Tips for Staying Safe on Our Roads During the Holiday Season
December 27, 2017

This is the time of the year when more young people are driving to visit families and holiday destinations to enjoy a well deserved break.

And while there’s still time before THEY jump into that car, there are some great tips especially for young drivers, to see them through what can be a confronting time on the road.

“Getting behind the wheel of a car as a young driver or passenger is said to be among the most dangerous things a person will do in their entire life” according to Maria Lovelock, Programme manager of national not for profit organisation Road Safety Education Limited (RSE).

The organisation is intent on reducing road trauma among young drivers, by educating high school students through its highly acclaimed RYDA program, which provides powerful workshops to change the way young people think about road safety.

RSE has strong support from corporate partners BOC, Toyota Australia, Bosch and Bridgestone, along with Rotary Clubs, whose volunteers co-ordinate the program in their local area.

Some tips to bear in mind:
Distance between your car & the car in front
Always keep a minimum three seconds gap between you and the car in front. When it's raining and/or foggy double the distance to six seconds no matter what speed you're doing.

Indicate early
Always indicate when changing lanes, 30 metres wherever practical, to advise other motorists of what you are doing.

Eyes Ahead
Drive with your line of sight parallel to the road not looking down onto it. By doing this you see further into the distance so you can be better prepared if there is a problem ahead. It may even mean you can avoid a crash.

Overtaking
Ensure you have enough room to go past the vehicle you are overtaking and not cut them off. Pick you time carefully as overtaking can be quite dangerous and making the wrong decision may result in a serious crash.

Driving at night
Driving at night requires more skill & concentration than at daytime due to your restricted vision. Oncoming headlights can obscure your vision and pedestrians can be near impossible to see. Leave a bigger gap between you and the car in front to allow for your reduced vision and reaction time.

Road rage
Stay relaxed and try not to let other people's driving skills or decisions worry you.

If another driver makes a mistake don't get angry - just concentrate on your own driving skills, behaviour and safety.

“Drivers must remember that travelling during holiday periods can be more risky because of increased traffic volumes, congestion, tiredness, there are higher numbers of people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and people may be driving in unfamiliar environments.

Being courteous and flexible, remembering to share the road with others, allowing increased time for the journey, and scheduling frequent breaks can help drivers to stay safe during these high-pressure periods.

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