Know the Enemy
After years of experience, drivers develop the habit of identifying types of drivers that could and do cause problems. In their presence we exercise special care.
The usual way a new driver learns to recognise these types is by unpleasant or scare experiences. The following list attempts to identify and name the major types of potentially dangerous drivers and to give a course of action to follow when in their presence.
The list not only gives new drivers information about the potential enemy, but also serves as a reminder of what not to be.
CHARGER: A vehicle approaching fast from the rear. Their speed makes them a danger when in proximity to another vehicle.

• Keep left to maintain the safety cushion. Don’t become transfixed by the mirror. Keep seeing the whole scene

CHOKER: A road hog, a traffic obstructer, usually slow in the right lane. Drives in the centre of the road. Can block the left lane when driving beside a larger or slower vehicle.

• Patience is required; this driver is unaware of traffic behind or beside. Overtake with caution

DECEIVER: Doesn’t signal, signals too late or leaves signal on. Unaware of own actions.

• Do not cross the path of a vehicle signalling, expecting the turn to be made. The driver may be a deceiver. Do not proceed until the signalling vehicle turns. Deceivers who turn right without signals are numerous.

DITHERER: Slow to make up mind, starts then stops. SOme elderly drivers are ditherers. An unpredictable driver.

• Increase safety cushion, overtake with caution.

DRIFTER: Inability to hold a straight line while driving. Should not have a licence. Particularly dangerous because of a lack of control.

• Increase safety cushion. Overtake only with extreme caution.

GROUPER: Someone who drives in a tightly clustered group of vehicles travelling in one direction. Groupers rely on the reflexes and actions of the other drivers.

• Do not be involved. Increase your safety cushion when near groupers

HONKER: Unnecessarily uses the horn. An impatient driver and one who will take risks.

• Stay aware of their presence, increase safety cushion. Let them overtake.

INVADER: Someone who attempts to drive in your safety cushion area.

• Move your car either left, right, forward or back to maintain the safety cushion.

JUMPER: Leaves the kerb or changes lanes without looking or signalling. Particularly dangerous, hard to spot and a quick mover.

• A good safety cushion at all times is the best defence.

PACER: Drives continuously in close proximity to another vehicle, totally unaware of the safety cushion.

• Increase your safety cushion to make up their deficiency.

PHONEY: A person using a mobile phone while driving; they want you to think that they are safe drivers. They are the most dangerous drivers and are regular killers: totally unpredictable.

• Do not drive beside or particularly in front of these villains; give them a wide berth.

POUNCER: Any person, animal or vehicle that could make an unpredictable move. Children, animals, cyclists, people alighting from cars and drivers who have not made eye contact are all potential pouncers.

• Reduce speed. Influenced decisions procedure will apply.

PUSHER: Drivers very close to the rear of other vehicles. This individual is relying on the person in the front not to brake quickly.

• If followed by a pusher, increase your forward safety cushion to compensate for their deficiency.

ROUNDABOUT BULLY: Approaches roundabouts at some speed as if they always have the right of way.

• They do not have the right of way, but we are not going to tell them. Let them go, then proceed into the roundabout.

STRADDLER: Straddles lane lines or drives to one side of a lane. Particularly dangerous on bends in laned traffic.

• Only pass this person on straight roadway, after a warning signal and with a wide safety cushion.

UNDERTAKER: Passes on the inside in unlaned traffic. Usually impatient and willing to take risks.

• Slow, to allow them out of your safety cushion.

URGER: Forces their way into your territory, mostly in slow traffic situations, at lights, in lanes and so on.

• Allow them to proceed; maintain your safety cushion.

The purpose of the driving test is to determine if a learner driver has the requisite skills to drive as a low-risk solo driver.
After many hours behind the wheel, driving lessons and countless reverse parks, a learner should be ready to pass the test.
Trent driver trainers often see other factors getting in the way.
Nerves and the fear of failure can often reduce your ability to perform when the examiner is watching. All too often we see competent drivers rush decisions when in a test situation and not able to perform simple manoeuvres as the situation becomes more stressful.
The best way to counter this is to train with the test in mind.
As you progress and gain more skills and ability, your Trent driver trainer will test the skills that you have acquired.
The more times you repeat this process, the more comfortable you will be when you are being assessed.
Just driving around your local area time and again is not the way to get test ready – you need to practice.
A couple of mock tests with your trainer will help immensely.

Book a practice test today! 

Try not to set unrealistic expectations of yourself prior to the test or think that it is the end of the world if you do fail. This will just create extra pressure.
Focus on being a safer driver than the RMS requires and a little slip on game day won’t matter.

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others. A Transport for NSW video features a motorist broken down, personnel from NSW Police, Fire & Rescue NSW,  Roads and Maritime Services, NSW SES, the Ambulance Service of NSW and NRMA Motoring & Services, delivering a simple but important message to NSW motorists:    SLOW DOWN AND GIVE US SPACE

B Street Smart (previously known as The Youth and Road Trauma Forum) is the inspiring initiative of the Trauma service in Westmead Hospital. It is now going into its 9th year and is Australia’s largest educational event on road safety.
The purpose of B Street Smart is to reduce the fatality and injury rates of young people by promoting safe behaviours as drivers, riders and passengers.
This years event is being held over three days from Tuesday 19th August to Thursday 21st August and will see around 86,000 students come through its doors.
The event is free to all schools and is currently fully booked for this year, but if you or your school are interested in booking for next year, go to the B Street Smart website for more information.

Back when I was a child, the RMS (back then known as the RTA) had a safety campaign running called “Click, clack, front and back”.

The campaign was not only aimed at adults, but at children as well, telling them all about the risks associated with not wearing a seatbelt. I remember having a colouring book and there was even a little song on cassette tap that I remember listening to. You can check out the old ad here.

The ads are run a little differently now, however the aim is always the same; to promote safe driving and awareness.

Transport for NSW have a program called “Safety Town”. This is aimed at families and also schools. It’s important to get these safety messages through at a young age in the hope that it makes a difference for when the children are older.

Have a look at their road safety website and share with any young people in your family. The website in the link has a lot of wonderful information, so have a scroll through their page.

As of the 1st July 2014, there have been changes made to lane filtering for motorcycles.

You may not have heard of the term lane filtering, but guaranteed you will have seen it at some point while driving on a multi-laned road.

Lane filtering is when a motorcylist moves alongside vehicles that have stopped or are moving slowly. This used to be an illegal practice on NSW roads, however now is legal (under strict conditions) .

Click here to see what the latest rule changes are and to see an example video.

http://youtu.be/bvLaTupw-hk
The New Zealand Transport Agency make some really powerful ads.
Hopefully this ad will do the rounds and make people think twice about speeding.
Remember; there is no such thing as “safe speeding”.

There is also some confusion as to when exactly school zones apply, especially when it comes to school holidays and pupil free days.
Have a watch of the one minute video which will explain the road rules for school zones.