Motoring blog / Driving and driver training

Driving test pass rates - national

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:51:15 +1200

As the statistics below show, getting your restricted driver licence not as easy as it used to be.

The new restricted licence test requires you to demonstrate the ability to drive in challenging environments, in heavy traffic and on multi-lane roads.

The test has been designed to require 120 hours of supervised practice to pass it.

Our driving instructors will provide you with expert training and guidance and give you the skills and capabilities to improve your chance of passing the test first time.

Book a lesson now.

New Restricted test pass rates*

Age	December
	Total	Pass rate
16	80	69%
17	1,419	60%
18	739	55%
19	492	50%
20-24	1,016	49%
25-29	478	48%
30-34	304	42%
35-39	212	42%
40-44	122	36%
45-49	64	37%
50-54	33	27%
55-59	13	58%
60-64	10	22%
65-69	8	14%
70-74	0	0%
75+	2	0%
Total	4,992	52%

Gender	December
	Total	Pass rate
Female	2,495	52%
Male	2,497	52%
Total	4,992	52%

Data is limited to Class 1 (Car) Restricted Licence tests sat since 27 February 2012
'Total' reflects all tests, regardless of test result
'Pass rate' excludes any tests resulted as P fail pretest, V fail pretest, Incomplete or No Show
Data is current as at 08/01/2013

New Full test pass rates*

Age	December
	Total	Pass rate

17	214	81%
18	1,070	77%
19	719	71%
20-24	1,765	67%
25-29	1,118	64%
30-34	682	60%
35-39	453	64%
40-44	366	56%
45-49	230	55%
50-54	141	53%
55-59	124	54%
60-64	65	54%
65-69	26	57%
70-74	7	43%
75+	5	40%
Total	6,985	67%

Gender	December
	Total	Pass rate
Female	3,036	70%
Male	3,949	64%
Total	6,985	67%

Data is limited to Class 1 (Car) Full Licence tests sat since 27 February 2012
'Total' reflects all tests, regardless of test result
'Pass rate' excludes any tests resulted as P fail pretest, V fail pretest, Incomplete or No Show
Data is current as at 08/01/2013

*Source: NZTA

Drifting taken to the extreme level of madness

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:15:09 +1300

Is this set to be the new craze?

It's not every day we get to see a tractor doing doughnuts, burnouts and drifting.

This Swedish farmer pulled his banger of an engine out of the tractor and chucked in a powerful Volvo 240 turbo engine.

The result is madness on wheels and amazingly he doesn't tip over.

Northlands hidden treasures

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:49:54 +1200

The Packard and Pioneer museum outside Whangarei at Maungatapere have, what is possibly, the largest collection of Packard vehicles in the world. They also have a huge collection of classic and vintage bikes and cars consisting of 52 Packard and 150 other cars as well as 64 motorcycles. Other great old items include steam engines, earth moving equipment, military vehicles and some memorabilia. There is truly something for everyone. It is an awesome place to visit.

There is a small exhibition at the Town Basin in Whangarei which is worth a look but I would definitely recommend making a booking to see all the great stuff at the old Dairy Factory in Maungatapere.

I have uploaded some teaser photos but you will need to visit the museum to appreciate all the history it has on offer.

Tours to the old Dairy Factory are by appointment and can be made by calling Mr Richard Easton on 027 4435060 or via e-mail on packard@orcon.net.nz.

For more information on the museum you can visit the Packard and Pioneer museum website.

The 5 coolest James Bond movie cars of all time

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:48:56 +1200

James Bond movies can accredit some of their fame to the vehicles MI6 agent 007 drives and the car chases he is involved in.

We've put together a list of the top five cars from the 007 movies which we believe have left their mark in movie history. What do you think?

No. 5 - Pierce Brosnan obviously wasn't the coolest MI6 agent but the Aston Martin Vanquish he drove certainly made him look cool. From the movie Die Another Day.

Image source: Wikipedia

No. 4 Roger Moore flipped the quirky Citroen 2CV a few times and still managed to outrun the bad guys - How cool is this? From the movie For Your Eyes Only.

No. 3 - The BMW Z8 roadster was kitted out with all the usual gadgets Q had to offer, making it one HOT car. From the movie The World Is Not Enough starring Pierce Brosnan.

Image source: Wikipedia

No. 2 - Roger Moore took things to another level with the amazingly amphibious Lotus Esprit. It turned into a submarine with the flick of a switch. From the movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

No. 1 - The car is the star. It's the obvious choice, who wouldn't agree? The absolute classic Aston Martin DB5 from the movie Goldfinger starring the greatest James Bond of all time - Sean Connery.

Image source: Wikipedia

L Plates - Diary of a learner driver

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:48:55 +1200

It took twenty-six years but I finally did it. I sat behind the wheel of a car and I actually drove the thing – all the way from one parking lot to another.

This was my first lesson with Lynn, an AA Driving instructor. I was a bit embarrassed at first – me being 26 and never having driven an inch in my life – but Lynn reassured me that I wasn’t alone. Still I blurted my usual excuse spiel: “I grew up in Wellington and no one can drive there, and now I live in Ponsonby so I just walk to work – nothing like a bit of exercise to start your day!”

It was true enough, but still I knew the time had come. My boyfriend was getting sick of driving me to work on rainy mornings (surprisingly frequent in Auckland), and I was spending a small fortune on taxis on the weekends.

We started out in a near-empty car park down near Wynyard Quarter. It felt strange to be sitting in the driver’s seat after so many years of being a passenger, but there was something undeniably thrilling about it. I was worried about driving into the sea or worse, a BMW, but Lynn was calm. She had her own set of brakes and accelerator and promised she could steer the car from her seat should I suddenly have a nervous breakdown.

In the stress-free zone of the carpark, I learned how to make the machine go. I turned the car on, learned to accelerate and brake, to reverse, and to turn corners. I then used these newly acquired skills to drive at 10kph in circles around the carpark, before being declared road-ready by Lynn.

"Are you sure?" I asked her, "you don't want to just stay in here?" - but she insisted I would be fine. And so we drove for about a kilometre down a quiet road, before turning back into the relative safety of another carpark.

I can drive a car! I mean, I can't drive fast or on a busy road, but give me an empty carpark and watch me go!

I think this might actually turn out to be fun...

Who said growing up wasn't fun? (Don't try this at home!)

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:28:59 +1200

Hot Wheels know how to make a kid's dream come true with this amazing double loop stunt performed at the X Games.

Formula 1 driver David Coulthard catches 193kph golf ball

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:38:18 +1200

The extraordinary video shows professional golfer Jake Shepherd hit a golf ball at 286kph into a Mercedes SLS AMG roadster, driven by Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, travelling at speeds of 193kph when it caught the ball 275 metres away from the tee.

Safe behind the wheel

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:07:37 +1200

Road crashes cost New Zealand businesses millions. A safe driver policy and driver safety training are the cornerstones to managing the risk to business, and to keeping your employees safe on the roads, says Karen Dickson.

Imagine this: your salesman is driving along the highway when a beep on his Blackberry alerts him to a redirected email from a difficult customer. The email is an irate demand for a discount based on a very flimsy claim of inadequate service. Distracted by this, your salesman only notices a tractor emerging from a side road in time to swerve violently. He leaves the road and smashes into the front wall of a nearby farmhouse at high speed.

The salesman is badly injured but rescued, his car is a writeoff, a person inside the farmhouse suffers minor injuries and the house itself suffers serious damage. The house owner’s insurance company then invokes vicarious liability and warns if you don’t pay up it will sue your company to recover the loss. Your lawyer advises you to settle.

Not a good day. You’ve lost a key staff member vital to your income, a car, and you’re facing a whopping bill to restore the farmhouse to its owner’s satisfaction.

Now do you see the point of having a safe driving policy?

Defensive driving at work

The Automobile Association has been helping New Zealanders with their driving for over a century. AA Driver Training is the largest driver training provider in the country with 60 on-road driving instructors and 80 classroom instructors around New Zealand.

All our driving instructors are approved and licensed by Land Transport New Zealand - which is a legal requirement - and they are regularly audited. The Association’s defensive driving course - designed for businesses and experienced drivers - is specifically mentioned in appendix C (page 60) of Your Safe Driving Policy.

The AA Defensive Driving for Experienced Drivers Course is for every driver in New Zealand who holds a full licence whether that be a bus, a bike, a truck, or a car. The classroom course is a four-hour tutorial. It is an opportunity to look at your driving personality, the habits you may have developed and things to consider that will make you safer, plus road rule changes as they apply now. This four hours is often the first exposure many people have had since they got their licence 20 to 40 years ago.

The in-vehicle assessment examines habits and behaviours that drivers have acquired over many years. This may include training to allow these drivers to experience for themselves how wrong some of their assumptions about their safety may be.

Because the Accident Compensation Commission scheme is a ‘no fault’ one, New Zealand employers have, to a certain extent, been lulled into a false sense of security about the damage road crashes can do to their business. If the crash described above had occurred in any other nation, the cost of repairing the house would be the least of your worries. The queue of litigants and the damages they might seek would be astronomical. But this is not to say that road crashes are not costing New Zealand employers a great deal of money.

According to Your Safe Driving Policy - a guideline for employers published by Land Transport New Zealand and the Department of Labour - road crashes cost New Zealand businesses $250 million in direct vehicle claims alone.

A survey of 85 firm representatives attending a driver safety workshop found that, on average, one in four work vehicles were involved in a work-related crash. One company surveyed had damage costs of $3 million per year. Its hidden costs were about as much again, and its return on sales figure was eight percent. This meant that just to pay for the $3 million in ‘metal bashing’ costs, it had to generate $75 million in revenues. Over four years, this equates to $12 million in bent metal, $24 million in total costs and $300 million in revenues to pay for it.

For any organisation which puts people on the road, a safe driving policy is not a ‘nice to have’ - it’s actually an important tool in managing your business risks.

A safe driving policy covers things like:

What sort of vehicles you acquire;
Who uses them;
How and when they are used (for example, do we switch off phones while driving?); and
How actual experience is recorded and analysed.

Sometimes information derived from implementing a safe driving policy can also be used to determine how economically your vehicles are being used. For example, you may well find the drivers who use the least fuel per kilometre travelled are also the drivers who have the fewest insurance claims as well.

One part of any safe driving policy that has to be considered is driver training. Employers are obliged to ensure that any staff member who is required to drive is legally entitled to drive. But just holding a licence isn’t the whole story when it comes to being given the responsibility to manage an employer’s vehicle.

It is a sad fact of human nature that people simply don’t look after other people’s property (including that of their employer) as well as they look after their own. Statistics show that people driving company vehicles are twice as likely to have a crash as those driving private vehicles.

The Your Safe Driving Policy booklet says: “Consider who needs what level of training, eg, staff who drive a company or pool vehicle, inexperienced drivers, staff recently involved in accidents or offences, and those who drive their own vehicles to work. Overseas experience suggests that companies should keep up regular training sessions - one-off sessions are not adequate.”

The booklet suggests:

Your own internal courses - regular staff meetings to discuss driving issues can help develop and maintain a road safety culture;
Corporate defensive driving courses - teaching drivers to identify dangerous situations and make adjustments to avoid a crash;
Individually designed courses - delivered by individual providers to suit specific staff needs;
Courses for special vehicles, eg, 4WD, forklifts;
First aid courses;
Transporting dangerous goods courses;
Driver assessment courses, carried out by an approved driving instructor, to assess a driver’s hazard identification, and search, control and traffic observing skills. After assessment, training requirements and programmes can be recommended.

Generally, we find most organisations want to put their people through the classroom training and then have their most troublesome drivers assessed by a driver trainer. Responsible employers are keen to identify how staff are driving and what can be done to minimise the costs of the crashes and keep their drivers safe.

It’s important to stress that the course depends on a safer driving policy, just as the safer driving policy depends on the training. It is pointless to train people to be safer drivers but then present them with working conditions which encourage them to be unsafe again.

A defensive driving course for experienced drivers is not about training people to swerve better. It is about training them so they never need to swerve in the first place. It is about educating ordinary people about how to think about their driving so that they, and everyone else, are safer on the road.

Road crashes are not random events. They are a business risk whose frequency depends on your management. Luck is not a business management strategy. Developing a safe driver policy and working with a driver training organisation is.

The Belgian text and drive test

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:14:45 +1200

The text and drive test. A Belgian driving school proves why it's just too dangerous.

Drivers rise to the give way challenge

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:58:18 +1200

Drivers, take a bow - the first week and a half under our new give way rules has gone smoothly and calmly.

This was no surprise to the AA. We were confident that Kiwi drivers would have little trouble adapting to the changes and while all of us have probably had a few moments of uncertainty, the vast majority of people have learnt the new rules and are following them.

Anyone who has driven since March 25 will have noticed that people are being noticeably more cautious and slower at intersections as they take a bit longer to think about who has the right of way and make sure what everyone else is doing. This is hardly a bad thing. There is a crash at an intersection about every 30 minutes in New Zealand and increasing our focus on the give way rules and awareness of the vehicles around us can only help reduce crashes.

It’s also been great to see that drivers have largely been giving each other a break when there have been misunderstandings.

When you have been used to having the right of way for up to 35 years, it is only natural that people may momentarily forget the new rules and go when they shouldn’t. This is why it is so important for drivers to be ready to stop even when they have the right of way, and to not assume other vehicles will do what you expect.

Most drivers seem to appreciate this fact and the challenge now is to keep up this level of increased care and consideration.

It is going to take some time for the rule changes to become second-nature for drivers, so we’re all going to need to stay extra vigilant for months. The ultimate rewards will be worth it. Once the new rules become established it is estimated we will have about 7% less crashes at intersections, saving one life and preventing nearly 100 injuries each year.

The AA received many questions and comments leading up to the changes that highlighted some common misunderstandings regarding our give way rules. It is well worth spending a bit of time looking over the give way section in the road code to refresh yourself on all our rules.

Answers to some of the most frequent questions:

The new rules do not override Stop and Give Way signs

Our give way rules come into play if you are at an intersection with no road signs or if two vehicles are both at the same sign (eg both cars at a Give Way sign). Vehicles at a Stop sign must still give way to all other traffic and vehicles at a Give Way sign must still give way to all other vehicles except those at a Stop sign.

Giving way to the right

The new rules have only changed what happens at T-intersections or when a left turner is facing a right turner. All our other rules remain the same. We still give way to the right at roundabouts and if you are turning right at an uncontrolled crossroads you would still give way to traffic coming from your right.

Multi-lane roads

If you are turning right into a multi-lane road the law does not require you to give way to an oncoming vehicle turning left. The right turner should turn into the right lane and the left turner into the left lane, meaning both can turn at the same time. People often do not stick to the correct lane however, so drivers need to be aware that the other car may cross into your lane.

Right turn facing right turn

If a right turning vehicle is facing an oncoming vehicle that is also turning right they should both be able to go at the same time so no one has to give way. If there is not the space for both vehicles to safely go at the same time, who goes first would come down to a matter of courtesy.

Upcoming changes to the give way rules

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:05:38 +1300

Two of our give way rules are changing at 5am on Sunday, 25 March.

We’ll all need to be more cautious as everyone adjusts to the changes but they will ultimately make turning at our intersections safer and simpler.

Change 1: The left-turn versus right-turn rule

The new rule will require all traffic turning right to give way to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction and turning left. This will apply at cross roads, T-intersections and driveways where two vehicles are facing each other with no signs or signals or both are at the same sign or signal (for example both vehicles at a give way or stop sign or both with a green light).

Change 2: At T-intersections without signs or signals

At uncontrolled T-intersections traffic coming from the road that terminates at the T-intersection (bottom of the T) must give way to traffic on the continuing road (top of the T). This also applies to uncontrolled driveways and will mean vehicles exiting a driveway must give way to all traffic on the road.

Everyone will need to be particularly careful at intersections in the lead-up to the changes and for considerable time afterwards. Drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians will all be adjusting to the new rules at the same time, so it will be more important than ever that we all show consideration and care for other road users.

AA advice to help drivers adjust to the changes

We urge everyone to spend time learning the new rules by looking at the diagrams above, watching this video and taking this online quiz to check your understanding.

Remember that the rules don’t change until 5am, 25 March though, so don’t put them into practice on the roads until then.

Once the rules change, keep in mind that even if you know them, someone else may not, or may momentarily forget. Be ready to stop even if you have the right of way and take an extra moment to make sure of what the other vehicle is doing before you go yourself.

While the two rule changes should make everyone a bit more cautious at intersections, it is worth noting that when Victoria, Australia made a similar switch in 1993 there were no major incidents. The AA is confident that New Zealand drivers will adapt to the new rules quickly and without much difficulty.

What isn't changing

These changes only apply when a vehicle turning right is facing a vehicle turning left or at T-intersections. The give way rules at roundabouts and in all other situations will remain exactly the same.

If you are unsure of any give way rules or situations, check out the New Zealand Road Code for more detailed information.

How will these changes make our roads safer?

Once they become established, the new rules will make it simpler for drivers to know whether they have the right of way at intersections.

The previous rules often created situations where two drivers would have to be focussed on the through traffic as well as each other to decide whether they could turn. The new rules will put an end to some of this guesswork drivers have previously had to make when turning at an intersection.

It is estimated these changes will result in one less death, 13 less serious injuries and 84 less minor injuries from crashes at intersections each year.

There was a 7.1% drop in crashes at intersections in Victoria, Australia when they changed their give way rules in this fashion in 1993 and it is expected that New Zealand will experience a similar reduction. Intersection crashes currently account for 20% of the fatal and serious injury crashes on our roads.It is estimated these changes will resulting in one less death, 13 less serious injuries and 84 less minor injuries from crashes at intersections each year.

The new rules will also bring us in-line with the rest of the world, which will reduce the risks of overseas drivers making a mistake about who has right of way when on our roads.

More information on the rule changes including the answers to frequently asked questions can be found at the NZ Transport Agency website.

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Harder licence test will require much more practice

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:52:00 +1300

120 hours. That’s enough time to watch 240 episodes of Shortland Street, play 80 games of rugby, or drive from Kaitaia to Bluff nearly four times (depending on the ferry crossing). It’s also the amount of hours practice that learner drivers are expected to have clocked up before sitting their restricted licence test.

A more difficult and longer test came into force on February 27 and, while the 120 hours of supervised practice is a recommendation rather than a requirement, the test has been designed so applicants will need to have done that level of training to develop the necessary skills and experience to pass it.

And, as the examples above illustrate, 120 hours of practice is a lot. With 2 hours and 20 minutes practice a week, it will take one year to reach the benchmark.

The 120 hour figure may sound excessive to some people but the AA is right behind it and encourages all learner drivers and their families to aim for that amount of supervised driving practice. Unless you are practicing 45 minutes each and every day, this will mean learners will need to wait longer than the minimum six-month period before sitting the restricted test but international results suggest drivers who have completed 120 hours before driving solo are 40 per cent less likely to be involved in crashes than drivers who have completed less than 50 hours. At present, most New Zealand learners are estimated to do 50 hours practice at most before gaining their restricted licence so this change has the potential to significantly reduce the number of crashes involving young drivers on our roads.

Many people don’t realise that the first six months after a person starts driving on their own is when they have the highest risk of being involved in a crash in their driving life and we are currently seeing far too many young people killed and injured on our roads.

Some of the sad statistics are:

From 2005-2009 drivers aged 15-24 were involved in more than a third of crashes resulting in a death or serious injury
Our road fatality rate for young drivers is about 60 per cent worse than Australia.
Our 15-17 year olds have the highest road death rate in the OECD and 18-20 year olds the fourth highest.

The simple fact is we have been doing our young people and ourselves no favours by letting them start driving on their own after only a small amount of supervised practice.

Requiring higher standards before a driver is allowed to get behind the wheel on their own - and the increased time and effort that this will involve - will need greater commitment from learners and their families but the rewards will ultimately be worth it. Ensuring all young people are getting the necessary training and assessment to be as safe on the roads as possible is a goal no one could disagree with.

Along with being longer, the new test will require learners to prove their skills in heavier traffic and on roads with multiple lanes, merging lanes and a range of speed zones, so the AA’s advice to learners and their parents is to plan your practice to cover the full gamut of driving experiences. That means ensuring learners have spent time in all conditions from motorways to rural roads, from heavy traffic to light, in sunshine and rain, for long journeys and short, so that once they start driving on their own they aren’t encountering anything they haven’t experienced before. It is also going to require learners in some small towns and rural areas to travel to bigger centres for part of their practice to get familiar with these conditions.

The time the test takes has doubled to 60 minutes, which includes 45 minutes of driving time. Initially the driving tasks will be straightforward and increase in complexity after approximately 10 minutes. At the 10 minute mark, the Testing Officer will assess whether the applicant can progress safely to the second part of the driving portion. All applicants will be given feedback at the conclusion of the drive.

Getting some professional lessons for learner drivers is always a great idea if possible and you can book driving lessons with the AA to help you practise for the test. For parents, a refresher session with an instructor can also be really valuable to make sure they are passing on the right skills and habits.

More information on how these changes will affect you is available from the NZTA website. If you have any questions after reading this information please call 0800 822 422.

The www.practice.co.nz website also provides good information for learner drivers to help them prepare for the restricted test while www.safeteendriver.co.nz shows how parents can assist their children to become safe drivers.

Driver licence age change

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:37:31 +1300

On 1 August 2011 the minimum age for obtaining a learner driver licence increased from 15 years to 16 years. New minimum ages for obtaining restricted and full licences also apply.

For those of you already part way through the graduated driving licensing system (learner or restricted), your licence will remain unchanged.

However, due to the age change, you may now be subject to the new regulations affecting your progression to the next stage of your driver’s licence.

NZTA have produced the following FAQs to assist you in getting the facts on how these changes will affect you, and what exemption may apply.

If you have any questions after reading this information please call 0800 822 422.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics car on display in New Zealand

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:21:47 +1200

Fresh from headlining the Australian International Motor Show, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept vehicle is coming to New Zealand for a special one-off appearance and will be on display at the Auckland Museum from Friday 15 July to Sunday 17 July.

While many concept vehicles never see the light of day or change considerably once in full production, the BMW VisionED represents the future direction BMW has committed itself to.

The vehicle will be known as the BMW i8, and is confirmed to go into production in 2013.

The combination of a three-cylinder turbo-diesel with a hybrid synchronous motor at the front axle and a full hybrid engine at the rear axle enables a maximum power output for the system of 241Kw.

In keeping with BMW’s reputation for high performance and high quality vehicles the company has created a vehicle which maintains the right image but reinforces its global responsibilities to reduce tail pipe emissions and fuel consumption.

This innovative technology allows the vehicle to reach 0 – 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds. Fuel consumption is a claimed 3.76 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and a CO2 emission rating of just 99 grams per kilometre.

The Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand, Mark Gilbert said “This ground-breaking model is a showcase of BMW technology and provides indications of drive-train technology and the level of connectivity all future BMW models will feature.

Bringing the VisionED to New Zealand provides the rare opportunity to feature a model that exemplifies everything BMW represents, in terms of our dedication to increasing efficiency and minimising emissions while never compromising the performance BMW is famous for”, said Mr Gilbert.

Current hybrid vehicles have often been described as boring and lacking in any emotional connection for some potential buyers, many of whom see motoring as a pleasure while still being conscious of the impact to the environment.

The VisionED is proof that improving the efficiency and emissions of motor vehicles does not have to mean anything less than exhilaration and absolute driving pleasure.

The Auckland Museum is open 10am – 5pm and entry to the BMW VisionED display on level three in the roof-top Event Centre is free.

How to drive through flooded roads

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:16:41 +1200

The best way to handle flooded roads is to stay off them or find an alternative route. If flooding is suspected check road conditions before you leave. Information on flooded roads is usually available on the radio and AA Roadwatch.

You can also use practical ways to figure out if roads may be flooded. If it's been raining hard for a while or you've had to use the fast setting for your windscreen wipers, you may encounter flooding on the road. What should you do if you come around a corner and the road ahead is under water?

Water is a powerful force; you can't always power through it

Driving into fast flowing flood water is dangerous as your car can be carried away. It's also dangerous to enter flood water then back up or turn around as water can get up the exhaust pipe and cause the engine to stall.

How to tell whether it's safe to drive through flood water

It's very difficult to tell whether water is safe to drive through as it can be much deeper than it looks and there may be unseen wash-out or debris, such as tree trunks, under the water.

Water only needs to be 30cm deep for your car to float which means you'll have no tyre traction to keep going forward. You'll also run the risk of your car floating into deeper water, where it will eventually sink.

Never drive through moving water unless you can see the ground through it. Don’t automatically follow a vehicle through flood water. The other vehicle may have a higher ground clearance. Estimate the water depth for yourself first.

Bridges covered with flood water

It's extremely dangerous to cross a bridge covered with flood water as part of the bridge surface may have been swept away. Even if the bridge is still intact your car may start floating and could be swept down the swollen river.

Wet brakes

Once you're safely through the flood waters remember that wet tyres and wet brake pads don't grip as well. If you've driven through flood water, or even a deep puddle, dry your brakes by pumping them lightly for about two seconds after exiting the flood waters.

Our recommendation

If flooding is suspected stay off the road or find an alternative route.
If the flood water looks as though it is moving, don't drive into it.
Don't drive into flood water unless you know the water is shallow and you are sure the road is safe and clear beneath it. Don't reverse or turn your car around in flood water.
Never try to cross a bridge covered with flood water.
If your car stalls in shallow flood water try restarting the engine. If the water is rising get out of your car and move to high ground - be extremely careful if the water is higher than knee-level
Remember to dry your brakes after driving through water.

Interview with Anita Smart - AA Driver Trainer in Tauranga

Sat, 07 May 2011 18:13:30 +1200

How long have you been a Driver Trainer?

I started training to be a driving instructor in 1998. I was fully qualified in the UK in 2000.

How has driver education changed since you first got your licence?

Driver training in the UK changed as new legislation came in. With the addition of the Hazard perception test, a computerised video based hazard recognition test, for all new drivers which had to be passed along side of the touch screen multiple choice theory test, as we know it here in NZ.

Another addition to the full licence test in the UK was a question and answer session at the beginning of the test from the driving examiner. Candidates had to have knowledge of general maintenance of the vehicle and point out particular parts of the engine which need regular maintenance, i.e. how to check the oil and where the brake fluid could be found. how to check tyre pressures and what unusual things to look for re tyre tread etc.

I trained as a pass plus instructor to give advanced lessons after someone passed their full licence, particularly on motorway training similar to the DDC but all done practically in-car.

I've been in New Zealand since 2006 and don't really remember any new changes, although we'll be seeing some with the introduction of safer journeys.

How do you think New Zealand drivers compare to the rest of the world?

Am I really allowed to answer this next question?

There's a confidence in New Zealand drivers I’ve not seen in other countries - I lived and have driven in the UK, Switzerland and Australia - as if rules are only there to be broken. Or perhaps it's just that drivers here don't bother to find out about the rules.

(Today I asked a student what a particular road sign meant, she said i don't know and neither does my mum. I asked if she'd ever looked it up and she said no, but we see it all the time and wonder what it means.)

It's almost like people here drive as if there'll never be another person coming in the other direction and therefore there's no need to be cautious. Speeding up will get you out of any situation. There's not much tolerance for others or courtesy on the roads.

What do you think about engine size restrictions for young drivers?

Restricting the engine size for inexperienced drivers is a good idea, but compulsory insurance might help as it'll be too expensive to drive a powerful vehicle.

What would you consider to be an ideal car for a learner driver to practice in?

An ideal car for a new driver would be a small hatchback.

What has been your most unforgettable (terrifying?) experience as a Driver Trainer?

I've never really been completely terrified, I hope that I’ve prepared the driver for any situation i take them into and only take them into areas I feel they are capable of driving.

Having dual controls is a must for an instructor.

Whenever an incident occurs I hope I’m ready to react before the driver. We have to be more alert and watch developing situations before the novice has realised it's even there. As an instructor I’m watching up ahead but talking about the immediate environment.

There are incidents every day but if you were terrified perhaps you ought to be doing some other job.

What driving manoeuvre do your students struggle with the most?

The driving manoeuvre everyone struggles with is reverse parallel parking. Taught properly this becomes a cinch and they wonder why they listened to all the stories from others. Reversing in general for some women is also a worry.

A difficult driving manoeuvre is lane changing, people seem to panic and want to get it over and done with quickly, where in reality it should be carefully planned and undertaken with proper checks and smoothness.

Interview with Danny Spence - AA Driver Trainer in Tauranga

Sat, 07 May 2011 18:29:47 +1200

How long have you been a Driver Trainer?

Four and a half years.

How has driver education changed since you first got your licence?

Not much over this period but it is about to.

How do you think New Zealand drivers compare to the rest of the world?

I have visited and driven in a number of countries, and unfortunately we don’t compare that well with places like the UK, USA and Australia.

What do you think about engine size restrictions for young drivers?

Sounds good in theory i.e. less power for beginners to cope with. But in practical terms does every family with teens then have to purchase vehicles to suit?

What would you consider to be an ideal car for a learner driver to practice in?

Mine!

What has been your most unforgettable (terrifying?) experience as a Driver Trainer?

A student attempted to turn right (the wrong and opposite direction) into a round about.

What driving manoeuvre do your students struggle with the most?

The reverse parallel park has a pre-conceived reputation as a difficult manoeuvre. I enjoy proving this to be false.

Getting off the collision course

Sun, 15 May 2011 17:42:11 +1200

A guest article from Emma Gilmour...

I love driving, I love shopping and I love shoes. And if I had to pick a favourite – driving would win every time. Yet, I know this is not typical of my gender. Generally speaking a lot of women view driving, in the same way they view cleaning the house or making the kids lunches. It is just something that has to be done, not something that can be enjoyed.

To be fair to females (who I think get an unfair rap in driving stereotypes) there are many men who also view driving in a similar way. People that do not enjoy the way their car makes them feel. The sense of power it gives them, that feeling of acceleration as you squeeze the accelerator and that wonderful sense of rhythm as you drive through a series of nicely cambered corners on our beautiful NZ roads.

And I guess it would be too much to expect that every single driver on NZ roads would feel this way. Heck! I don’t enjoy running, I know it’s good for me, and I can endure it, but given the choice, there are hundreds of things I’d rather do.

So maybe it is a case of ‘different strokes for different folks’. But the difference between running and driving is that the latter is something that most of us have to do every day, and something that has the potential to be very dangerous, fatal even.

So I’ll relent and accept that not everyone has to enjoy driving – but I do believe that everyone should be able to drive with a reasonably high level of competence.

So where do we acquire this high level of competence? In NZ it is possible to get your full license without ever attending a driving lesson with a professional driving instructor.

I believe that everyone should attend some form of professional driver training. Ideally it would involve some form of vehicle control, brake application and crash avoidance techniques. Even if we started with the basics of correct seating, steering wheel use and people understanding their cars dynamics better, we would already have a better level of driver using our roads.

And this training shouldn’t be a one off experience in order for us to get our licenses. People should have compulsory ongoing training throughout their driving life. The car that many of us sat our licenses in will be far removed from the modern cars of today. New things like ABS braking and stability control systems change the way we drive our cars and it is important for people to understand and, more importantly, know how to use them correctly.

The AA has recognised the need for a program that is designed for experienced drivers. The Defensive Driving Course for Experienced Drivers is classroom based, and although I wish it will one day be compulsory for every driver, I do believe it is a big step forward in terms of driver education available.

I am really excited to be involved with the AA’s delivery of this course in my role as Safety Driving Ambassador. It will be a great opportunity for me to practice what I preach and to do my bit to help improve the skill level on NZ roads.

The course is a great opportunity for people to revisit their knowledge of the road code, think about their attitude to driving and how they might be able to improve their skill level.

It may seem far removed from the high speed driving that I usually take part in, but ultimately the skills required are the same. The enjoyment I get from driving is not all about the speed but about the smoothness and finesse that comes when you master a car. Something that can be achieved every day, even when driving to work.

Winter driving tips

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:48:40 +1200

Right now, winter is gripping the country with snow, sleeting rain and darkened skies. Your chances of losing control and having a car crash are substantially increased. Let's minimise those risks with a few important tips that can help you stay safe on the roads

Bad weather? Don't bother!

You may be experienced in winter driving techniques. Nevertheless, if you - or your car - isn't ready to tackle the weather conditions, then just don't risk it.

Don't take your car out if you think it might be unreliable and break down.

Plan your trip

Listen to the weather forecast
Don't tow trailers or caravans in high wind
The same rule applies for icy or snow conditions
If possible, drive in daylight hours
If the weather is bad, don't get caught out late at night

Only travel in very poor weather conditions if it's an emergency. If you have to drive in bad weather, top up the fuel tank and take precautions before you travel:

Pack blankets, food, water and a cell phone (you never know what might happen)
Tell a friend or relative about your trip plans
Don't drive tired or fatigued in poor weather conditions (or at any other time)

Stay on top of your game

Keep alert and drive to the conditions. It's the indiscretions you may get away with in dry conditions - be them intentional or deliberate - that become crashes in the wet.

When the weather gets bad you need to be on top of your driving game so:

Travel slower
Watch for hazards
Scan the road ahead
Make sure your window wipers are in good condition

Smooth moves

Take a few tips from the guys that race cars for a living:

An aggressive driving style will quickly expend the limits of your tyre's adhesion in the wet
Avoid accelerating, turning or braking too violently

Slow down

A situation goes from bad to worse in much less time when the roads are slick with water. Some restraint on the throttle will give you more time to react.

"A competent driver is never in a hurry, is courteous to others, careful in their actions and maintain an even temperament" suggests the AA's Driver Training National Manager, Karen Dickson.

It'll also be easier for your vehicle to come to a quick stop if required. Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated to provide maximum traction and braking.

Flash cars have accidents too!

Active safety technologies such as ABS brakes and Stability Control (ESP) are great. But they're not foolproof. They will only aid in crash avoidance.

ABS allows you to steer a vehicle under heavy braking. It doesn't necessarily shorten your braking distances. No technology can replace safe driving. 4WD doesn't mean you can go fast in icy conditions.

Mind your manners

If someone wants to enter your lane, let them! Two frustrated drivers on a wet road is an accident waiting to happen. So make sure you allocate a suitable distance for them to manoeuvre in - and keep everyone safe.

What happens in the wet

In wet weather your stopping distances are typically double that than on a dry road, often more. Your following distances need to be at least four seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you. How do you judge how close you are? Try this...

Watch the vehicle in front pass a landmark - such as a sign, tree or power pole
Then count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, one thousand and four"
If you pass the landmark before you finish counting, you're following too close
Slow down, pick another landmark, and repeat the exercise

A few more pointers

Allow for more time if visibility is poor
Don't let anything take you by surprise, always be scanning 12 seconds ahead and use your mirrors to watch behind.
Be aware that road markings (centre lines, edge markings) are more difficult to see in the wet. That may even disappear if they are not reflectorised paint.

Stick out like a sore thumb

It gets darker earlier in winter. That means visibility is reduced. So, turn your lights on! Other drivers will be able to react sooner if you are more visible to them.

Drive with your headlights on low beam in poor, overcast or fog conditions or during dawn and dusk.

Research indicates if everyone had their headlights on in daylight, daytime frontal crashes would reduce by 50%. There would also be a 15% reduction in pedestrian injuries. So be extra diligent about indicating when changing lanes at intersections and roundabouts.

Keep it clean

Road grime builds up quickly in winter so clean the windscreen regularly and make sure your wipers are clean and in good condition, with full washer bottles.

'Fogging up'

It's caused by moisture condensing on the cold surface of the glass. Effectively demist by directing warm air to the screen with the air conditioning active. A/C draws the moisture from the air like a dehumidifier and will clear the glass very rapidly. Without A/C, wait until the vehicle's engine is warm to clear the window effectively. Wiping the window is only a temporary measure and will leave a smear so also ensure your rear demister is in good working order.

Headlights

Light is blocked by a dirty headlight so ensure these are also regularly cleaned. Check that the bulbs are working fully and let common sense prevail.

Sharing the road safely with trucks

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:12:30 +1200

Modern trucks have the same safety features as new cars. They too have electronic stability systems, ABS or electronic braking and cruise control. But even with these features, the fact that trucks are bigger and heavier than cars means they can't change course or stop as quickly.

So for your safety and that of other road users, here are some tips on how to share the road safely with a heavy vehicle.

In over two-thirds of all crashes between a truck and another vehicle, the other vehicle is the cause. How you drive could determine whether you and a truck driver get where you want to go safely.

Stay seen and don't get too close

A truck driver only knows you're following if you can be seen. Always make sure you can see the driver's face in the truck mirror. If you can't see the driver, you can't be seen and you aren't safe.

Another good safety measure is the two-second rule. Use a roadside post or other marker to count off a two-second time gap between you and the truck in front. That gives you a safe following distance.

Allow plenty of time and space for overtaking

Overtaking a big rig travelling at 90km/h takes about 18 seconds. That's a long time to spend on the wrong side of the road. So make sure you have plenty of clear road ahead before you pull out, including at least 100 metres of open road in front of you when you pull back in. Or better still, wait for a passing lane.

Don't cut the truck off

Passing, pulling in quickly and braking hard can put you and the truck driver at risk. Keep your momentum up so that the truck doesn't have to suddenly brake to avoid you.

If you cut in front of a truck, the driver may not be able to see you. Make sure you can see the truck driver in your rear mirrors before you pull into your lane.

Watch your lights at night

Trucks have a lot of mirrors. At night these concentrate the beams from your lights right into the driver's eyes, which can be blinding. So dip your headlights as soon as they pick up the rear of a truck.

Watch that swing

Trucks may have to take a wide swinging turn at intersections or around tight corners. Always watch a truck's indicators. If you try to slip between a truck and a corner, you could run out of a truck driver's mirror view and into trouble.

This article was contributed by the Road Transport Forum