You’ve probably seen it happen. A driver speeds up to get through an amber light, follows the car ahead a little too closely or makes a turn that leaves you wondering whether it was legal.
When you’re learning to drive, it’s easy to assume that other drivers know something you don’t. They have more experience, they look confident, and they seem to make decisions without giving them much thought.
But experience doesn’t make every driving habit safe or legal. Some drivers take risks, while others make mistakes. Neither is a good reason to copy what they do.
As a learner in NSW, you’re responsible for following the road rules and the conditions of your licence. Here’s a look at some common assumptions worth questioning before they become habits of your own.
Myth 1: If everyone else is doing it, it must be fine
The reality: Other drivers don’t always get it right.
You’re coming up to an intersection when the cars ahead start moving into the turning lane at the last minute. One driver manages to squeeze in, and you wonder whether you should do the same.
It’s easy to feel you need to follow along, especially when traffic is building up behind you. But you don’t know why those drivers are making those moves, and they might not be making the right call.
The same applies when drivers roll through a stop sign, fail to give way or change lanes without checking properly. Seeing someone else do something doesn’t tell you whether it’s safe or permitted.
Rather than treating the behaviour around you as a guide, pay attention to the signs, road markings and traffic conditions. If you’ve missed a turn, continue until you can find a safe and legal way to get back on route.
You don’t need to match another driver’s decisions to keep up with traffic. Your responsibility is to make your own decisions safely.
Myth 2: A little speeding won’t matter if the road is clear
The reality: An empty road doesn’t change the speed limit.
You might notice experienced drivers travelling above the posted limit, particularly on roads that look wide, straight or quiet. It can make the limit seem more like a suggestion than a rule.
But speed limits still apply when there’s little traffic around. A clear road can change quickly if a vehicle pulls out, an animal crosses or a hazard appears ahead.
In NSW, any speeding offence attracts at least four demerit points for learner and P1 drivers. As both licence types have a four-point demerit limit, even one speeding offence will result in a licence suspension or refusal to renew for at least three months.
You can check the current requirements in the NSW Government’s speeding offences and penalties guidance.
Keep an eye on the speedometer, particularly when moving between roads with different limits. It’s easy to carry too much speed from one section to the next without realising it.
And remember that driving below the posted limit isn’t automatically safe, either. You still need to adjust your speed to suit traffic, weather, visibility and the condition of the road.
Myth 3: Experienced drivers can take shortcuts, so learners should learn them too
The reality: A familiar route doesn’t mean you can bend the rules.
You might see a driver squeeze into a small gap, cross lanes just before a turn or take a corner in a way that looks a bit risky. They may drive that road every day, but that doesn’t mean they’ve judged the situation correctly.
But familiarity can sometimes lead people to become careless. A driver who has taken the same route for years can still misjudge a gap or overlook another road user.
As a learner, focus on getting the manoeuvre right rather than trying to copy the quickest way someone else gets through it.
For example, if you need to turn right but are in the wrong lane, don’t make a sudden move across traffic. Follow the lane you’re in and find another safe route. If you’re approaching a turn, check the signs and road markings early enough to position your vehicle correctly.
These decisions might add a few minutes to your trip. That’s preferable to making a rushed manoeuvre that puts you or someone else at risk.
Your instructor can also help you practise lane positioning, merging and turning until you feel more comfortable handling them independently.
Myth 4: If an experienced driver uses their phone, it must be allowed
The reality: Phone rules depend on your licence type.
This is one area where copying another driver can lead to a clear breach of the rules.
You might see someone touching their phone at traffic lights, checking a message in slow traffic or using a navigation app while driving. You shouldn’t assume the same behaviour is permitted for you.
In NSW, learner, P1 and P2 drivers must not use a mobile phone while driving, even when the vehicle is stationary but not parked. The restriction includes hands-free use and using a phone for navigation or music.
Drivers with a full licence have different permissions for certain hands-free functions and devices mounted in the vehicle. Those permissions don’t extend to learner and provisional drivers.
If you need to check directions, change your destination or respond to a message, pull over and park somewhere safe and legal first.
The NSW Government explains the differences in its guide to mobile phones, digital screens and GPS.
It’s worth learning the rules that apply to your own licence rather than assuming that what you see another driver doing is allowed.
Myth 5: You need to drive like everyone else to avoid holding up traffic
The reality: Being predictable is more useful than trying to keep up.
When you’re learning, you might worry about drivers getting impatient behind you. That pressure can make you feel as though you need to accelerate sooner, change lanes faster or take a gap you’re not entirely comfortable with.
When you feel pressured by the driver behind you, it’s easy to rush. You might move before you’ve checked properly or take a gap you’re not comfortable with.
You can be considerate without letting other drivers decide how you drive. Keep left when required, drive to the conditions and move when it’s safe.
If someone is following too closely, don’t speed up just to get away from them or brake suddenly out of frustration. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and give yourself time to react if traffic slows.
This also applies when merging or turning. Take the time to check your surroundings and make sure you have enough room before moving. Check your mirrors and blind spots, signal as required and move only when there’s enough space to do so safely.
You can’t control how other drivers behave. You can control whether you give yourself enough time and space to make a safe decision.
What should learners take from this?
Experienced drivers can be useful examples, but not everything they do is worth copying. Some have developed good habits over years of driving. Others have picked up shortcuts or behaviours that increase risk.
As you gain experience, it’s worth asking yourself why you’re making a particular decision. Are you following a road rule? Responding to the conditions? Or doing something mainly because the driver ahead did it first?
If you’re unsure about a manoeuvre, ask your instructor to explain the rule and practise the situation during a lesson. You can also revisit LTrent’s NSW learner licence guide to review the conditions that apply while you’re learning.
The habits you build now will influence how you drive when you’re no longer required to have a supervisor beside you. Learning to think independently, rather than simply copying the traffic around you, is part of becoming a capable driver.
Build good driving habits with LTrent
You don’t have to imitate other drivers to become confident behind the wheel. Focus on understanding the rules, recognising hazards and making decisions you can explain and stand by.
LTrent instructors can help you practise real road situations, understand the reasoning behind safe driving decisions and build habits that will serve you well beyond your learner licence.
