----- Original Message -----
From: Mark W

Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 11:38 AM
Subject: Footwear

Are there any rules concerning what a driver must or must not have on their feet while driving? We have a lot of staff on the road and I would like to know.

From: Drive Smart Driving School
To: Mark W
Sent: Friday, 13 March 2009 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: Footwear

 

Hi Mark,

sorry we took so long, but after exhausting all avenues available from this end, we have come to the conclusion that there are no hard and fast "Road Rules" about what one should wear on one's feet whilst driving, except the excerpt included below from the Driver's Handbook, page 18.

A local business that conducts a type of Defensive Driving course, encourages participants to take their shoes off for the braking exercises. They suggest that bare feet give you more sensitive feel of the pedal. They discourage driving bare feet on the roads although suggest that bare feet is better than "thongs" or similar foot wear.

The Learner Drivers Logbook also states that the Driver must wear suitable foot wear during driving assessments and tests.

We have been told that some Insurance Companies have their own issues relating to a driver's foot wear. We suggest you investigate further with your Insurance company.

Copied from Page 18 of the 8th Edition of Driver's Handbook

http://www.drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au/LinkPageFiles/drivers_handbook_10_08_8thEDITION.pdf

A Drivers Responsibilities

Hazardous Situations

Inappropriate footwear

It is important always to wear some form of safe footwear when driving or riding. Thongs or other types of footwear without an enclosed heel or heel support strap are not considered safe as they can interfere with the operation of the brake, clutch (if any), and accelerator pedals.

http://www.drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au/LinkPageFiles/AUST%20Road%20Rules%201999.219.UN.pdf

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee and Donna"

Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:36 AM
Subject: Give Way Rules

 My wife has a lot of trouble with the give way rules and has failed that  part of the test on numerous occasions, which has left her with no
 confidence to go and sit the test again. Sometimes she will get them all right when practicing, other times she will mess one or two of them up and
 she gets frustrated, which reinforces her lack of confidence in sitting the real test. On your web site you made mention of a "Clever little
 exercise, that really does work".  I was wondering if you would be so kind as to share it with us so I can get my wife’s confidence back and give her
 the courage to sit the real test.
 

From: "Drive Smart"

To: "Lee and Donna"

Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:29 PM

Subject: Re: Give Way Rules

 Hi Lee,

Thank you for your request for help.

A way to help sort out the give ways is to remember the word S T O R.

Applying the following steps to each give way question can help.


S is for Signs, Lines and Traffic lights. Obey them.

T is for Terminating road (T Junction). The car coming up the "neck" of the T gives way to vehicles travelling along the "through" road.

O is for Oncoming or Opposite Direction. If you are turning right across Oncoming Traffic you must give way.

R is for Right. If none of the above apply then you simply give way to the Right.


A couple of other things to remember:
        You must give way to pedestrians who are crossing the road you are turning into.
        Read up and learn how "modified T junctions" work.
        Read up on "slip lanes" at traffic lights.

See how things go by applying this to the practice questions.
 

----- Original Message -----

From: Monique

Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 12:00 PM

Subject: 50km per hour

When a person immigrating to South Australia from overseas or interstate arrives and they swap their license to an SA license, do they have to undertake any driving course to be made aware of the driving laws for this state, or are they given a booklet that explains these rules?

For example how would someone who have just moved from overseas to live in SA know that you must drive 50km when it is not signed?

From: Drive Smart Driving School

To: Monique B

Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 2:50 PM

Subject: Re: 50km per hour

Hi Monique,

Thanks for your enquiry.

People converting from an overseas licence are required to at least do a theory test before getting their SA licence. People from some countries are also required to do a practical driving test. Interstate drivers can generally just swap to an SA licence. All these are done through the local Service SA office. Phone 13 10 84 for licensing enquiries and info or visit www.service.sa.gov.au

The road rules are all explained in a booklet called the Driver's Handbook. This is available from any Service SA office or you can look it up here: http://www.drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au/LinkPageFiles/the_drivers_handbook_full.pdf

The 50k in built up areas rule is explained in the Handbook on page 42
 

"50km/h within a built-up area unless you pass a different signposted speed limit on that road."
 

----- Original Message -----

From: Donna

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 5:47 PM

Subject: local traffic only signs

Can u please explain to me what is considered local traffic only??? like is it people that live in the street only or people that live in that area like the next street over or something.. I am just a little confused what it means.

From: Drive Smart Driving School

To: Donna

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 10:05 PM

Subject: Re: local traffic only signs

Hi Donna,

Thank you for your interesting question. We've looked through the road law books and not found much yet so, we'll go with what we believe the signs mean.

Our understanding is that there are two main types of traffic in any area, "local" and "through".

The signs are probably meant to discourage "through" traffic that is going through the area then continuing to another place or suburb.

Someone who lives in that street or has to pass down that street to get to the next street would probably be classified as "local" traffic.

Hope that helps, is the best we can do for now but we will keep researching.

----- Original Message -----

From: Donna

Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 12:28 PM

Subject: Re: local traffic only signs

Thank you for the reply .. ok have another.. question... local traffic only sign but also  says no left or right turn into street between say 7-9am and 4-6pm... what happens then, especially if all the entering streets have the same sign what happens then...Lockleys & Strathmore St

Hi Donna,

well, I have done a bit of research for you. Ok, as you know, the whole area is "Local Traffic Only" - this is to stop/deter people who don't live on those streets from using them as short cuts from Henley Beach Road to Sir Donald Bradman Drive and vice versa (hence the traffic speed restriction devices on Rutland Avenue). Coming off Henley Beach onto Strathmore Ave has the morning and afternoon time restrictions, not sure about onto Rutland, think there is time restriction there too - all the restrictions are in place because of "Peak hour traffic" to save lots of rear end collisions and extra congestion into and out of the city. It is designed to promote smoother flowing traffic. If you are a local and wanting to access Strathmore Ave, you can get access to it at any time via Netley from Rutland Ave, as there are no time restrictions on this street.

If you have any further questions about this particular form of traffic control, try contacting the Traffic Department of the City of West Torrens Council on (08) 8416 6333 and they should be able to clear it up for you.