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Drive Smart Driving School

DRIVE SMART

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DRIVE SMART DRIVING TIPS

Helping you become a safer, smarter, better driver. Saving Fuel Tips further down the page.

Check out our growing list of driving tips to help you plus your family and friends stay safe and on the right side of the law.

• Changes to Road Laws:
  There are many road law changes each year. If you haven’t studied the new national road laws, grab a Drivers Handbook from your friendly Service SA office. Those annoying drivers who keep cutting you off may be doing the correct thing. Do it today. It could save you a lot of embarrassment or far worse. Or check out the link to our Road Rules info.

• Speed Limits:
  Speed limits on South Australian roads aren’t what they used to be. The open road limit outside the metro area is now only 100kph. 110kph only applies on specifically signposted roads! Many of our hills roads now have an 80 ‘k’ limit. Other 80 k roads have now been made 70.

• The general speed limit in the Adelaide metro area and any other town or built up area is 50 kilometres per hour. If you see a sign saying something different then the signed speed applies. Simple as that. If you are not sure, stay under 50 kph until you see a sign saying something different. Don't get caught out.

• How Safe Is Your Dog:
  For many, our dogs are an integral part of our family. With this in mind, we would do well to remember to treat their safety with as much respect as we would our toddlers and babies. If dogs are not restrained, in the event of a crash, they can be seriously injured, and can also cause serious injury.
  
  Some years ago, I was the lucky recipient of a chap not quite following as far back as he should have been and to cut a long story short, he hit  the rear corner of my car. It was only a minor bump in the scheme of things, but I had my brother's dog on board at the time - a full grown Rottweiler. She was unrestrained. The force of that minor impact, was enough to send her through to the front of the car - between the bucket seats - and pushed my gear lever into neutral. Thankfully she was unhurt, but could have had rib injuries, or worse, and then the car could have sustained more damage if she had managed to push it right through into reverse! Needless to say, after that she wore her harness every time she came anywhere in my car.

• In Addition to the above:
  On 22nd August 2009, we bought ourselves a little puppy. She is beautiful. The vets have logged her as a Maltese cross - this consists of Maltese X Shi Zhu and Poodle X West Highland Terrier. We are happy to say that she has taken (with only a small amount of complaint) to wearing her harness when travelling in the car with us. Here she is, demonstrating how it's done.
  Introducing Poppy Isn't she gorgeous!!

• De-stress your Drive:
  Driving in traffic can be stressful. Here are a few ideas that may help. 

  • Drive a little slower.

  • Allow yourself more time to get to your destination. 

  • Hang well back from the car in front. 

  • Accept the fact that nothing you do will make things happen any quicker and try to relax.

• Warn Others What You Are Doing:
  You can have some influence over what happens behind you in traffic. Always know who is behind you and what they are doing. Then let them know what you are planning to do, well before you do it! So first, check your mirrors, (then if turning signal), then brake, all in plenty of time.

• Speeding - Is It Really Worth It?:
  Speeding is expensive. There are the fines, the extra fuel usage.  If things go wrong, the crash repairs, injury and pain. There’s also the extra stress of knowing all this and choosing to ignore it!  Drive a bit slower for a couple of days.  I bet it takes you little or no longer to get around! Give it a try!

• Red Light Runners:
  Protect yourself from red light runners by looking to the right, the left and for turning vehicles before you enter every traffic light controlled intersection. Develop this simple habit and you have a good chance of avoiding what can be a very serious accident.  Getting hit hard from the side hurts!

• Safe Following Distance:
  Keeping a safe following distance between you and the car in front is one of the best ways to stay out of trouble on our roads. The best way to avoid crashing into the rear of the car in front is to simply allow more distance between their vehicle and yours. The minimum safe following distance in good dry conditions is the distance your car will travel in two seconds. Any closer and it is physically impossible for you to stop behind a car that suddenly stops in front of you!  How to apply the two second rule... When the car in front passes a pole or line on the road start counting. Thousand and one, thousand and two. If your car has passed the marker before this time you are too close!
  
  
                     
   

FACT: Most people follow at less than half the distance they can actually stop in!

• Stopping Distances:
  The stopping distance of a car travelling at 65 is four or more metres longer than one that travels at 60. Imagine a child running down a 4 metre wide driveway out into the road in front of a car that’s doing 60 kilometres an hour. Imagine that car stopping just in time. If the speed was 65 the result would be very different!

• A Few Learner Driver Essentials:
  To best survive their early driving years the learner driver in your family needs a few things. Lots of practice in all sorts of conditions. A good driving instructor. Examples of good, safe driving from other members of the family. Check out our tips and advice on the Learner's page and the Supervising Driver's page.

• Observation:
  Hang back so you can see. The more room you give yourself, the more time you have to assess what is happening around you and make better and clearer choices about what to do to keep yourself safe.

• Limousine Braking:
  When braking under normal circumstances, being firm at first is the most efficient & effective, then ease off as you come to a stop; it is smoother and reduces excessive wear. This process also reduces the chance of being hit from the rear, as it encourages the vehicle behind to get on their brakes firmly, early then ease off. If you apply the brakes gently at first, then slam them on hard later, it tends to catch the following traffic by surprise & they hit you.

• Lane changing, Smart Sequence that works. Plan ahead & change early. Observe well ahead therefore have opportunity to make timely changes to best suit traffic flow.

Below are a few quick tips that really work. If you have any suggestions to include, please email and let us know.

• Double or triple your following distance (Depending on how close you follow now). This means you will be a much safer driver and saves fuel because you can drive much smoother plus see and plan further ahead.

• Let the driver in front of you use his fuel to create the above mentioned following space. Move off gently letting the car in front accelerate away from you. Accelerating gently at all times can save up to 1/3 off your fuel bill compared to regular harsh acceleration and braking.

• Drive Slower especially on country roads. Cruising at 100kph instead of 110 is safer and uses much less fuel.

• Learn how your car air conditioner operates. Set it to make best use of out side air temperatures rather than running the "compressor" all the time.

• Slip into "neutral" while sitting in traffic. This reduces load on the engine plus allows engine (in most auto cars) to run slightly faster helping your air conditioner to operate more efficiently especially on very hot days. Both of which save fuel.

• Keep tyres inflated to optimum pressures. These are often higher than "factory recommended" pressures which are all about comfort rather than safe and efficient driving. Talk to your mechanic or tyre dealer.

• Get rid of unnecessary "stuff" in the car. Every extra kilo you carry round with you uses extra fuel.

• Keep your car tuned and in top running order. For example a slightly clogged air filter will cause your car to use extra fuel. Talk to your mechanic about which items would save you fuel if you changed them a little more often than the manufacturers' service manual suggests.

• Plan your trips. Think about how much you drive. Do you really have to make that extra trip today or could you combine it with another trip you have to do tomorrow.

• Use public transport. Work out whether the car is the best option. For example, there are times when taking public transport is much better than driving around for ages trying to find a park at busy times or major events.

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Contact Information

Call or send an email. Drive Smart Driving School Instructors operate in many suburbs of Adelaide, plus the Gawler area.

Call and talk to Mark or Jenny
on

08 8285 4059

Office Hours
Monday to Friday - 10.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday - 10.00am to 5.00pm

Closed - Sunday, Public Holidays and all "Long Weekends"

Postal Address
P.O. Box 879, Modbury SA 5092

Electronic Mail

General Information: DriveSmart@drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au

          Send mail to Webmaster at TwistedTrunkDesigns@bigpond.com with questions or comments about this web site.
          Copyright © 2008 Twisted Trunk Designs
          Last modified: Saturday March 06, 2010

DISCLAIMERS:

Information contained within this website is intended as a guide only and is not considered to be precise legal interpretations of the road traffic laws.

For more detailed information regarding the law, please go to the Australian Road Rules link, or to

http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/SearchResults.aspx?keywords=Australian+Road+Rules  for a more comprehensive search.

Also, the Police Traffic Information Office is available on (08) 8207 6586 for further information on traffic laws.

 

It should be noted that references and claims relating to the "best driver you can be" all refer to the best driver we can help you become given the available time and

opportunities for training. Once on their P's, a new driver is totally responsible for their own actions and choices.

 

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