Get your motor running

Getting your license is one of the most liberating, exciting and memorable moments of your teen years. Gone are the days of bus stops and train fares, for here are the days of the freeway and intersections. You can go where you want, when you want, and with whom you want.

It's all pretty exciting, but it's important to remember that with this amazing privilege comes a high level of responsibility. You are no longer accountable just for yourself, but also for your passengers and the other drivers on the road. However, this is no reason to be scared, as being a capable and confident (but not cocky!) driver is something to strive for. With a little common sense, and with some practical advice (not always covered in the tests and lessons), it is certainly achievable.

DRIVING AND THE WEATHER

Driving in poor weather conditions is a lot more hazardous than on a fine day. Rain, hail, sleet and fog all play havoc on the roads, and special considerations must be taken, with driving patterns adjusted to suit conditions.

• If you need to put your windscreen wipers on, turn your lights on too. If you are having difficulty with visibility, so are other drivers, but with your lights on, your car will be easier to spot from a distance.
• Wind your driver's side window down a few centimetres. This will prevent your windscreen from fogging up.
• Double the amount of space you usually leave between yourself and the car in front. Wet roads equal slippery roads, and this dramatically alters the breaking distances required.
• If the rain is pouring so hard your visibility is greatly reduced, slow down safely, and find a place to pull over. Be sure to put your hazard lights on so that other drivers know what you are doing.
• Put the radio on a station with frequent news and weather reports.

DRIVING AND FATIGUE

Fatigue is often implicated in car crashes and is an important factor to consider.

• Signs of fatigue include yawning, fighting to keep your eyes open, head nodding forwards and backwards, a lack of concentration and inability to keep your car straight.
• Ideally, if you are fatigued you should pull over and rest, or give control of the car to a licensed and capable passenger.
• When this is not possible, some other good ideas are to put the radio on an upbeat station and sing along, pull in to a service station, wash your face and have a cool drink.

GENERAL MUST-HAVE DRIVING KNOWLEDGE

• Never assume you know what other drivers are going to do. People are unpredictable, therefore so is their driving.
• Avoid aggressive drivers like the plague. It may seem tempting to give a tail-gaters a taste of their own medicine, but it's not worth the risk. Who knows how they will react?
• Seatbelts are a non-negotiable deal breaker. It's your responsibility as the driver to ensure all passengers are buckled up. If they refuse, they don't get a ride. Seatbelts really do save lives.
• Always have a full tank of petrol - getting stranded is no fun.
• Drink driving is an absolute no-no. Never get behind the wheel after drinking, and never get in the car of a drunk driver. It's stupid, reckless, selfish and dangerous. There is no room to move with this one - JUST DON'T DO IT.
• Try to keep your radio at a reasonable level. I'm not saying take out 'Panic! At the disco' in favour of 'Enya', just be aware that you need to listen for sirens and alarms and move immediately to the left when you hear one.
• Call them back later. Drivers chatting on a mobile are four times more likely to crash than those who aren't. Same goes for text messaging. It's a huge distraction, not to mention an illegal and fineable offence.
• Always keep an eye out for motorcycles, scooters, bikes and pedestrians.

It's all pretty easy stuff, but it can make a huge difference to the quality of your driving. For more amazing tips like these visit www.teendriving.com.