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 1303Steve
A.k.a.: Steve Carter
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| posted on July 15th, 2014 at 05:11 PM |
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Driving suggestions
These are a few things that I tried to impart to my son David when he was learning to drive
Don’t park at the petrol station bowsers unless you’re putting fuel in your car, they might be empty when you pull up, but can soon fill up while
you go shopping, this is very frustrating when some service stations only have one or two bowsers that serve a certain type of fuel and your parked
there, the guy on console won’t say anything because they probably make more money from selling shop items than selling petrol, its much cheaper to
buy the stuff you needed at the supermarket anyway
Move off from traffic lights promptly, if more cars can get through traffic lights the cars behind will spend less time idling waiting for the next
light, which has got to be better for everyone
Try to enter freeways at the speed limit, that’s what on ramps and your right foot are for
If you are in the left lane at traffic lights and there are cars parked up ahead or the lane ends, move off promptly so that the cars behind you have
a chance to get in front of the cars in the right lane, the purpose of a left lane that ends just after traffic lights is to allow cars to bank up in
two lanes at the lights and then move off.
On country roads if you find that cars are banking up behind you, ease off when an overtaking lane comes up so that they can get past you.
Never assume that your speedo is 100% accurate and think that this gives you the right to act as speed warden for other road users
If you find yourself in the wrong lane don’t stop to change lanes or try to change lanes at traffic lights, keep going until you find an alternative
road to turn into or turn around
Don’t touch your brakes unless you intend to stop or need to slow down, try backing off instead, this is important if drivers behind you doing the
correct thing and reading the traffic 4 or 5 five cars ahead, they will see your brake lights come on for no apparent reason and have to slam there
brakes on for no reason
Putting your hazard lights on doesn’t give you the right to park your car anywhere
When you pull into a service station driveway or similar, get all the way in, don’t leave your tail hanging out in the traffic while you decide
where you’re going next.
If you’re looking for an address in an unfamiliar location, pull over and wait until there are no cars behind you, then continue looking for the
address and keep an eye on your rear view mirrors for more cars coming up behind you
Don’t break into traffic and dawdle, put you foot down so that all the traffic doesn’t have to slow down for you
Learn that the car on the other side of the roundabout can’t possibly hit you, so please proceed into the roundabout
Don’t expect to get onto a multi lane road in peak hour and then try to get across 3 lanes of traffic to make a turn at the next street, plan your
route so that you get on the 3 lane road at an earlier intersection which will give you plenty of time to change lanes
I’m really impressed that your car has fog lights but I don’t need to see them unless they are needed.
Be aware that if you drive with your rear fog lights on your brake lights aren’t as effective so you’re more likely to get rear ended, BMW, VW,
Audi and Hyundai Excel drivers take note
Always try to join busy roads at a traffic light controlled intersections if you have to turn right, the opposite is true in LHD countries.
If you need to wind down your window, either put it down all the way or only have about 15 mm gap at the top, this will prevent the window edge from
chopping the top of your scalp of if you get thrown against the door during a collision.
You don’t need to take a massive swing into a driveway or side road as if you’re driving a semi trailer, this blocks the road for people wishing
to pass you.
This was all I could think off the top of my head, anybody care to add anything?
Steve
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 Yogie
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| posted on July 15th, 2014 at 05:28 PM |
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All sensible suggestions.
Also add that a stop sign means you have to stop.
Stay in your own lane and do not drift in to other lanes or wander all around the one you are in.
If you have to cross over the centre lines of the road to go around a corner, you are driving above your ability so slow down so you can stay on your
own side of the road.
If you see another cars headlights nearing you at night, even though they may yet be around a curve, and you are on high beam, turn yours down until
they have passed.
Always USE your indicators (properly) even if you cannot see other traffic, that way it becomes a natural reaction whenever you are turning.
Don't travel too close to the car in front.
If you see someone weaving all over the road, it is better to be behind them than in front of them as they may end up rear ending you at the next
lights.
If someone wants to go faster than you, let them. It is up to the police to deal with them.
Treat other drivers as you would want them to treat you.
When you park, centre yourself in the parking bay and not over close to the line as that makes it hard for others to get in and out of their cars.
Check your tyre pressures regularly and look at your tyres as you walk up to the car as well just to make sure they look OK before you drive off.
ALWAYS wear your seatbelt as you never know who you will meet on the road, even for short trips.
I am sure there are more though.
Yogie
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landfall
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| posted on July 15th, 2014 at 06:49 PM |
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As a senior driving instructor for many years, I agree on most of those.
Here's a couple more I used to tell my students:_
The word STOP on a sign means STOP, not almost stop or stop if there is traffic.
Remember, you are the best driver on the road, the rest are idiots, treat them as such and always expect he unexpected.
The difference between a Green light and a Red light is just the colour. Red does not force people to stop and Green does not force you to go. Check
the intersection first and proceed when it is safe.
There is only one skill that keeps you alive in a car. It's not how smooth you can drive, it's not changing gears nor it it anything to do with
speed. It's observation.
If you can't see, don't go.
When a student used to ask me, "Should I let that car in?" I always used to reply, "If you were in that car, would you like someone to let you in?
In the answer is, Yes. Then let them in."
After they let the vehicle in, I would point out that now I had TWO happy drivers on the road and don't forget to give a little wave back if they
thank you.
Ken
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Phil74Camper
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| posted on July 15th, 2014 at 08:04 PM |
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This 'Better Driving' test was published in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1962.
See how you do.
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 helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on July 15th, 2014 at 09:08 PM |
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The WHITE LINE at traffic lights is the one to stop behind. Not the one to park half or all over.
WHITE LINE, too hard to see. Don't drive. WHITE LINE, can you see it? WHITE LINE do you park over it when you stop at lights? WHITE LINE!
Again. WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE LLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE.
So we all know what my pet hate is!
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landfall
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| posted on July 16th, 2014 at 06:46 AM |
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Speaking of pet hates.
I hate the people who purchase budget model vehicles with NO INDICATORS or the scumbags who drive prestige vehicles and either don't generate enough
electricity to operate their indicators or are too mean to wear out the bulbs.
They would make good chess players:- NEVER tell anyone your next move.
Ken
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donn
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| posted on July 16th, 2014 at 06:57 AM |
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Indicators are to let people know what your next move will be? really ! From what I've seen I thought they we to let people know what move you have
just completed 
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
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ian.mezz
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| posted on July 16th, 2014 at 08:32 AM |
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When teaching a learner driver , keep them in the left lane unless their over taking . don't keep them holing up the right lane because you want them
to turn in a couple of Ks 
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MY68VW
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| posted on July 16th, 2014 at 08:58 AM |
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My grandfather imparted much driving wisdom upon me when I was learning to drive:
-When turning right, across oncoming traffic; keep the front wheels pointed straight until you're making the turn that way if you're rear ended you
won't be pushed into oncoming traffic.
-Don't ride the brakes going downhill.
-If the sun is blinding you in the rear view mirrors turn on your headlights so oncoming traffic can see you - they are driving into the sun.
-Visually line up the solid line on the side of the road with part of your vehicle while your in your driving position then you will always know how
far from the edge of the road you are.
-Look at where you want to be, not where you're going (this was his "tell" before pulling on the handbrake to test your ability at regaining
control).
-2 hands on the wheel means twice the control and 3 times reaction speed.
-driving kills more people than guns and war. Driving is like being at war and everyone is your enemy, know where they are and what they're doing and
you'll reduce the risk.
(Some of his other wisdom has been covered in above posts)
Grandfather was police driving instructor/race car driver.
Tuned Type IV power - shaking out the rust.
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modnrod
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| posted on July 16th, 2014 at 12:19 PM |
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Teach your kids to drive through traffic in an HR with drum brakes and a dodgy steering box.
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MY68VW
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| posted on July 17th, 2014 at 07:10 AM |
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Bulli Pass in a Sandman  
Tuned Type IV power - shaking out the rust.
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
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| posted on July 17th, 2014 at 07:37 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by landfall
When a student used to ask me, "Should I let that car in?" I always used to reply, "If you were in that car, would you like someone to let you in?
In the answer is, Yes. Then let them in."
After they let the vehicle in, I would point out that now I had TWO happy drivers on the road and don't forget to give a little wave back if they
thank you.
Ken
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Best one so far, IMHO.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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1303Steve
A.k.a.: Steve Carter
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| posted on July 17th, 2014 at 08:13 AM |
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The wave is important
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donn
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| posted on July 17th, 2014 at 03:35 PM |
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My boys were around 12 or 13 when I started introducing them to driving skills, one that I taught them was to always know where your wheel were, that
way you would have some sort of an idea where the rest of the car is  . To do this we would go out into a large paddock and I'd place empty drink cans at random spots around the area, the idea
was for them to run over and crush the can with whatever wheel I would nominate, worked well. Another one was when approaching a parked vehicle that
may be likely to pull out, check the wheel on the suspect vehicle, you can always see the wheel start to rotate before you may notice the car moving.
And one more, when driving at night and an approaching vehicle dazzles you with its headlights, glance down to the left lane line or the left hand
edge of the road, that way the lights won't dazzle you and you can still see the approaching vehicle in your side vision.
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
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