How to be a responsible driver- After driving school

Driving is not just fun as it is a very responsible task and one must take it very seriously. Before you decide on how to be a responsible driver, you must learn all the basics of driving from a reputed driving school.

Plus, you need to be aware of all the road rules and regulations of the state in Australia where you will be driving. Different states of Australia have their own sets of rules and regulations that people must follow.

So, before you decide to buy a car and drive yourself around the town, it is very important to take driving lessons. In Australia, the road rules and regulations are very strict and only a responsible driver can drive a car here in a lawful manner.

Driving a car is a huge responsibility as your driving skill has a direct link with your life as well as others. One accident can cause huge damage to life and property. An irresponsible or reckless driver can be the reason behind serious injuries or death to others and can face serious consequences and even have to spend time behind the bars.

So, try to take driving lessons from a reputed driving school to become a safe and responsible automobile driver. Also, instructors will help you to learn how to handle a car in different situations.

Here are some of the best ways on how to be a responsible driver once you have a driving license in your hand:

1. Plan Your Trip Well:

A great secret on how to be a responsible driver is the habit of prior planning. This means whether you are going to a known or unknown destination, plan in advance.

Before you are ready to start the engine, you must be aware of the weather condition, traffic, and road conditions. To know about the weather condition, you can check online. In the same way, getting information regarding traffic and road conditions is also easy nowadays.

In case, the route you are planning to drive has a rush, you can choose an alternate route and reach your destination on time. During poor weather conditions, you can delay the trip or choose public transportation to travel.

When going for a long drive it is important to plan precisely keeping in mind the number of breaks you will need to avoid tiredness. When tired or drowsy it is always a good idea to avoid driving and take a break.

Also make time into your trip schedule to stop for food, phone calls, or other business.

2. Check Vehicle Maintenance Schedule

Just the knowledge of driving is not enough until and unless you are not able to take care of the vehicle properly. So, after you come out of the driving school, you become a responsible driver only when you regularly maintain your car.

When you sit behind the wheel, the car is under your control. To make the car run smoothly year after year, you need to maintain it. The car that does work properly is not safe for the driver as well as the passengers and those on the roads. It will be a big mistake to drive a poorly maintained car.

Try to check the tire pressure regularly, brakes, lights, wipers, and fluid levels to name a few. At the same time, you must clean the mirrors, windows, and outside lights on a regular basis for good visibility. Poor visibility can lead to difficulty in driving during the night or in bad weather conditions. This in turn can even cause accidents.

The best way to maintain your car is to take it for regular servicing. Read your vehicle’s owner’s manual and follow its recommendations for the car maintenance schedule. Delay in a week can be explained but not for months.

3. Be Insured

In most of the reputed driving schools of Australia, instructors throw light on the importance of having car insurance. Car insurance can be of great help during an emergency. Otherwise, without insurance, you will be liable for your own hospital bills and car repair costs in case of an accident.

To be a responsible driver you need to be vigilant and respect the road rules and laws and having car insurance is a must for any driver in Australia. In most states of Australia, drivers must carry proof that they are covered. Hence, make sure you have the right documentation when you’re behind the wheel. You can even have electronic forms of proof of insurance.

In fact, be it during your learner days or when you are an expert in driving, you need car insurance to be a responsible driver. You can compare a range of affordable and reputable insurance policies online and buy one that suits your budget.

4. Avoid Distraction 

One of the best tips on how to be a responsible driver is to avoid any kind of distraction. Driving is a serious task and you need to remain alert all the time and your focus should only be on the roads.

A responsible driver is one who acts with extreme caution once sitting behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. This is why you must not use your cell phone while driving. Use cell phones for emergency situations only but only after parking the car by the road.

Also avoid distractions like eating, drinking, applying make-up, and even adjusting the radio while driving. You should limit the number of passengers, as well as the level of activity inside the car. Along with the driver, other passengers in the car must also need to ensure that they are not the cause of any kind of distractions.

If you are drowsy, pull off the road, take some rest and then begin your journey.  Remember it is more important to reach a destination safely rather than on time.

5. Avoid Drinking and Driving

One who drinks and drives is never a good driver. In fact, one of the first things that you learn in a driving school is not to sit behind the steering wheel after drinking any amount of alcohol.

Remember you are responsible and the biggest reason to not drink and drive is that doing so increases your risk of being in an accident. This can put your as well as others’ lives at risk. In fact, many people have lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Also, serious accidents can result in thousands of dollars worth of property damage.

If caught by the police, a drunk driver can even be fined heavily or put in jail. In some cases, a drunk driver may even lose his job and professional license.

In case, you are drunk, order a cab or ask someone else to drive you home irrespective of the distance that needs to be traveled. Apart from drinking, you must avoid driving if you are sleep-deprived, sick, or on a new medication.

6. Keep Checking the Mirrors

To become a responsible driver make it a habit of checking the mirrors often. This habit makes you aware of what’s going on around you, especially the blind spots and helps you control your driving.  Also, it helps in preventing sudden collisions and accidents.

Checking the mirrors is a must especially when there is heavy traffic around you while reversing the car, when approaching a hazard and when you need to change lanes or speed.  Only a quick glance in the mirror is enough and there is no need to take your eye off the road for a long time.

When driving on the open road, try to use the internal rear-view mirror more often, but on a busy road check the internal rear-view mirror along with the internal mirror. However, make sure to use the side mirrors as the situation demands.

This habit of checking the mirrors is so important that during driving license tests examiners keep a close eye on it and judge your driving ability upon it. Here good scores are a must if you are wondering how to be a responsible driver.

7. Fasten Seat Belt

One secret to becoming a responsible driver is to give importance to the seat belt. Seat belts are designed to reduce serious crash-related injuries and even deaths.

When sitting inside a car, do not forget to wear a seat belt even if you find it uncomfortable. With the help of clips and extenders, you can always customize your fit and make the seat belt more comfortable to wear.

As seat belts are your best defense during a crash or even a minor car accident, so apart from the driver, other passengers should wear seat belts too. Even the airbags protect a buckled passenger more as compared to an unbuckled one.

It only takes only a few seconds to strap on your seat belt, so never give the excuse of you being in a hurry.  In fact, the government has also taken necessary steps to make people aware of the importance of seat belts. You can find road signs that remind drivers of wearing a seat belt or else it is an unlawful act.

When taking driving lessons in Australia, instructors when telling about how to be a responsible driver throw stress on the importance of wearing a seat belt.

8. Maintain Speed Limit 

A responsible driver is one who drives at the prescribed speed limit even if the road is empty.  By speed limit, t means the maximum speed a driver is allowed to travel at and not the speed one must always travel at.

In Australia, there are different speed limits depending on the type of road and level of pedestrian activity. The maximum legal speed a car can travel at is 130km/hour, which is very common on highways. The minimum speed limit is 10km/hour in some areas where pedestrians and cars need to share the space like in car parks or driveways.

Driving at a high speed will make the road condition unsafe for all. When a driver is at high speed, it becomes difficult to react correctly to sudden driving changes, hence increasing the chances of a collision or road accident.

Driving too slow can unreasonably block the path of another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, thus disturbing your drive as well as others. Also, driving slower than the speed limit will take a longer time to reach the destination.

When following the speed limits, you must never come on the path of an emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, and must try to give them a clear path. Being a responsible driver, you must think properly and change your car’s speed according to traffic, road visibility, and weather conditions.

Final Words

When sitting behind the wheels try to be a responsible driver and enjoy driving. It will help keep the road safe for you as well as others. To become a responsible driver always take driving lessons from a reputed institution.