Preparing for the P test: part 1

Over the years the process for gaining your p plates has changed from simply getting your licence at the local Police station, to a simple 15 minute drive, then developing into the 50 hour scheme to the current 120 hours.
The question should be am I test ready or am I P Plate ready?
Two very different questions. Test ready means you have completed 120 hours of driving experience, on road with a supervisor and the compulsory 12 months on your learner licence if under 25 years of age.
P Plate ready means that you are competent to drive solo and you have had a wide variety of experience to deal with the situations you will come across on your p plates.
Your 120 hours are there to allow you to gain as much experience and variety so you will remain safe as a driver.
To prepare for your p test it is important to practice your driving in many different situations - night, day, rain, shine, city, country ........
Your supervisor should not have to be reminding you constantly of your right of way, road rules or when to go at intersections. If this is still occurring take the time to review your training methods and sit down with your supervisor to discuss road rules etc, out of the car to help you gain the knowledge you will need to be a competent solo driver.

As the test day approaches it is a good idea to have a few lessons to refine these skills and ensure you are on track to being a safer solo driver.

Remember, your first 6 months of driving on your p plates is the most dangerous time where more accidents may occur. Reduce your risks by preparing and planning your training to ensure you cover all the skills you will need on your p plates.

Black Ice

Sounds like an AC-DC album, but in the colder areas like the Southern Highlands, this can mean danger to drivers. Black ice is a thin layer of ice than forms on the road surface. Although the ice is not black it is transparent and the black road surface can be seen through it. The ice forms a layer which causes the car to loose traction. It often forms on shady patches where the heat has not defrosted the ice. Be aware of these areas and slow before coming into them. If you hit black ice it can cause the car to slid, do not brake or accelerate this will cause further problems. By decelerating the car can gain traction, depending on the speed you were traveling. Do not over respond. Gently steer the car as it slows. Prevention is better than cure , SLOW DOWN in sub zero temperatures and be aware of these high risk areas.

Filling in your NSW logbook - Learner driver

Filling in your logbook is an important part of gaining a NSW license. Currently  you are required to complete 120 hours of driving practice on road with a licensed supervisor. It is compulsory that 20 of these hours are  completed at night. A night hour is between sunset and sunrise. These times are well published and are not when you think it is dark. Search your area on google and search for sunset/ sunrise times and the year you would like to search, i.e 2012 Southern highlands sunset sunrise times.
The logbook is a legal contract between you and the RTA. You and your supervisor are declaring that you did complete the required hours, fraud is a serious offense and can incur serious penalties and suspensions from driving.

Always fill the log book in pen, not pencil.

Never use liquid paper, show errors with a line through it.

Never loose the front cover of the logbook as this is the contract part with your signature and shows ownership of the logbook.

Look after your logbook by putting it in a zip lock pouch.

Always take digital photos of the pages as you complete them, in case you loose the logbook you will have a record of hours already done.

Telstra Business Award finalists

Highlands Drive Safe has been announced as a finalist in two categories in the 2012 NSW Telstra Business Awards to be held in Sydney July 25th.

Driving at night

Driving 20 hours of actual night hours is required for all NSW learners. These night hours must be logged in your log book in the night column. 

Remember a night hour is counted as anytime between sunset and sunrise. If you are unsure check the sunset/sunrise table for your area by searching google.

If you attend a night lesson with a driving instructor the actual hour can only be placed in the night column, a driving instructor cannot allocate 3:1 for night hours in the night column.

Difficulties when driving at night include dealing with glare from other cars headlights, both in front of you and behind. For learners it can help by starting the night lesson at dusk and gradually progressing into the darkness.