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In the journey of learning to drive, everyone's path is unique, yet many find themselves stumbling over the same hurdles. At Examiner Driving School, a driving school in Sydney, we've been guiding learners through this rite of passage since 2010, ensuring each journey is as smooth and informed as possible.
As your local driving school, we aim to shine a light on prevalent slip-ups learners often encounter and offer insights on how to avert them, ensuring a fulfilling and effective driving education. Grasping the Essentials: A Solid Start Before you rev the engine and merge onto Sydney's bustling streets, a thorough grounding in the basics is imperative. It's a misstep to underestimate the importance of understanding your vehicle and the road rules. Take the time to learn to drive in Sydney by starting with the ABCs of driving, familiarising yourself with your car's features, and the principles of safe driving. Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre: The Golden Trio A common oversight for many novices is the inadequate use of mirrors and signals. Keeping an eye on your mirrors should become second nature, ensuring you're always aware of your surroundings. Similarly, signalling your intentions clearly and timely can prevent misunderstandings on the road. Incorporate these practices consistently to enhance your driving competence. Speed and Safety: Finding the Balance Speed management is a critical skill that requires immediate attention. Adhering to speed limits and adjusting your pace according to road conditions is not just about compliance but safety. Wanting to learn to drive in Sydney involves understanding that speed limits are set for a reason, and respecting them is key to avoiding unnecessary risks. Blind Spots and Overconfidence: A Cautionary TaleRelying solely on mirrors might leave certain areas unseen. Conducting shoulder checks before changing lanes is a non-negotiable practice that safeguards against collisions. Additionally, while confidence is crucial, overconfidence can lead to reckless decisions. Approach each driving session with humility and a readiness to learn. The Practice Imperative: More Is Better One cannot underscore enough the importance of consistent practice when wanting to learn to drive in Sydney. Engaging in regular driving sessions across diverse conditions builds skill and confidence. Remember, proficiency behind the wheel is honed over time, not overnight. Anticipation and Awareness: Stay One Step Ahead A key aspect of becoming a proficient driver is the ability to anticipate the actions of others on the road. This proactive approach not only enhances your safety but also that of fellow road users. Developing this foresight is an invaluable part of your driving education. Mastering Manual: The Clutch Challenge For learners opting for a manual transmission, achieving smooth clutch control can be a significant hurdle. Regular practice and a patient approach can overcome the initial challenges of stalling and ensure a smoother ride. Choosing the Right Guide: Your Local Driving SchoolThe importance of selecting a suitable driving school in Sydney cannot be overstated. Examiner Driving School prides itself on offering tailored, patient, and insightful instruction, making it an ideal choice for Sydney learners. By being mindful of these common mistakes and actively working to circumvent them, your learning experience can be both enriching and enjoyable. Examiner Driving School is here to guide you through each step, ensuring you become a safe and confident driver. Keen to begin your driving adventure? Visit our website and connect with Sydney's esteemed local driving school for an unparalleled learning experience. Embrace the journey of learning to drive with the right mindset and the best support. Choose Examiner Driving School and set the course for a lifetime of safe and enjoyable driving in Sydney.
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How to stay safe on the roads during the Holidays
With the end of lockdown and the holidays fast approaching, many of you will be travelling interstate and regionally within NSW. This will be one of the busiest and unfortunately, most dangerous periods of the year to be on the road. Did you know that December is the deadliest month of the year on average? Therefore it’s extremely important to practice safer driving strategies no matter what level of driving experience you have! We care about the safety of all those on the road, so we’ve made a checklist for you to consider before starting on your trip away. 1. Be Ready: Make sure your car is ready for the trip before go away. You can fo this by checking the following below to ensure your car will be able to safely get you to your destination. - Tyre tread - Air pressure in tyres - Engine oil - Lights - Brakes - Coolant - Battery You could even consider having your car serviced before your trip to ensure all of these factors are in good shape. 2. Plan your trip: Make sure you check how long it will take to arrive at your destination and where you can stop for breaks in between. It is recommended to take a break every two hours and is a great opportunity for you to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and a bite to eat! If possible, swapping drivers is also a good idea as this goes a long way in minimising driver fatigue. It is also important that you get a good night’s rest before you start driving which will also assist in minimising driver fatigue and avoiding accidents. 3. Be alert and drive to the conditions: Driving to the conditions includes a wide range of scenarios such as wet weather, traffic conditions, speed limits and your ability to drive. Check relevant traffic websites or apps (i.e. Google maps) for any changes in traffic or hazards on the way. This includes possible car breakdowns or accidents and checking these apps can definitely save you some time if an alternate route is available. Not only that, but you will be able to avoid sitting in congestion on the highway. In addition, many of those on the road will be travelling to a holiday destination and may have bikes, trailers or boats attached to their vehicles. With this in mind, implementing safe driving techniques is crucial in avoiding accidents. This includes maintaining a 3 second gap, being aware of your surroundings, looking ahead if possible and sticking to the speed limit. 4. Be patient: The volume of traffic will almost certainly be increased during the holiday season. This period of the year will be busier than easier, especially considering those who didn’t get to travel during the COVID-19 lockdowns. You’re likely to encounter larger and slower vehicles such as those with trailers and caravans and a general increased in congestion due to more drivers on the road. So, remember to be patient on the roads and courteous to others. Ensure you’re following at a safe distance and only overtake if it is safe to do so (ideally when there is an overtaking lane available). Learner Driver Survey and Statistics 2021 Budget Direct has recently launched the inaugural Learner Driver Survey and statistics for 2021 to provide greater awareness of key metrics reflecting driving behaviours present in Learner drivers. Government sources along with 1,001 Australians with Learner’s licences were surveyed to conclude on the latest trends and statistics representing this demographic. This study holds key insights that all Learner Drivers can benefit from in becoming a safer driver on the roads. We’ve extracted the key findings and results from this study which include: - Males in the survey were significantly more likely to exaggerate their driving hours in their learner logbook (22.7%) compared to females (16.8%) - 82% of Australian respondents with manual licences passed their tests on the first attempt, compared to only 74% of those with automatic licences - Survey results showed that drivers with automatic licences were more than twice as likely to have been in an at-fault accident when they were on their learner licence (5.4%), compared to those with manual licences (2.3%) - Over the last 10 calendar years, the overwhelming trend has been that pass rates are higher for Queensland learners who book through a driving school, rather than booking privately. These are interesting statistics to consider, especially with the increasing number of automatic drivers compared to manual drivers. This is why it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re learning all the safe ways to drive and how to implement those into your everyday driving technique! By attending a Safer Drivers Courses and having professional driving lessons with Examiner Driving School can help you learn all these skills in a controlled and easy learning environment so you can fall within the 74% of learner drivers who pass on their first attempt! If you’re keen to learn more driving statistics, head to budget direct here. Safer Driving Course
The journey to achieving a driver’s licence in NSW involves several steps, which means most drivers will have to wait a significantly before progressing to a full and unrestricted driving licence. For eligible drivers wishing to accelerate the process while also gaining valuable skills in low-risk defensive driving, the Safer Drivers Course may be a useful alternative. The NSW Government first launched the Safer Drivers Course in July 2013, as part of their review into the existing licensing system. Who can take the course? In NSW, learner drivers under 25 years must undertake at least 120 hours of supervised driving practice, including 20 hours of night driving, before they can move on to sitting for the Hazard Perception Test to receive a provisional (P1) licence. Learner drivers, under 25 years must also have held their licence for at least 12 month, at which point they would be allowed to sit the driving test for the P1 stage. They are then required to hold their P1 licence for at least 10 months before attempting the Hazard Perception Test. However, if you are under 25 years of age and have already completed 50 log book driving hours, not including any Instructors three to one bonus hours, you may be eligible to undertake the Safer Drivers Course at a cost of $140.00. This will enhance your safer driving skills and can provide you with a faster route to the next stage of your licence. What are the benefits? Unfortunately, drivers between 17-25 years old are more likely than others to be involved in a road crash or incident. For example, a 17 year old driver with a P1 license is eight times as likely to be in a fatal crash than a driver over the age of 26. In addition, 1/4 of all speeding drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes are males aged 17-25. Therefore all drivers in this age group, can benefit from the Safer Drivers Course. As it is designed to help teach essential safer driving strategies such as; speed management, correct gap selection, fatigue, how to build resilience to the impacts of peer pressure, hazard perception, driving at night, drugs/alcohol and general lifestyle pressures. Ultimately, drivers who complete the Safer Drivers course will be more prepared to drive unsupervised with their provisional licenses. Completing the Safer Drivers Course course gives you 20 hours of credit in your learner log book in only just 5 hours. What does the course entail? The course is made up of two modules. The first module is a three-hour facilitated group with 6 – 12 students. The second module consists of a two hours in-vehicle coaching session, with a licensed driving instructor and their vehicle, along with another learner from the course. Completing this course allows you to gain valuable theoretical information, then shows you how to put it into practise, which helps to lower the risk of an accidents. For more information on the Safer Drivers Course; please feel free to contact us directly on 02 9715 1571 or book online at www.examinerdrivingschool.com.au/book-sdc.html |
