Country versus city: The driving skills you should have

That’s because each location presents different challenges, for the novice or experienced driver, some of them potentially deadly. Have you got what it takes to switch driving modes, no matter what the terrain?

Around 10 million animals, including endangered species, are hit on Australia’s roads every year. Not only is this tragic for wildlife, but it’s also hazardous for humans.

Five per cent of fatal accidents are caused by collisions with animals, according to a Queensland University of Technology study and, of those, 42% tried to swerve to avoid the animal.

Those not killed can also suffer serious injuries, says Jerome Carslake, Program Director of the National Road Safety Partnership Program.

“Swerving to avoid an animal is not recommended; it is safer to drive straight over an animal if you cannot avoid it,” he says.

However, learning to read the roads, and timing your travel, is better.

“If you see watering points such as dams or troughs, or you see dead animals on the side of the road, you know you are in an area where wildlife are crossing.”

Many animals are also most active at dawn and dusk so consider this when planning your trip, plan your route.

Many regional roads are unlit so, if you don’t know the roads well, you risk sliding out on poor road surfaces, or tumbling down a dangerous drop. Unless you are psychic, or have x-ray vision, travel before sunset.

Being able to handle a car on gravel, or corrugated surfaces, is a survival skill. “You may be going 70km or 80km and the gravel will just move the vehicle around,” says Carslake.

Taking it slow will also help prevent damage to your tyres or suspension from large potholes in regional areas.

Anecdotal evidence suggests regional drivers are more likely to drive after they’ve had a few drinks. They’re also more likely to include the meandering tourist, not paying too much attention to the road, and the ute-owning local glued to your bumper at maximum speed.

Allow plenty of room between you and a bad driver and stay left or pull over to allow those with their pedal to the metal to pass.

In busy areas you’ll find yourself sharing the road with cars, motorbikes, buses, taxis and cycles. You should be skilled at checking your mirrors regularly for bikes weaving between lanes, new cars joining, or vehicles picking up passengers or dropping them off.

You have plenty more opportunity to rear end a car in the city and, with traffic lights, give way signs, pedestrian crossings and school zones, you’ll need to stay alert and make enthusiastic use of your brakes.

In the city, space is at a premium, so make sure you don’t drift into another lane. Don’t keep switching lanes, either, ‘to get ahead’, cautions Carslake. It’s about safety and courtesy.

If you spot a car park, you’ll need to get in and out of it quickly. An ability to reverse park will never go unrewarded.

Road rage caused by traffic congestion is likely to be higher in the city.

Watch your temper and don’t be impatient. “When people get upset, they react in less safe ways to driving challenges,” says Carslake.

Be aware of hazards specific to your travel area e.g. in Melbourne, tram tracks; in Sydney, the multi-lane hell that is the Harbour Bridge; in outback Australia, long, hot roads with no service station or wifi for GPS.

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