RACV Free2Go

It’s easy to freak out in the city if you’re used to driving on quiet country roads.  Here are a few tips to help make city driving a little less nerve-wracking:

• Try to relax.
• Drive at a comfortable speed.
• Be aware of changing speed limits – most cities have 50km/h and 40km/h zones, especially in school areas.
• Watch out for pedestrians around shops and pubs.
• Keep out of the right hand lane on multi-lane roads, unless you are overtaking. 
• Be careful in wet weather – built-up oil can make the roads slippery.  Brake and accelerate gently and double the distance between you and the car in front.
• Don’t block intersections – if there is no space on the other side, stay where you are, even if it means waiting for the next lights.  You don’t want to deal with angry motorists or a potential fine!

If you’re used to driving in the city, country roads can be a bit of a surprise.  Many are in bad condition and some are not sealed at all.  Here are a few pointers for rural driving:

• Overtaking on country roads is a whole new ball game.  Only overtake if it is safe and if you’re not sure, stay where you are.
• Remember that the right hand lane is for overtaking only.
• Slow down if you’re driving on unsealed roads – it takes a lot longer to stop on dirt roads, especially if it is raining.
• If you’re driving at night, use your high beam lights.  Dim them when you see oncoming traffic.

It’s scary being in a car that is sliding on ice.  And being the driver is even scarier.  Here are a few tips for driving on icy roads:

• Fit chains to your tyres – they’ll help stop you losing control.
• If you’re driving down an icy slope, weight and momentum will be working with gravity to push you down. Choose a lower gear and brake just enough to be in control but not lock the wheels.
• If your wheels lock, don’t brake harder.  Take your foot off the brake, let the wheels start rolling again, get your car pointed straight on and then gently and carefully reapply the brakes.
• Try not to panic!

Driving in fog is like driving with your eyes closed.  If you can, it’s best if you stop and wait for the fog to lift.  If you must keep driving, here are a few pointers for how to stay safe:

• Increase the distance between you and the car in front to at least 4 seconds.
• Use your windscreen wipers to maximise visibility.
• If it is daytime, drive slow and don’t stop suddenly.  If you have to stop, try to veer off the shoulder of the road to prevent other cars hitting you from behind. 
• If you are in night time fog, slow down and turn on your low beam headlights.  Low beam keeps the light on the road and not directed up into the fog. 

Driving is a whole new experience during or just after rain. Keep these things in mind:

• Slow down! 
• The distance it takes to stop on wet roads is much greater.  Increase the gap between you and the car in front from 2 seconds to 4 seconds. 
• Avoid sudden turning or braking.
• Turn on you low beam headlights – this will help other drivers see you.
• If there is water over the road, slow right down and approach with caution.
• Driving through water can affect your brakes.  If you notice your brakes are dull after driving through water, lightly rest your left foot on the brake pedal while you are driving.  This will create heat, which will dry your brake pads. 
• If the conditions are very wet, increase your tyre pressure.  This will help channel more water away from your car. 

Of course driving at night is going to be harder – it’s dark!  Use these tips to help deal with reduced visibility:

• Increase the distance between you and the car in front from 2 seconds to 4 seconds.
• Don’t just stare at the road lit up by your headlights – search the edges of the roads and darker areas for potential dangers.
• If you’ve been driving a lot during the day, take a break before driving at night.
• Keep a closer eye out for traffic lights – they can blend in with lit-up advertising signs at night.
• Use your high beam lights when you can. Dim them to low if there is an approaching car within 200m or you are behind a car that is less than 200m away.  Also avoid using high beam in built-up areas.
• If you are preparing to stop or slow down, tap your foot on the brake pedal.  This will flash your brake lights and let the car behind know you’re slowing. 

Driving when you’re tired is a really bad idea.  And it’s not just long-distance driving that’s dangerous – everyday driving can make you tired too.  Late nights, parties, work and study really take it out of you and driving when you haven’t had enough sleep is a no-go.  Losing concentration or falling asleep at the wheel is not only dangerous to you, but also other people on the roads. 

To help prevent fatigue:

• Take a break.  Stop driving, get out of the car and stretch your legs for 15 minutes every 2 hours.  Run around or do cartwheels – anything to get the blood pumping.
• Keep fresh air circulating throughout the car – a stuffy, too-warm cabin will make you sleepy.
• Eat fresh, light foods that are good for you.  Fatty snacks like chips and chocolate might seem like an easy option but they will make you tired (and fat!)
• Share the driving with your passengers.
• Don’t start a long drive after a long day’s work or study.
• Don’t drive at a time you would normally be asleep. 

Keep an eye out for signs like:

• Yawning
• Heavy or sore eyes
• Changes in your driving speed
• You can’t really remember the last few kilometres
• Boredom and fidgeting
• Drifting and moving around your lane
• Missing traffic signs
• Daydreaming or loss of concentration
• Slower reaction times
• A light headache

If you’re tired, don’t fight it.  You might think you can push through but the only thing that will help is sleep.  Pull over and have a 15 – 30 minute Powernap.  You’ve seen the ads, and it really does work. 

It’s simple – driving when you’ve been drinking can kill you.  And it can kill others – your passengers, pedestrians and other people on the roads.  It’s in your power to help make Victorian roads safer by not driving when you’ve been drinking.

Some things you should know about alcohol and driving:

• Even one alcoholic drink can affect your driving skills.
• There are no tricks to reducing your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) – mints, coffee, water, deep breaths or showers don’t work.
• If you’re on your L’s or P’s, you must have a BAC level of 0.0 when you drive.  This means you can’t have any alcohol before you drive.
• You can still be over the limit the morning after a big night out.
• Different drinks have different levels of alcohol – don’t assume two pots of beer is the same as two vodkas.  

So if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive.  Even if it seems like you can manage it or your friends want a lift, it’s not worth the risk.  Get a lift home with a designated driver, catch a cab, take public transport or stay the night.  You never know, you may even get lucky!

Speeding is dangerous and you know it.  Your mates might tell you to go faster or you might be in a hurry, but whatever the reason, it’s just not worth it.  It’s not worth the risk of getting caught and it’s not worth the risk of having a serious accident. 

Some things worth knowing are:

• Speed is the cause of 40% of fatal accidents and most of the victims are under 25.  If you speed, then you could be one of those victims.  You, or someone you know.  It’s that simple. 
• Speeding isn’t just exceeding the limit, it’s also driving at a speed that is unsafe for the conditions.  For example, when the roads are icy, you should drive under the speed limit.
• The faster you drive, the more likely you are to have an accident.  If you are driving at 65km/h in a 60km/h zone, you are twice as likely to crash.  If you are driving at 70km/h, you are 11 times more likely to crash.
• The faster you drive, the longer it takes you to stop.  For example, if you are driving at 60km/h, it will take 55m to stop.  If you are travelling at 80km/h it will take 94m to stop.  Even though it is only a speed increase of 25%, it will take you 70% longer to stop.
• It’s not just you that is at risk if you speed - you can seriously injure or kill your passengers, other motorists, pedestrians or cyclists