Are we teaching our new drivers the “safest” road rules?

As I approach the middle age of my life and with a good, solid 25 years of driving experience under my belt, I am amazed and appalled at times at what I see happening on our roads and have a strong belief that most of what I see is very much avoidable with proper education.

The carnage that most of have seen when cars collide with each other or cyclists or pedestrians or trucks is just unbearable to see when we all know that metal and bones just don’t go well together.

Our “educators” are pushing us to learn and understand that the major issues to be aware of are the big four, speed, fatigue, alcohol and seatbelts.

Don’t misunderstand me, these four issues are extremely important and need to be taught to our new drivers as major factors that cause injury or death whilst on the road.

A man that I respect and listen to a lot is John Cadogan, you may have seen me reference him in many of my previous blogs, mainly because he is an industry expert with a passion for cars and the general well being of his fellow man, whether it be getting screwed over by a dodgy car dealer (not like me of course!), choosing a dud car or the safety issues that we all face on the roads, John is well versed in everything automotive.

His take on this issue is very serious as he has witnessed first hand some horrific moments as he indicates in the video link at the bottom of this blog.

He watched on in a hospital as parents of a young man were watching their son being wheeled in on a guerney as the doctor requests the thorachotomy tray, a macabre container used to make a surgical incision into the chest wall.

Not for the light hearted but a real-life situation we may all face one day, fortunately this young man’s life was saved and he has the opportunity to get back out on the roads, albeit a little more wary one would think.

John has held court in many forums spruiking the main issue he, and I believe is holding back many of the drivers we sit along-side each day on the road, risk management.

Go back to when you went to get your licence, the entire basis of achieving this goal is rule compliance, and again, don’t get me wrong, we need rule compliance on our roads or there would be absolute chaos, like this intersection in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam…

They somehow are able to make it work, but imagine trying to get across that intersection if you are not going with the flow?

It’s why rule compliance in Australia especially is a definite requirement, but we need to do more, it can’t be the “only” way.

The issue is because of our rule compliance and what we have been taught, we know with utmost certainty that if the traffic light is green we can drive straight through the intersection.

Right?

Does the rampant alcoholic or the texting teenager know that the little red light for them means they have to stop?

Maybe, but with 10 schooners under their belt or their girlfriend giving them hell via text who’s to say they even see the red light?

And that’s the issue.

As you are driving so confidently through your green lit intersection knowing you are in the right, who is stopping the crazies from t-boning your car right on your door and changing your life forever, maybe even ending it.

Tragic, yes. Families torn apart, yes. Needless deaths, yes. Unstoppable, NO!

Risk management people, put the onus back on yourself to take control.

What is stopping from you from glancing left and right through that green-lit intersection?

Nothing, and it could save your life

Of course if that car is coming at great speed it may be difficult and you may end up with the same result, death.

But don’t you want to give yourself half a chance to take evasive action, every millisecond counts in those moments.

A chance to hit the brakes and instead of ploughing right into your drivers door, they hit the engine, bad accident, yes, but alive? Yes.

The main example John uses in his video below, is about a young woman in Sydney who got a flat tyre and pulled straight over on the side of the road.

Whilst changing the tyre she got hit by a minibus and died at the scene, all because of a flat tyre, was it tragic, my word yes, did it have to happen, NO!

Risk management people, think about it.

If you get a flat tyre on a busy road there is absolutely no need to stop right there to change it.

Put your hazard lights on and drive slowly to a safe spot where it is away from the mainstream flow of heavy traffic, crests, corners or kerbs.

Find a spot where you can walk around your car without fear of being hit by traffic.

If that means driving 5 kilometres and shredding your tyre and possibly trashing your wheel, is that not a better option than being dead?

If this young woman did exactly that she would be here bitching about the $500 she had to spend to get a new wheel and tyre, but she would be here.

Step 1 of all driving is the management of risk.

I know this a bit of a darker blog today, but being a father and knowing my children will be hitting the roads in the years ahead makes me very concerned that not enough people appreciate the gravity of risk management behind the wheel of a vehicle.

For more information and a great job in explaining this better than I can, check out John Cadogan’s You tube channel.

His insightful, and at times “colourful” way of explaining things is not for everyone, but here at Brisbane Car Shed we love his views on all things cars!

BEWARE: John tells it exactly as it is, so if you are easily offended you may not enjoy his hard truths as John calls a spade a f%$#@ing shovel!

Remember if you’re looking for a new car or need to sell your current car, talk to me! Call Paul on 0411 362 229.