Five ways to become a safer driver

It’s a sad indictment on modern society that motorists are taught to pass a licensing test, and not how to drive a car – at least not to the standard that they should.

That 120 hours practice spent with mum and dad, who likely already have bad habits of their own, might seem sufficient to those that set the rules, but it’s obvious to anyone with decades of experience on the road and racetrack that the skills on display by the average driver are ordinary at best – and sometimes frighteningly insufficient.

And no, we’re not just talking about car control, being the drift king, or the fastest in the dash from the traffic lights. We’re talking about real-world, save-your-bacon skills that could help keep you from having a nasty 'fender bender', or worse, becoming a road-toll statistic.

While not a comprehensive list of how to drive a car safely, or how to drive well, the following tips are guidelines we think could help most of us be a little better behind the wheel.

You wouldn’t get in a plane with a pilot who didn’t know how to land. So why on earth would you take to the road in a car you don’t know how to drive? Knowing how your car operates, what its various features do, and how it performs are of critical importance to keeping you – and other road users – safe on the road.

If you are lucky enough to have bought a new car, then spend an hour or two with the owner’s manual. Try using various features while your car is safely parked in the driveway first. Know how to switch things on and off, and learn basic maintenance procedures like checking vital fluids or topping up the air in your tyres.

Safely operating your car – and indeed fully appreciating your car’s safety features – is also dependent on your position behind the wheel. Remember to set your seat, steering wheel and mirrors correctly before you start the engine, and to reset them all if someone else has been driving the car.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you don’t know how to do something, then get the assistance of a friend or a relative to explain it to you. And if your driving is a little on the rusty side, consider paying for a defensive driving course.

If you can’t be a good driver, then at least be a courteous one. Try to anticipate if someone is attempting to merge and leave a gap for them to merge in front. Slow down and move to the left if a faster vehicle is trying to pass. Use your indicators to signal your intentions to others. Wave ‘I’m sorry’ when you’ve done the wrong thing or ‘thanks’ when someone else has let you in.

It’s best if we all treat the road like we would the aisles of a supermarket. Sure it’s not easy to say ‘excuse me’ or ‘sorry about that’ when you’re surrounded by metal and glass, but that doesn’t mean we should use that isolation as an excuse for ignoring the basic manners we’d apply to any other social situation.

Road courtesy – or driver etiquette as it is elsewise known – is proven to contribute to safer motoring and reduces the incidence of road rage. Don’t follow the car in front too closely (known as ‘tailgating’), don’t speed, don’t change lanes unnecessarily (keep left), and use your lights and signals in accordance with state law. And don’t forget that road users aren’t always driving a vehicle – pedestrians and cyclists share the road, too.

We’ve all seen them – the distracted driver. Swerving in and out of their lane, failing to notice the light has turned green (or red!), unaware the speed limit has increased or decreased… we could cite a dozen examples. And the reasons for the distraction are often as many and varied as the source of the distraction itself; though largely, it’s the smartphone that is to blame.

Our tip: when you’re driving, you’re driving, and that’s all you’re doing. Don’t look at your phone, don’t apply your make-up, don’t shave, and don’t try to eat a three-course meal. Seriously, just drive the car. It’s a task that is far more complicated than most of us admit, and one that has massive potential for injury if it’s not done right.

By focussing only on the job at hand you’re naturally more aware of your surroundings which in turn aids in anticipating changing road conditions more readily. You’ll also know where other cars are in relation to your own with near instinctive ease, be more aware of the speed at which you’re travelling, and have heightened perception of the adverse actions of others – like that distracted guy in the car next to you.

Imagine a bunch of commercial airliners trying to land without some kind of system; or every train in the morning peak trying to arrive at the same platform at the same time.

It’s the same thing when you share a piece of road with other cars – attempt it without rules, or a logical sequence, and the results are likely to be calamitous. This is why we have road rules. It’s why they’re taught to us when we obtain permission to drive on a public road. And it’s why they must be obeyed if safety and order are to be maintained.

You are not immune to the rules. Just because you’re running late, your car is more expensive or your ego is bigger than the great outdoors doesn’t mean you’re exempt from following the letter of the law.

You should also know that the rules you’re taught when you pass your test aren’t the be all and end all of driving for the rest of time. Learn and re-learn the road rules. Know when they’re updated. Know how to find the information relevant to the state or territory in which you’re operating your vehicle. Then practice them, daily. Being ignorant of the law is no excuse for breaking it, and it’s certainly no excuse for being a bad driver.

In a society where we’re taught that speed is the only factor likely to put us in harm’s way, it’s important that we understand there are other elements that can influence your safety on the road. Broadly, we call these ‘conditions’.

Think about the ‘condition’ your car is in: how much tread is on the tyres, how much air is in the tyres, how serviceable your brakes might be, and how heavily loaded your vehicle is. Think about your state of mind and how alert you might be. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive if you’re under the influence of drugs or medication, legal or otherwise.

Also consider the weather conditions: how hot or cold it might be, if it’s wet or dry, and how far ahead you can see (remembering that fog, smoke, dust, shadows, rain and sunlight all play a part here). And don’t forget to factor in the road surface itself: how much grip it’s likely to offer if you suddenly need to brake or swerve.

It’s also critical that you adjust your speed to suit these conditions. Just because a road has a posted speed limit of 100km/h, for example, that doesn’t mean 100km/h is always the safest speed at which to travel on that road. If any of the conditions listed above are less than optimal, or if the traffic is heavier than usual, then it’s important to adjust your speed accordingly. In the wrong conditions, speed certainly can kill.