they blame
outside influences like the weather or the road condition
for their misfortunes. Drivers who externalise often
make the same mistake many times “I’ve only
ever had 2 crashes, they weren’t my fault the cars
in front stopped suddenly”. Good drivers internalise,
they consider what they could have done differently
that may prevent the same situation happening to them
again.
7. Strategies to Reduce Fatigue
If you are going on a long trip don’t fill up before
hand; start with your petrol tank half full. This will
prevent the temptation of driving for 400km before your
first stop. Before you leave drink 2 glasses of water,
and try to drink at least a litre of water every 2 hours.
Dehydration is a real problem when driving in air-conditioned
vehicles.
8. Vision needs
Many things have an influence on our speed - traffic,
weather and road conditions and of course speed limits.
Arguably the most significant influence is vision. We
can only safely travel as fast as our brain’s ability
to see, process and respond to information. In order
to drive safely we need a minimum of 5-seconds clear
vision. If an oncoming vehicle is approaching at the
same speed as you, you only have 2 ½ seconds
in which to see it and take action if it is on your
side of the road. In fog, around corners and approaching
crests if you don’t have 5 seconds vision SLOW
DOWN.
9 Cornering Lines
In days gone by when tyres, brakes and suspension were
not as advanced, people were taught to try and straighten
out a corner. With modern cars this cornering line is
not only unnecessary, it is potentially very dangerous.
With increased speeds on the road and the increased
traffic the likelihood of a head on collision or running
off the road is much greater. For our modern traffic
environment a much safer line is to simply slow down
and keep left away from the head-on zone.
10 Overtaking Technique
Many people commence an overtaking manoeuvre from immediately
behind the slower vehicle. This is very dangerous, not
only because you have limited vision but also you are
next to the vehicle whilst you build up speed. A far
safer way to overtake is to start further back. This
allows you to build up speed whilst you still have the
ability to abort the manoeuvre if necessary it also
minimises the dangerous time where you are along side
the other vehicle. |
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11. Speed Humps
To lessen the effect speed humps have on your vehicle
and passengers, try taking advantage of the suspension
bounce back. To do this, brake right up to before the
speed hump and at the last moment gently accelerate.
This maximises the front suspension travel and lightens
the front of the vehicle. This technique also works
well when crossing cattle grids on rural roads.
12. Day Time Lights On
In strong sunlight a vehicle reflects its surroundings
and becomes camouflaged. Once only a problem in rural
situations, with the large amount of glass found on
modern vehicles it is now a problem in suburban areas
as well. Having your vehicle's lights on low beam can
improve the chances of being seen in some conditions.
13. Hazard Perception
Hazard perception is the new name for defensive driving.
What it really means is your ability to recognise potential
dangers and to implement appropriate actions prior to
the situation becoming a real threat. The RTA in their
‘Hazard Perception Manual’ suggest a simple
strategy of “see, think, do”. An updated version
of the traditional OPR observe, perceive, respond strategy.
14. Protecting Yourself Whilst Stopped
Even when stopped it is important to think defensively.
If you are hit from behind whilst stationary, getting
shunted into the vehicle in front will not only increase
the damage to your vehicle but injury to yourself. As
a guide, when stopped you should be able to see the
tyres of the car in front touching the ground. This
is an absolute minimum; a full car length is preferred.
This will easily allow you to drive around the vehicle
in front in the event of it breaking down.
15. Reversing Safely
Sadly each year many children are killed or seriously
injured as a result of driveway reversing accidents.
These are often in shared driveway situations such as
town houses or duplexes. These simple rules may help
avert a tragedy. Check toddlers are properly supervised.
Always walk around your vehicle before reversing. Reverse
slower than a walking pace. Never reverse further than
you have to. Turn car stereo off when reversing.
16. Steering Technique
With the introduction of air bags it is better at speeds
over 30 kph to use push pull steering (shuffling the
steering wheel), as this will allow the airbag to deploy
without interference from your forearms. At lower speeds
where the airbags would not deploy hand over hand steering
is acceptable. It is important no matter what steering
method you use, to keep your hands on the outside of
the wheel and your thumbs along the rim of the steering
wheel. This will reduce the likelihood of wrist or thumb
injuries.
17. Distractions
Distractions are a real issue in our modern day traffic
environment, they can be anything from passengers, stereo,
mobile phone or an interesting view. If our attention
is drawn away and it takes us a second longer to react
in an emergency at 60kmph this means we would have travelled
an extra 16 metres further before braking. The best
solution is to avoid engaging in unnecessary diversions
and if unavoidable stop and address the distraction.
18. Getting the Best Out of your tyres
Tyres cost a lot of money but generally air is free.
Keeping your tyres at correct pressures will not only
extend the life of your tyres but will also improve
handling and safety. Consult the manufacturer for the
correct pressure and check all tyres weekly, including
the spare. Service station gauges have a large variation
in readings so it is best to buy your own gauge. Some
service stations do not regularly drain their compressors
so prior to filling up with air spray on the ground
to see if any water mist comes out. If it does, spray
until the mist stops.
19. Short trip fatigue
Over recent years a lot of attention has focused on
long trip fatigue but less has been done to make drivers
aware of short trip fatigue. Short trip fatigue is a
very real problem for commuters who travel upwards of
45 minutes. The following strategies may help. In the
morning take the time to wake up fully before you begin
your journey. If you have to get up extra early one
day try getting up earlier each day prior for a couple
of days. After work, at the end of the day have a short
break at work before commencing your trip home.
20. Scanning
Scanning is the skill of keeping your eyes moving. Progressively
work your eyes from far away to objects nearby. A good
pattern is to look in the distance, at the road surface,
to the sides of the road, your mirrors, then your instruments.
This pattern should be repeated continuously every 5
to 10 seconds. As part of your scanning to the sides
look through fences and under parked vehicles for signs
of pedestrians or animals. |
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How to avoid
the ‘Top 5’ Crashes
1. Same direction crash
Currently the most common crash in Australia is the
rear end collision. Many people don’t take into
account that the car in front has potential to stop
instantly if it is involved in a crash. The RTA recommends
a minimum following distance of 3 seconds between moving
cars. This gives the driver time to react and brake
in the event of trouble in front. To check your following
distance - wait until the car in front passes a stationary
object, such as a telegraph pole, and commence counting.
You should be just reaching 3 seconds as your bonnet
gets in line with the object.
2. Adjacent direction
Many crashes happen when a car fails to give way at
an intersection. This is often because they fail to
see the other vehicle. This can be for a number of reasons
such as the light, obstructions or simply carelessness.
Whatever the reason when we travel along priority roads
we cannot assume that the vehicles in the side streets
will give way. If there is any doubt in your mind as
to whether the other driver has seen you a good solution
is to simply prepare your brakes. This helps to reduce
reaction time.
3. Opposite direction
A common opposite direction crash is where a head on
vehicle crosses your path to get to a side street. These
crashes are often due to poor gap selection by the turning
vehicle. It is very difficult to judge the speed of
an approaching vehicle head on. It is equally difficult
to judge if a vehicle waiting to turn has started to
move. Anytime there is a vehicle waiting in the centre
of the road wanting to turn in front of you prepare
your brakes.
4. Off path in a curve
Excessive speed is often the cause of vehicles running
off the road in a corner. The best solution is to slow
your vehicle down as soon as vision drops under 5 seconds
and continue slow until your vision opens up. Once you
can see that the road ahead is clear and you have vision
in excess of 5 seconds, you can begin to accelerate
out of the corner. If you have gone into a corner too
fast and you do have to brake make sure that it is gentle
braking. Remember advisory signs are recommended maximum
for a car in good conditions.
5. Off path in a straight
This crash is often the result of people swerving to
miss a perceived hazard. With modern traffic densities
and the increased activity on the side of the road swerving
can no longer be considered a safe way to avoid a crash.
This has put more pressure on us to improve our observation
skills and respond by slowing down as soon as we perceive
the first signs of danger.
Key Facts for
New Drivers
This is a comprehensive pack of reference material developed
jointly by the ADTA and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau
(ATSB). The material provides illustrative support helping get the message
across on key issues to learner drivers. Click here to go to Key Facts for New Drivers
Youthsafe
To increase awareness of the road safety issues within young people,
Youthsafe has developed fact sheets for both parents of young drivers, and professionals working in the area of road safety.
These fact sheets provide some basic information highlighting the key
issues, and provide ideas for what parents and professionals can do to assist young drivers. To view and download the fact sheets, please follow the links. |
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