Driver Safety and Education

I enjoyed teaching my kids to drive but it was daunting. The learn to drive system had changed so much since I had passed my licence. No log book hours, I can’t remember any driving schools, I lived in a regional town and our licence was paper not plastic!

I also experienced loosing my first car to a red light runner. I was never impressed by being hit but maybe he was distracted by his toddler in the back seat... I don’t know, but thankfully we were all ok.

Unfortunately, I also crashed my newly repainted 74 Gemini (which I had totally stripped back with my Dad). It was to another traffic light infringer. It was just poor judgement as she turned across in front of me. I was so devastated after all the hard work I had put in.

Fast forward to 2008 and my eldest was ready to apply for her learners. We made a couple of trips to TMR for her written test then it was a challenge to find open space to start the practical. I wish I’d had a simulator back then… I strongly believed that my kids were going to learn a manual geared car. This was such a challenge but we persevered and it paid off. Down the track, the kids realised the importance of manual driving skills for judgement, awareness and vehicle capability. 

I also realised and very rapidly I might add, that these kids grew up so different to me! Teaching them to drive was hang onto your seat stuff! I wonder if it was the same for my parents? Even though I loved to drive and I had sport coaching skills, I also had a huge responsibility ahead of me. I have since read that driving could be classed as an extreme sport considering the risks involved. Even though a lot of us wouldn’t skydive, we choose to drive a car every day without a second thought. So, I relearnt my rules, listened to my kids feedback and began correcting my own bad habits.

The next phase of my driver safety and education journey was at the Mt Cotton Defensive Driving course. After a few years, my second child received his license. I was pretty sure he’d do the right thing but you just never know. He also was on his way into an apprenticeship which could require operating much larger vehicles in the future.

By this stage I was also driving more distance for work. I felt uneasy and over wary in traffic after a few near misses. It’s not good to be watching the rear view mirror too much, but it did save my backside once. My past traffic incidents probably didn’t help either. After previously working in Police admin, I wasn’t keen on being in their filing system but I did know the officers did regular driver training. So I figured it was time for all of us to do this course. 

We learnt braking zones and distance, evading and emergency lane change, skid control and more. You don’t have to be going fast to loose control! It was amazing to see and feel the cars movement and I only clipped one traffic cone. Competitive? I sure am haha! I find that braking for an amber light is no longer a second guess (so long as there’s no tailgater).

Seriously though, we all make mistakes but laziness and poor decisions can be costly, especially for life. There are many courses available, please take the time to refresh your skills and awareness. Do it for your kids. Yours and their improved skills will help you make the right decision and take action.

Look up, leave space, be courteous, practice regular vehicle maintenance, limit distractions and drive safe.

The next iDriveSim Training article might surprise you. I still have to pinch myself!

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