Staying Safe During the Holidays

​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.