Before your driving assessment – Check your driving habits!

Check your driving habits

Part of the task of great driving is mastering the art of forming good habits;  As an experienced driver, your driving habits are probably pretty good. Still, over time, it’s easy to get a little lazy in some areas; it doesn’t hurt to brush up on basic good driving habits before you have your OT Assessment.

Opinions differ on what’s ‘correct’ when it comes to driving habits; this list conforms to what most professional driving instructors teach.

Preparing to drive

• Adjust the seat for effective control and comfort.
• Adjust all three mirrors for the best view.
• Fit and adjust your seat belt and head restraint.
• Check your passengers are safely seated.

Indicating

• Indicate for at least five seconds before you pull out from the kerb.
• Indicate for at least three seconds before turning.
• Indicate for at least two seconds before beginning to change lanes.
• Indicate before you steer off roundabouts (wherever practical).
• Look in your mirror before you indicate.
• Look in your mirror before you put your foot on the brake.
• Indicate before you brake.

Look around you

• Slow down if you can’t see what’s happening five vehicles in front of you.
• Slow down at intersections and look for other cars even if you have right of way.
• Look into intersections regardless of having right of way.
• Keep your eyes scanning the situation all around you.
• Look over your shoulder (headcheck) before beginning to change lanes and in other situations where vehicles could be in your blind spot.

Don’t bend the rules

• Come to a complete stop (no rolling) at stop signs.
• Ensure your maximum speed is always slightly under the speed limit.
• Stop for green lights when traffic in front of you is not leaving the intersection.
• Stop for amber lights unless it is not safe.

Be a careful driver

• Stay at least three seconds travel time behind the car immediately in front of you.
• Leave a space, when stopping behind a vehicle, to drive around it if you have to.
• Change lanes as little as possible.
• Slow down when approaching green traffic lights and check to make sure no one is running a red light.

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