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THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF MOTORING 1. Perfect your Road craft and acknowledge courtesies extended to you by other road users. Road craft includes every aspect of driving and can be acquired only by a systematic approach to hazards and constant application of the basic rules. Good road craft enables a driver to avoid awkward and possibly dangerous situations. It not only prevents accidents but also makes driving less arduous. Use your skill to keep out of trouble. 2. Drive with deliberation and overtake as quickly as possible. Good driving demands continual planning and correct decisions, which must be put into operation with deliberation. There is no place for the half-hearted maneuver born of doubt or uncertainty. If it is not completely safe it should not be attempted at all. Overtaking should always be completed in the minimum of time to leave the road clear for approaching or following vehicles. Deliberation eliminates uncertainty. When safe, go! 3. Develop car sense and know the capabilities of your vehicle. Car sense is the ability to get the best from the vehicle without jerks or vibration. Before a strange vehicle is driven fast the driver should accustom himself to its controls, acceleration and braking capabilities and handling characteristics. Never expect more from them than they are able to give Vehicles, like drivers, have their limitations. Driver and vehicle must blend to ensure skilful driving. 4. Give proper signals. use the horn and headlights thoughtfully. Use only the signals permitted by regulation. An ambiguous signal is misleading and dangerous. Use of the horn is a form of signaling much neglected by some and overdone by others. It should be used as a person would use his voice, neither aggressively nor rudely. Flashing the lights is an efficient form of signaling at night and on fast roads. Give good signals in good time. 5. Concentrate all the time to avoid accidents. Concentration is the keystone of good driving. It is a primary duty but often a neglected one. Complete concentration will ensure that every detail is observed. It is often the smallest detail that gives the clue to what is about to happen. If it is missed, an accident, or at least an unpleasant experience, may result. Concentration assists observation. 6. Think before acting. The good driver makes progress so smoothly and with so little apparent fuss or effort that to the uninitiated he appears to respond to situations automatically. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The fact is that by continuous concentration and thought he has risen his driving to a fine art. Every hazard and driving operation presents problems, which can be solved by thinking. A thoughtful driver applies the appropriate features of the System, carries out every operation and maneuver in plenty of time and consequently is always in the right place at the right moment. Think and avoid accidents. 7. Exercise restraint and hold back when necessary. To hold back is to follow a vehicle at a safe distance until road and traffic conditions allow it to be overtaken. This will call for restraint especially when in a hurry. Overtaking or any maneuver must never be attempted unless it can be completed with 100 per cent safety. Accidents are caused because a situation has been wrongly assessed. Whenever in doubt, wait. 8. Corner with safety. Driving around a curve demands the application of the principles for cornering and a thorough knowledge of the forces acting on the vehicle. The most common faults are entering too fast or accelerating before the exit is clearly seen. Lose your speed or lose the car. 9. Use speed intelligently and drive fast only in the right places. High speeds are safe only when a clear view is available for a considerable distance and there is time to assess each hazard as it appears but speed at all times must be related to the view Safety with speed depends largely upon ability to recognize danger and to slow down in good time. Any fool can drive fast enough to be dangerous. 10. Know the Road Rules by Heart and put them into Practice. The Road Rules are the drivers guide and by adhering to their precepts you will do much to make our highways safe and more pleasant for all. Drive according to the Road Rules, and you drive safely and well. Testimonials | Resource Links Copyright © 1985 - 2008 All rights reserved Skill Driving School, Brisbane Queensland Australia. |
