South Australia Driver's Handbook PDF

driver’s handbook 10 $ Including GST The Driver’s Handbook provides an overview of the road rules and the laws for driver’s licences and registering a vehicle in South Australia. The information contained within this handbook h...

driver’s handbook 10 $ Including GST The Driver’s Handbook provides an overview of the road rules and the laws for driver’s licences and registering a vehicle in South Australia. The information contained within this handbook has been prepared to help you become better informed about road safety, road rules, drivers and licensing and vehicle registration. It has been written in plain, easy to understand language and should not be taken as a precise interpretation of the law. It is not intended to be a substitute for the legislation made by Parliament. Recent changes in laws may not be reflected. Diagrams are for illustrative purposes and are not to scale. If you require further information, please visit service.sa.gov.au Information on the relevant South Australian legislation may be obtained from www.legislation.sa.gov.au Road crash statistics are based on averages from 2015-2019. references The Driving Companion (for Learner Drivers) Australian Road Rules Road Traffic Act (1961) and Regulations Motor Vehicles Act (1959) and Regulations Cycling and the Law © Government of South Australia. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. A summary of the licence terms is available from http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en First published in Australia 2000. MR200 June 2020 ISMF Classification – PUBLIC – I3 – A3  W E L C O M E The Driver’s Handbook provides an overview of the road rules and the laws for driver’s licences and registering a vehicle in South Australia. All road users have a right to use our roads including pedestrians, bicycle riders, motorcyclists, users of mobility devices, and wheeled recreation devices; drivers of cars and heavy vehicles; the young, the elderly, and people with disabilities. This guide explains your road safety responsibilities to respect the rights of all who share our roads. Stay alert and travel safely. Before you drive… Think about safety. Know the risks and be prepared. The major risks on the road and how to avoid them is covered in the Your Road Safety Responsibilities section. Know the road rules. Road rules are explained in the Road Rules section. Be licensed. Ensure that your driver’s licence or permit is current, appropriate for the vehicle you are driving and with you. Refer to the Drivers and Licensing section for details. The Drivers and Licensing section also incorporates Fitness to Drive. Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, registered and insured. All drivers of registered vehicles in South Australia are covered by Compulsory Third Party (Bodily) Insurance and the Lifetime Support Scheme. Refer to the Vehicles and Registration section for details. Registrar of Motor Vehicles, June 2020 The Driver’s Handbook 1  Contents Your Road Safety Responsibilities Road Safety – Minimising the Risks 6 Alcohol, Drugs, Medicines and Driving 20 Young Drivers 8 Seatbelts 26 Understand Different Types of Crashes and Driver Distraction and Inattention 28 How to Avoid Them 10 Driver Fatigue 30 In Case of a Crash 14 Share the Road 32 Speeding and Inappropriate Travel Speeds 17 Hazardous Driving Situations 37 Road Rules Approaching and Entering a Roundabout 79 Seatbelts and Restraints 42 Freeways and Expressways 81 Care, Courtesy, Common Sense 44 Obstruction 83 How to Read the Diagrams 45 Towing and Loads 84 Speed Limits 46 Driving at Night or in Poor Visibility 86 Driving on the Road 49 Motorcycles 88 Signs 58 Road Rules for Bicycle Riders 90 Driving Signals 60 Parking 97 Traffic Lights 65 Miscellaneous Rules 103 Crossings 68 Mobile Phones 102 Giving Way 72 Trams 106 2 Drivers and Licensing Obtaining a Licence 108 Fitness to Drive 132 Graduated Licensing Scheme 112 Vehicles and Registration Registration of Motor Vehicles 136 What to do When Buying a Car 139 What to do as a Seller 138 Glossary and Index Glossary 140 Index 144 The Driver’s Handbook 3  L I C E N C E C L A S S E S A N D M I N I M U M D R I V I N G E X P E R I E N C E Licence Motor Vehicles Authorised To Be Driven Minimum Driving Experience Class Any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not greater than 4.5 tonne but does 17 years: not include a bus, motorcycle or motor trike. The motor vehicle may tow a single trailer, if you are under the age of 25 you must have C subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Road Traffic Act 1961. held your learner’s permit for at least 12 months. if you are aged 25 or over you must have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months. Any motor vehicle from class C. Must have held a class C for at LR Any other motor vehicle with a GVM not greater than 8 tonne except a motorcycle or least one year. motor trike. The motor vehicle may tow a single trailer, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Road Traffic Act 1961or the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia). Any motor vehicle from class LR. Must have held a class C for at least one year. Any other motor vehicle with 2 axles except a motorcycle or motor trike. The motor vehicle may MR tow a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) with a GVM not greater than 9 tonne subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia). Any special purpose vehicle with 3 or more axles and a GVM not greater than 15 tonne. Any motor vehicle from class MR. The applicant must have held - Any other motor vehicle (including an articulated bus, but not including any other articulated (a) a class C for at least two years; HR motor vehicle) with 3 or more axles, except a motorcycle or motor trike. The motor vehicle may or tow a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) with a GVM not greater than 9 tonne, subject to the (b) a class LR or MR for at least one year. combination mass limits fixed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia). Any special purpose vehicle with 3 or more axles and a GVM greater than 15 tonne Any motor vehicle from class HR. Must have held a class MR or HR for at least HC Any prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen one year. converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached). Any rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a GVM greater than 9 tonne (whether or not any unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached). Must have held a class HC or HR for at least MC Any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles except a motorcycle or motor trike. one year. Any approved motorcycle or motor trike the engine capacity of up to 660ml with a 17 years; and if no other licence is held: power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 150kw/t. if you are under the age of 25 you must have R-DATE* held your learner’s permit for at least 12 months. if you are aged 25 or over you must have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months. Must have held a class R-DATE* for at least R Any motorcycle or motor trike. one year. *The holder of a driver’s licence endorsed with class R-Date remains restricted to an approved motorcycle or motor trike with an engine capacity up to 660 millilitres with a power to weight ratio up to 150 kw/t for 12 months from the date of issue of that class. Once the 12 month period has lapsed the holder can commence riding any motorcycle or motor trike, despite the class still being endorsed as R-Date. 4 The Driver’s Handbook Your Road Safety Responsibilities You are encouraged to carefully read the following road safety pages. They can help South Australian drivers of all ages to drive in the safest ways possible and set the scene for life-long safe driving behaviours and experiences. The Driver’s Handbook 5  R O A D S A F E T Y Road Safety – Minimising Driving involves risk, and safe drivers aim to the Risks reduce and manage their risk by making good decisions and taking responsibility for their Driving a car is one of the riskiest activities that people perform on behaviour when driving. a daily basis. Each year, there are thousands of crashes in South Australia, often involving death and injury. Driving is complicated and presents many challenges every time you drive. It requires a lot of time and practice to develop the skills to become a safe driver. 6 The Driver’s Handbook Certain behaviours are major contributors to high risk driving and In this Road Safety section, you will find useful information about crashes. These include: sharing the road, as well as hazardous driving situations, including country driving risks and how to keep your vehicle safe. speeding and inappropriate travel speeds for the road or weather conditions You are encouraged to read the road safety pages carefully. They driving after drinking alcohol or when impaired by drugs can help South Australian drivers and riders of all ages to drive in the safest ways possible and set the scene for lifelong safe driving not wearing seatbelts behaviours and experience. driver distraction and inattention, including use of mobile In particular, young drivers have been shown to have a higher phones risk of crashing than older drivers. Those learning to drive for the driver fatigue. first time (as well as more experienced drivers) should study the road safety and road rules in The Driver’s Handbook carefully These behaviours are discussed in more detail on the following as the learner’s permit theory test is based directly on this pages and further information can be found on the information. www.mylicence.sa.gov.au website. Severe penalties apply to drivers and riders who commit road traffic offences, including those involving the above behaviours. In most cases, penalties increase in line with the seriousness of the offence and whether the offence is a first, second, third or subsequent one. The penalties include fines, demerit points, licence disqualification or even imprisonment in some cases, and are designed to send a clear message to drivers and riders about the dangers such risky behaviours pose for the safety of themselves and other road users. Motorcyclists have a much greater risk of crashing than drivers of other types of vehicles. The information contained in The Driver’s Handbook should be read by motorcyclists. The Driver’s Handbook 7  R O A D S A F E T Y On average, 10 young drivers and 3 young passengers aged 16-24 are killed in South Australia each year. In addition, around 95 drivers and passengers in this age group are admitted to hospital as a result of a road crash. Many will suffer permanent head, neck or back injuries. What you can do as a young or new driver Knowing the road rules is an important first step. But applying them while driving requires skills in not just vehicle control, but also in scanning the road ahead and in identifying potential hazards. Such skills are best learned through extensive supervised driving practice and an understanding of how you, as a young driver, respond to pressure and distractions. Lack of experience, night-time driving and the presence of passengers with similar ages all contribute to younger drivers having an increased risk of being involved in a crash. 1. Passengers Research shows that carrying two or three similar aged Young Drivers passengers under the age of 21 (who are not family members) increases the risk of a young driver crashing by Statistics show that young drivers have a far greater risk of four to five times compared to driving alone. This is likely to death and serious injury than other drivers. The first few years be due to distractions caused by the passengers, as well as of driving unsupervised – when you are on your provisional peer group pressure on the driver to take greater or more licence – are the riskiest of your driving life. Young drivers also risks. P1 provisional licence holders, under the age of 25, have a significantly higher risk of death relative to the number must not drive with more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 of kilometres they drive, compared to other driver age groups. (not including immediate family members) unless they are accompanied by a Qualified Supervising Driver (exemptions apply). 8 The Driver’s Handbook 2. Late night driving Take charge of building your driving skills and Many crashes that lead to the death of young drivers occur experience: late at night, particularly on weekend nights and when carrying more than one passenger. This is likely to be due As a learner driver, get as much supervised driving to inexperience in night driving as well as fatigue and risk practice as possible. Research has shown that learner taking. Research shows that P1 licence holders are over drivers who have around 120 hours of supervised practice represented in late night crashes compared to full licence have substantial reductions in crashes. holders. P1 provisional licence holders, under the age of 25, must not drive between midnight and 5AM unless they are Learn to drive defensively – defensive driving involves accompanied by a Qualified Supervising Driver (exemptions learning to anticipate trouble before it happens. The apply). competency based (log book) scheme for obtaining a driver’s licence uses a defensive driving approach, as do many driving instructors. Defensive driving courses will 3. Inappropriate risk taking improve all aspects of your driving. Young drivers, particularly males, are more likely to drive too fast for the road conditions, drink drive, drug drive or not Ensure you know and adhere to the conditions, and other wear seatbelts. laws, that apply to your licence. They are there to protect you. 4. Perception of driving hazards The skills to anticipate and accurately assess driving hazards develop over time. Young drivers often put themselves in potentially hazardous situations, without always realising it, for example, driving too close to the vehicle in front or running red lights rather than stopping in time. The Driver’s Handbook 9  R O A D S A F E T Y You may even flash your brake lights a couple of times if the vehicle behind is either tailgating or approaching at a high speed, especially if you are approaching a traffic light that has been green for some time. The green traffic light could change to yellow and then red as you approach. By displaying your brake lights, the driver behind will generally place their foot over the brake, which will reduce their reaction time and the risk of a rear-end collision with your vehicle. > Single vehicle crashes Compared to experienced drivers, young new drivers are more likely to be involved in single vehicle crashes, such as running off the road, hitting a stationary object or rolling their vehicle over. Young Understand Different drivers often become over-confident in their own ability to safely control their vehicle at speed. As a driver gains experience, they Types of Crashes and How learn to match the speed of their vehicle to the road conditions, which may mean reducing their speed to less than the posted to Avoid Them speed limit. For example, when conditions are wet, when the road is unsealed or where there is no clear view of the road ahead. Rear-end crashes Until young or new drivers gain sufficient driving experience to Crashes where a following vehicle hits the rear of the vehicle in front are called rear-end crashes and are the most common type of crash for make those speed judgements, they should take particular care drivers of all ages. Their main cause is that the driver behind is following when driving at higher speeds, as control of the vehicle is a lot more too close to the vehicle in front. difficult should something go wrong. Once a driver loses control of a vehicle travelling at high speed, it is extremely difficult to regain You can generally reduce the risk of a vehicle colliding with the rear of control (even for experienced drivers) and often results in a your vehicle. This can be done by checking your mirror well in advance serious crash. for any following vehicles and if the vehicle is close behind, you can begin to brake earlier. By keeping a safe following distance from the A common cause of country crashes is running off the bitumen road vehicle in front at all times, it will allow you time to brake gently when surface to the left, and then over-correcting by steering to the right and/ slowing or stopping. or braking too hard. If the left wheels of a vehicle leave the bitumen: 10 The Driver’s Handbook  ease off the accelerator and do not brake harshly hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands, and ease the wheels back on to the bitumen surface, being careful of the raised step between the soft edge of the road and the bitumen surface, because this can cause the steering wheel to be wrenched blind spot blind spot out of your hand. Modern cars are fitted with safety technologies such as electronic mirrors stability control (ESC), which can significantly prevent crashes involving view running off the road and/or skidding. ESC helps drivers maintain control over their vehicle, particularly in emergency situations and on wet, icy A blind spot is an area where your vision to the front, or unsealed roads. It detects instability and oversteering and stabilises side or rear is blocked when driving, particularly the vehicle by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels. areas to your side not covered by your mirrors Turning at an intersection crashes Half of all crashes occur at intersections. The main cause of these crashes, particularly for young provisional drivers, is a lack of experience and judgement in selecting safe gaps in streams of moving Drivers should check their side mirrors and also check blind spots by traffic. It is much better to wait for gaps in moving traffic that are larger, looking over their right or left shoulder before making a lane change, regardless of any impatient driver behind you. merging or diverging. However, some drivers often forget a blind spot check which can lead to a crash or a near-miss incident. A learner driver should gain plenty of practice under the supervision of an experienced licensed driver at selecting safe gaps in traffic when Head-on crashes entering or leaving a busy road. Head-on crashes on country roads can have devastating results. Young or new drivers in particular can lack experience in overtaking, and Crashes when changing lanes and when merging judgement at selecting safe gaps in the on-coming traffic where they or diverging can overtake. To reduce the risk of a crash, it is better to choose larger The most common cause of young provisional licence holders being gaps in the on-coming traffic or wait until an overtaking lane becomes involved in vehicle crashes when changing lanes, merging or diverging available, or not overtake at all. is that they fail to check blind spots. > The Driver’s Handbook 11  R O A D S A F E T Y Safer Vehicles The UCSR Buyer’s Guide (PDF) www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/safe- driving-tips/safer-vehicles provides you with the crash safety rating for used cars. Buying a car, whether it’s your first car or not, is a big responsibility. You can use safety ratings systems to compare the safety of different It is important that your car offers you good protection from injury in a brands or models when buying a car. Ensure safety features are given crash – but it is also important that your car offers good protection to priority when you decide to buy. other road users, such as pedestrians, bicycle riders, motorcyclists or the drivers of other cars involved in a crash. Even though a safer car will increase your safety in the case of an accident, it is your responsibility as a driver to maintain safe driving Choosing a safe vehicle may be one of the most important decisions habits to prevent accidents occurring. you will ever make. Driving a car that has recognised safety features and a high safety rating is an essential aspect in ensuring safer travel on our roads. Buying a safe car Buying a safe car doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money or Safety features that may significantly reduce the risk of death or serious sacrifice the look you want. Below is a guide to help make buying a injury if you are involved in a crash include: safe car easier. crumple zones collapsible steering columns Safety Ratings It’s important to check the safety rating before you buy a car. reinforced door frames front, side, curtain and knee airbags For new and near new vehicles ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) undertake crash tests on cars to gauge the level seat belts designed to work with airbags. of occupant safety. New car safety is rated on a star system from one An increasing number of cars are being equipped with safety features to five stars. Pedestrian safety provided by the car is also rated. that can help you avoid a crash and these should be considered when For more information on ANCAP star-rated vehicles, visit purchasing a used car. Some of these features are: www.ancap.com.au Electronic Stability Control (ESC) For second hand vehicles the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Buyer’s Guide provides safety ratings for popular vehicle models Lane Keep Assist (LKA) in Australia and New Zealand. The Used Car Safety Ratings list is blind spot warning. derived from reports of actual on-road crashes and represents the ability of the car to protect its driver. 12 The Driver’s Handbook  y First Car Young Drivers – M e. klist (www.mylicenc The My First Car Chec icles ) is a ing-tips/safer-veh sa.gov.au/safe-driv lp you safety features to he comprehensive list of tially buying. the car you are poten evaluate the safety of car that you highest safety rated You should buy the can afford. ive the ily car you should dr If you are using a fam ily. safest car in the fam The Driver’s Handbook 13  R O A D S A F E T Y In Case of a Crash If you are involved in a crash you must: ▲ Stop Stop at the scene of the crash. Failing to stop at a crash you are involved in is an offence. Use your hazard warning lights to alert other road users to possible danger. Assist ▲ Assist anyone who is injured. Telephone 000 where there is danger such as fire, death and/or serious injury. Telephone 131 444 if non-emergency police assistance is required (e.g. if the road is blocked, or there is a traffic hazard etc.). ▲ Exchange your information Exchange your information with the other drivers (or that driver’s representative) or other persons involved in the crash, including the owner of any property damaged at the scene. The information you provide should include: the driver’s name and address If you see a crash happen or are the first to arrive at the scene of the name and address of the owner of the driver’s vehicle a crash, your actions on these the vehicle’s registration number occasions are vital – you might any other information necessary to identify the vehicle and any other be able to save a life or prevent information required by a police officer about the crash. other vehicles crashing as well. You may be able to call the ▲ Clean up afterwards Emergency Services and you may Clear up any debris from the crash, such as broken glass, as soon as it is safe to be able to provide valuable help do so. as a witness. 14 The Driver’s Handbook Report the crash to police The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash in which a person is killed or injured must stop and render assistance. The driver must report to a police officer either at the scene or at a police station, not more than 90 minutes after the crash, for the purpose of undergoing alcohol and / or drug testing. Crashes that don’t result in death or injury must be reported to police as soon as possible and, except in exceptional circumstances, no later than 24 hours after the Blood samples crash, unless the only property damaged is that belonging to the driver or where the If you are injured in a crash and attend, or are damage is less than $3000. admitted to hospital, a blood sample will be taken if you are 10 or older. Be prepared to provide: The blood sample will be tested for alcohol y our personal details (remember to take your driver’s licence with you) and three drugs, THC (the active component in your car registration cannabis), Methylamphetamine (also known as the exact crash location crystal meth, speed or ice) and MDMA (ecstasy). date and time of collision Penalties will apply to drivers and riders who the other party’s personal details test positive for one or more of these drugs, or the other party’s car registration number. exceed the prescribed concentration of alcohol for their licence class. You will be given a Vehicle Collision Report (VCR) number for future reference. What should you do if your vehicle needs to be towed away after a crash? If your vehicle needs to be towed after a Tow trucks are rostered to remove vehicles from crash scenes in the greater crash within the metropolitan Adelaide metropolitan area of Adelaide through the Accident Towing Roster Scheme. area you must ring 8116 9209. By law, only tow trucks operating within this scheme can attend these crashes. The tow truck driver must provide you with an Authority to Tow form. Read the If the crash occurs outside the entire form carefully before you sign it, and make sure you write the place where metropolitan area you can contact any you want the vehicle taken - before you sign the form. The tow truck driver can tow truck operator available. provide you with advice but it is your right to decide where your vehicle is taken. The Driver’s Handbook 15  R O A D S A F E T Y First Aid Giving further assistance If you know how, you can also give mouth-to-mouth Even if you are not trained in first aid, you can help by applying basic resuscitation, or CPR, if it is required. measures to clear a victim’s airway and control bleeding. While you wait Untrained people are often frightened to touch casualties – but for an ambulance, you can follow these simple guidelines: early intervention can save lives or decrease the impact of injuries, leading to quicker recovery or lesser injuries for the Clear airway by: victims. supporting their head and carefully rolling the patient on to their side These are valuable skills that can help in road crashes, and clearing any obstructions and draining any fluid from their mouth they are also useful in other accident situations. Courses in First gently tilting their head back to open their airway. Aid are available from a range of providers including St John Ambulance and the Australian Red Cross Society. Control bleeding by: uncovering the injury applying direct pressure over the wound (use a clean cloth or other clothing, if possible). Check breathing Check pulse Tilt head Lift jaw 16 The Driver’s Handbook Speeding and Inappropriate Travel Speeds Within South Australia the maximum default speed limit outside a built-up area is 100km/h. The maximum default speed limit in a built-up area is 50 realise that you have to brake and at least another 20 metres to stop. At higher speeds, the distance will be even greater. In good clear driving conditions, you must drive within the posted speed limit however in certain circumstances, driving at the speed limit for that road can be dangerous. Conditions such as bad weather, heavy traffic, encountering children or pedestrians may require 50km/h. Unless a road sign or a licence condition indicates you to reduce speed to suit those road conditions. If otherwise, these are the maximum speeds at which you are you keep your speed down, you will have more time to avoid allowed to drive. Driving above the speed limit is illegal, because it crashes and will reduce the seriousness of any injuries or damage. creates unacceptable safety risks. You may also save a life – possibly yours. You must only drive at a speed that would allow you to stop your vehicle within the distance Travel speed affects both the risk of a crash happening and the that you can see ahead. severity of any injuries in a crash. Even small increases in vehicle speed significantly impact on road safety risks. Keeping a safe following distance Speeding can be compared to driving under the influence of The ‘following distance’ is the space between your vehicle and the alcohol. Every 5km/h increase in speed in a 60km/h zone is equal vehicle immediately in front. This distance varies, depending on the to an increase in 0.05 in BAC. speed you are travelling and the braking ability of both your vehicle Speeding and inappropriate travel speeds are estimated to directly and the vehicle in front. contribute to around a third of fatal crashes on South Australia’s The acceptable minimum following distance, which is considered roads each year. reasonably safe, is the distance your vehicle will travel in three Also, speeds just 5km/h above average in urban areas and 10km/h seconds. This distance – about eight or nine car lengths at 60 km/h above average in rural areas are sufficient to double the risk of a – allows you time to glance at mirrors, signs, side roads and casualty crash. vehicles further ahead while maintaining a sufficient safety space should the vehicle ahead suddenly brake. Keep your speed down For a fit and alert driver, in good driving conditions, at 60 km/h it takes about ¾ of a second or 12 metres of travel for you to The Driver’s Handbook 17  R O A D S A F E T Y To estimate the following distance, use the time lapse formula, Total Stopping Distance which applies for any travel speed. The distance a vehicle travels from the time you see an event Time Lapse Formula occurring to the time the vehicle is brought to a stop is called Allow three seconds to pass between the time when the rear of the total stopping distance. the vehicle ahead passes some stationary object, for example a signpost, and when the front of your vehicle reaches that point. To estimate that time, as the rear of the vehicle ahead passes Total Stopping Distance = Reaction the selected point, count... 1001, 1002, 1003 and your vehicle should not have reached that point before that time. Distance + Braking Distance Often you may need more than three seconds. This includes: Reaction distance (or thinking distance) is the distance travelled – when the road is wet or slippery by a vehicle while the driver realises the need to brake and actually starts to physically apply the brake. For a fit and alert – when visibility is poor driver, it would average about ¾ of a second or 12 metres at 60 – if conditions are dark km/h. – when you have a heavy load If you double the speed, you double the reaction distance. – when the road is unsealed. Note that you can reduce your reaction distance by scanning the road ahead to anticipate potential problems. If you notice Did you know? Approximately a third of all a driver in front of you driving erratically or waywardly, moving crashes are rear-end ones (Don’t tailgate!) your foot to ‘cover’ the brake pedal will reduce your reaction time if sudden braking is required. 18 The Driver’s Handbook Braking distance is the distance travelled by the vehicle once the Stopping distances brakes have been applied. The braking distance increases if the road is wet, slippery, ASSUMES: 1. Alert driver (¾ second reaction time) uneven or unsealed. 2. Braking efficiency of 75% 3. Good, dry, sealed, level surface The braking distance increases when going downhill because of the effect of gravity. The braking distance for heavy vehicles, including buses, is Total Stopping Distance much greater. Take extra care when changing lanes to move in metres in front of them. The braking distance increases at a greater rate than the increase in the speed you are travelling – if your speed doubles, your braking distance will increase by four times (2 x 2); if your speed trebles, your braking distance will increase by nine times (or 3 x 3). For example, if your vehicle travels 20 metres in braking to a stop from 50 km/h, at 100 km/h it will take approximately 80 metres to come to a stop on the same road surface (i.e. 4 x 20 metres). Approaching a corner or bend too fast may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. You should brake to a safe speed before entering the corner or bend because the vehicle will remain more stable and controllable if braking is done in a straight line. Allow more room for heavy vehicles to stop Heavy vehicles need a long distance to stop. So if the traffic lights turn red and a truck or bus is approaching don’t pull Total Stopping Distance into their lane because this reduces their stopping distance. Likewise, in flowing traffic a heavy vehicle may be trying to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, and if you cut in front of > the heavy vehicle it may not have enough room to stop safely. The Driver’s Handbook 19  LESS THAN R O A D S A F E T Y 0.05 Alcohol, Drugs, Medicines and Driving Alcohol, drugs and certain medicines reduce your ability to drive safely and increase your risk of being involved in a crash. Not only do these substances impair driving ability, but the effects of mixing them can be even more severe. As a driver, you need to be alert and able to concentrate on what you are doing so that you can react to whatever is happening around you on the road. It is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including some over-the-counter and prescription medicines if they impair your driving ability. If you are a learner, provisional or probationary licence holder you must stick to a zero Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) – this means no alcohol at all. A zero BAC also applies to drivers of buses, taxis, heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying dangerous goods. Severe penalties apply to drivers who commit drink or drug driving offences – regardless of whether you are a learner driver or an Unconditional (full) licence holders, including qualified unconditional licence holder. Penalties may include heavy fines supervising drivers accompanying a learner driver, must not drive (up to $2,900), licence disqualification, demerit points, and even with a BAC of 0.05 or more. imprisonment in some cases. Upon returning from a period of disqualification, drivers may be subject to a conditional licence. The presence of cannabis, speed or ecstasy detected in a driver For serious drink driving offences, drivers face immediate loss of also constitutes an offence – these drugs may be detected licence at the roadside and will be required to fit an alcohol interlock through random roadside saliva tests. device for the same period as their licence disqualification before they can regain their full licence. 20 The Driver’s Handbook  = = = = = = Low Alcohol Beer Wine Cooler Spirits Liqueurs Fortified Wine 60ml Ordinary Beer Mixed Drinks 30ml Wine 100ml 425ml (pint) 285ml (Schooner) 30ml (Nip) (Port or Sherry) 285ml (Schooner) (Spirit & Mixer) (White or Red) An alcohol interlock device is to be fitted to a motor vehicle to Studies have also shown that a driver’s risk of being involved monitor a driver’s BAC preventing the vehicle from being started in a casualty crash doubles for every increase of 0.05 above or operated if the driver’s BAC exceeds a pre-set limit. zero BAC. For inexperienced drivers, the risk at any BAC level will be even higher. These penalties are designed to send a clear message to drivers and riders about the dangers of drinking alcohol or taking drugs and operating a motor vehicle. What is Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)? Alcohol BAC is a measure of the amount of alcohol in your blood. Drink Driving is one of the main causes of road deaths in South It is measured by the number of grams of alcohol in 100 Australia. Each year, approximately 19% of drivers and riders millilitres of blood. For example, a BAC of 0.05 means killed in road crashes have a BAC of 0.05 or more – the majority 0.05 grams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. are three to four times over the legal limit. Drinking alcohol affects driving skills and increases the likelihood that the driver will engage in greater risk-taking. You don’t have to be drunk to be affected by alcohol. You might feel normal, but no one drives as well after drinking alcohol. The Driver’s Handbook 21  R O A D S A F E T Y Gender – a woman will almost always have a higher BAC The effects of alcohol: than a man of similar size who drinks the same amount; but this does not mean that men should drink more than women. slows brain functions so that you can’t respond to Food consumption – food slows down the absorption of situations, make decisions or react quickly alcohol so, if you have not had a substantial meal before reduces your ability to judge how fast you are moving or drinking, you will reach a higher BAC more quickly. your distance from other cars, people or objects Rate of drinking and types of drinks consumed – the gives you false confidence – you may take greater risks quicker you drink and the greater the alcoholic content of because you think your driving is better than it really is the drink, the sooner you will reach a higher BAC. makes it harder to do more than one thing – while you General health – if you are in poor health, your liver may concentrate on steering, you could miss seeing traffic be less effective in dealing with the alcohol you drink. lights, cars entering from side streets, pedestrians or bicycle riders What is Random Breath Testing (RBT)? Mobile random breath testing allows police to require a driver of affects your sense of balance – very important if you a motor vehicle to submit to a random breath test at anytime, ride a motorcycle or bicycle including when they are involved in a crash, commit a traffic offence makes you sleepy. or appear to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Police can also breath test a learner driver’s supervising driver. A driver will be asked to blow into a small device. It will immediately give an indication of the alcohol in the blood – if any. If a driver hasn’t been drinking there is no problem. If it Factors affecting BAC is a positive result, a driver will be asked to do a second test Research shows that the way alcohol is broken down and expelled on another breath testing instrument. This reading will be by the body is different for each person. The way your body breaks used as evidence if over the legal limit. down alcohol is affected by the amount of alcohol you drink. Some ways this may affect you are: All police are able to perform RBT operations anywhere, anytime, across the State with the aim of reducing and Body size – for the same amount of alcohol, a smaller person preventing road crashes and making our roads safer. It is will have a higher BAC than a larger person, but this does not an offence to refuse, or fail to comply with, a direction of a mean that a larger person should drink more. police officer in relation to an alcotest or breath analysis. 22 The Driver’s Handbook  Driving under the influence The safest Blood Alcohol Concentration for driving A person who drives, or attempts to drive a vehicle, including a bicycle and animal, while under the influence of an intoxicating is zero no matter what licence class you hold. liquor or drug (either prescription or illicit) and is not capable of effectively controlling the vehicle is guilty of an offence. Driving under the influence, more commonly referred to as DUI, is not the same as driving with the prescribed concentration of alcohol. Even if your BAC is less than 0.05, you may still be charged with DUI if your driving ability is impaired because of the effects of alcohol or other drugs. Only time reduces your BAC level If you have been drinking, you have to allow time for the alcohol in your bloodstream to reduce before you drive. Cold showers, exercise, black coffee, fresh air or a big meal DO NOT help to reduce your BAC. If you have had a night of heavy drinking, you may be over the BAC limit for much of the next day – the more you drink, the more time you must allow before driving. Your Blood Alcohol Concentration can only be Do NOT drive if there is any doubt about your BAC. measured accurately by either a Police breathalyser Do NOT combine alcohol with drugs or other medicines. or a medically administered blood test. Do NOT drink alcohol when you are taking other drugs. Even small amounts of alcohol in combination with drugs or medications can reduce your ability to drive. This applies to medicines prescribed by your doctor, or bought in a supermarket or pharmacy. The Driver’s Handbook 23  R O A D S A F E T Y Laboratory testing, driving simulators and on-road testing have It is an offence to refuse, or fail to shown that these drugs can impair performance on comply with, a direction of a police driving-related tasks and have the potential to increase the risk of road crashes. officer in relation to an alcotest or breath analysis or a request for a South Australia Police conduct random roadside saliva tests drug screening test, oral fluid to detect the presence of THC, Methylamphetamine or MDMA. Unlike drink driving, where a prescribed concentration of alcohol analysis or blood test. must be present for an offence to have been committed, the presence of any amount of the drugs tested is an offence. If a driver refuses or fails to comply with directions of a police officer in relation to a drug screening test, oral fluid analysis Drugs and Driving or blood test, they may face immediate loss of licence at the roadside. If convicted their licence will be disqualified for at least Drug driving is one of a number of contributors to road deaths 12 months. in South Australia. Nearly one quarter of drivers or riders killed on South Australian roads test positive to THC (the active component in cannabis – also known as marijuana, dope, hash), Don’t mix driving with alcohol or drugs (including Methylamphetamine (also known as speed, ice or crystal meth), medicines). To avoid the risks, plan ahead: MDMA (also known as ecstasy), or a combination of these. designate a non-drinking driver, if you are with others Many drivers remain unaware of the effects that these types of drugs can have on their driving ability – including impaired catch a taxi home coordination, muscle weakness, impaired reaction time, poor use public transport vision, an inability to judge distance and speed and distortions stay the night of time, place and space. They can also increase a person’s confidence so they are more likely to take dangerous risks while arrange for someone to pick you up – only accept a lift driving, placing themselves, the safety of their passengers and if you are certain the driver has not been drinking or other road users at even greater risk. using other drugs. 24 The Driver’s Handbook  Always check the listed side-effects and follow instructions regarding use. Never take someone else’s prescription medication. If you are unsure about the side effects of your medication or any impact it may have on your driving ability, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. What is saliva testing? This is a non-invasive method for detecting the presence of THC Stop driving and contact your doctor or pharmacist if (the active component in cannabis), Methylamphetamine (also your medicine affects your reflexes, affects your ability know as crystal meth, speed or ice) and MDMA (ecstasy). to concentrate, makes you sleepy or drowsy, or gives Drivers are required to provide a saliva sample by placing a saliva you blurred or double vision. test strip on their tongue. Drivers who test positive are required to provide a saliva sample for analysis in the drug bus or at a police For further information and/or assistance related to station. A positive result to the second saliva sample will lead to alcohol and other drugs, contact the Alcohol and Drug further analysis in a laboratory. Information Service on 1300 13 1340 or visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au for more information. Medicines Many prescription and some over-the-counter medicines can impair your driving ability and increase crash risk by affecting your concentration, mood, coordination and reaction time as a driver. Some medicines that may affect driving include: sleeping tablets, muscle relaxants, sedatives, antihistamines (such as hay fever or cold and flu medicines) and some strong painkillers. Not everyone will experience the effects of a drug in the same way. When you start using a new medicine that may affect your driving, it is best not to drive until you understand and have experienced what effect it actually has on you. The Driver’s Handbook 25  R O A D S A F E T Y A restraint or seatbelt will not work at all if it hasn’t been correctly fastened. Buckle up – and you double your chance of surviving a crash. The severity of injury received in crashes, especially injuries to the face and head, is significantly lower if occupants wear their seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt can be a life or death decision – both for you and your passengers. Seatbelts must be worn even if you are only travelling a short distance because most road crashes happen close to home. For someone not wearing a seatbelt, a crash at 40km/h is like falling from a two storey building onto concrete. Passengers not wearing seatbelts can kill or seriously injure others in the car if, for Seatbelts example, the driver has to brake suddenly. By law, drivers must ensure that they and any other passenger in the Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chances of surviving a serious vehicle are wearing their seatbelt, regardless of their age.However, crash yet despite the benefits shown by road safety research, time passengers are still accountable, as both drivers and passengers and time again too few people buckle up their seatbelt. aged 16 years and over can be fined if they fail to wear a seatbelt. Demerit points also apply. 25% of all drivers and passengers killed and 7% of vehicle occupants seriously injured are not wearing a seatbelt at the time While airbags help reduce injury, they are no substitute for wearing of the crash. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been seatbelts. The airbag increases the benefit of a seatbelt. Australian prevented, or been less severe, if the people were wearing a tests have shown that an airbag reduces the chance of a serious seatbelt. Some of these passengers were children. head injury by at least 50%. 26 The Driver’s Handbook Important information about child restraints: Research also suggests that children are being moved into bigger seats – or are prematurely graduating to seatbelts alone – when this is not appropriate for their size. As a result, those children are exposed to a greater risk of injury. A child that is properly secured in an approved child restraint is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not. Children are at greater risk of serious injury when travelling in the front seat. The National Child Restraint Guidelines recommends children 12 years of age and under are safest in the rear seat, regardless of the type of restraint they are using. For further information about child restraints visit: www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/seatbelts-and-child-restraints Tips for using seatbelts or child restraints effectively: Seatbelts and restraints will only work with maximum effectiveness if they are appropriate for the age and size of the passenger. They should also: – fit snugly – be in good condition, not frayed, stretched or worn – be strong and fastened comfortably – not too tight or loose – be easy to use – lie flat – not twisted – have a buckle that works. Teach child passengers about the importance of restraints and seatbelts – and don’t start the car until they are all correctly restrained. Always use seatbelts and child restraints that are Australian Standards approved and correctly installed. The Driver’s Handbook 27  R O A D S A F E T Y Driver Distraction and Distraction is an issue in both country and metropolitan Inattention areas, for all age ranges and for both males and females. Research shows that distractions can cause: Inattention or distraction are reported to be a contributing factor drivers straddling or overlapping lanes on a in around a third of fatal crashes and nearly one half of serious multi-lane road, or veering across the road crashes per year in South Australia. drivers driving inconsistently, speeding up or slowing down without apparent reason Driving is a complex task requiring coordination of a wide range of skills. To anticipate and avoid hazards on the road, difficulty in maintaining appropriate following drivers must give their full attention at all times. Any lapse in distances from vehicles in front (tailgating) concentration (inattention), or distraction away from driving, lower awareness of safe gaps in traffic increases the risk of a crash. slower reaction times and hence heightened Too often, drivers engage in activities that distract them from the crash risk driving task. These include using mobile phones, eating, impairment of the driver’s judgement. drinking, smoking, conversing with passengers, using audio equipment, and responding to distractions caused by children or other passengers. There are also distractions outside the vehicle, such as roadside advertising that can take the drivers’ attention An increasing number of in-vehicle information, communication away from the road. and entertainment systems including DVD players are being used in cars, which can contribute to a driver being distracted. Research has also found that carrying passengers poses a greater distraction for young drivers and, coupled with peer Avoid the temptation of doing other tasks and getting distracted pressure, can increase the risk of a crash. while you are driving. Taking your eyes off the road or diverting your attention even for just a few seconds can be fatal. 28 The Driver’s Handbook Mobile Phone Use While Driving Safe driving tips if you need to use a Driving while using a mobile phone can cause both physical and cognitive (thought) distraction, leading to impaired driving mobile phone performance. Using a mobile phone while driving can significantly impair a driver’s: Pull over safely and park to make or receive a mobile phone call. reaction time visual search patterns or scanning the road ahead Plan breaks in your trip for phone calls. ability to maintain speed and position on the road Tell your family, friends and others not to call when ability to judge safe gaps in traffic you know you’ll general awareness of other road users. be driving. Research has shown that using a mobile phone while driving increases crash risk by at least four times. Typically, run-off-the-road crashes and rear-end crashes are most commonly associated with mobile phone usage. Using a mobile phone brings even greater risk to novice drivers as they can experience difficulty in balancing the many demands on their driving - from perceptual (visual), mental and physical tasks. Research has found novice drivers who use a mobile phone spend less time looking at the road ahead. They are also more likely to wander over the road (across traffic lanes) and take longer to notice driving hazards. Learner’s permit and provisional (P1) licence holders are prohibited from using any type of mobile phone function whilst driving, including hands- free, Bluetooth, loud speaker operation, GPS and text messaging. All drivers have a responsibility to be aware of the rules surrounding mobile phone use while driving and should refer to pages 102 and 103 for further information. The Driver’s Handbook 29  R O A D S A F E T Y Driver Fatigue It is recognised that fatigue is more likely to be a factor in crashes in rural areas as they can involve long trips and extensive periods of continuous driving; however, anyone can be affected by fatigue, even when driving in the city or suburbs. Driver fatigue is particularly dangerous because one of the symptoms is decreased ability to judge your level of tiredness. Research has shown that not sleeping for more than 17 hours has an effect on driving ability the same as a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.05. Not sleeping for 24 hours has the same effect as having a BAC of 0.10, double the legal limit. If you don’t get enough sleep you will go into sleep debt and will ‘owe’ yourself more sleep. The only way to repay this debt is by sleeping. What causes fatigue? Until you catch up on your sleep, before The main causes are: driving, you will have a lack of quality sleep greater risk of having a time of day – driving when you would normally be fatigue-related crash. sleeping (eg 1am-6am) or in the afternoon period (eg 1pm-5pm) when our biological time clock makes us feel tired length of time performing the task sleeping disorders such as sleep apnoea. 30 The Driver’s Handbook  How do I avoid fatigue? Get enough quality sleep before you begin driving. Be sure to have seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep before your trip. The worst time to begin your trip is after work – you will be tired already, even if you do not realise it. Aim not to travel more than eight to ten hours each day. Take regular 15 minute breaks at least every two hours. Get out of the car, get some fresh air and some exercise. If possible share the driving. Get your passengers to tell you if you look tired or if you are showing signs of Fatigue tiredness. Fatigue can cause a driver to drift across to the incorrect side of the Eat well balanced meals at your usual meal times. road and collide head on with another vehicle. It is important you are Avoid fatty foods, which can make you feel drowsy. aware of the signs of fatigue. Avoid alcohol and medicines that can cause drowsiness. Avoid driving at night. The chances of crashing are Listening to the radio, drinking coffee and opening much higher late night and early morning. the windows or vents for fresh air are not sufficient to prevent fatigue over long trips. If you are tired, the best thing you can do is to pull well off the road and sleep. There is no substitute for sleep if you are tired. The Driver’s Handbook 31  R O A D S A F E T Y Share the Road The vehicles on our roads come in all shapes and sizes and include cars, bicycles, pedestrians, horses, mobility scooters, vans, trucks and buses. From the largest to the smallest, each has a right to be there. This size difference means we need to pay special attention to each other and make travel safer by sharing the road. Bicycle riders Pedestrians To share the road safely with bicycle riders, drivers should: One in every seven road deaths in South Australia is a pedestrian. scan the road ahead for bicycle riders In addition to fatalities there are on average 59 pedestrians when turning or entering an intersection look for bicycle riders seriously injured and many more who receive minor injuries and give way as you would for any other vehicle each year. the law requires all drivers to only overtake when it is safe to do so. This includes overtaking people on bicycles – its best to Drivers can help make roads safer for pedestrians by scanning slow down until it is safe to overtake for pedestrians at crossings and intersections, and being aware of give bicycle riders plenty of room; you must allow a minimum of the potential presence of pedestrians affected by alcohol around 1 metre clearance, 1.5 metres if travelling over 60 km/h entertainment venues and during festive seasons. Drivers should slow down where there is a high amount of pedestrian activity and before opening a car door, look behind and over your right remember that older pedestrians and those with disabilities may shoulder for bicycle riders and other road users need extra time to cross a road. watch out for all bicycle riders on the footpath adjust your speed to suit the presence of pedestrians or bicycle Drivers must give way to pedestrians and bicycle riders on the riders; bicycles are sometimes hard to see at night and in bad footpath when entering or leaving a driveway or other road related weather. Watch carefully for them area. If a driver is turning left or right, the driver must give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection on the road, or part not drive, stop or park in a bicycle lane (you can cross a bicycle of the road the driver is entering. Under the law, mobility scooter lane to turn left, enter private property or park in a parking lane users travelling under 10 km/h are pedestrians. providing you indicate and give way to any bicycle riders) remember that bicycle riders can legally ride two abreast, so be patient as you approach and overtake only when safe. 32 The Driver’s Handbook  before opening a car door, look behind and over your right Bicycle rider passing or overtaking vehicles on the left shoulder for bicycle riders. Whether you are riding in a marked bicycle lane or sharing a lane get into the habit of always using your mirrors and doing a with a vehicle, the rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, head check before opening your car door. One way to do to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change this is to open the car door with your left hand. Originating of direction signal. in the Netherlands, the Dutch Reach method of opening a car door with the hand furthest from the door handle means A driver turning left through a break in a dividing strip must give that drivers are forced to turn their body towards the door, way to any bicycle rider travelling in the bicycle lane. A dividing allowing them the opportunity to look over their shoulder to strip is a painted area or a raised structure, located between see whether a bicycle rider is coming past. Passengers on intersections, separating the bicycle lane from a marked lane. the left hand side of the vehicle should use their right hand Drivers must not overtake a bicycle rider and then turn left in front to open the door. of the bicycle rider’s path without due care and consideration to the movement and safety of the bicycle rider. Picture by Dave Cronin. Before opening a car door, look behind and over your shoulder for bicycle riders 1. Open the door with the hand furthest from the door handle – this is known as the Dutch Reach 2. Look over your shoulder to see whether a bicycle rider is coming Many bicycle riders are badly hurt when drivers open car doors without looking properly, so take care when opening your car door and look out for bicycle riders. The Driver’s Handbook 33  R O A D S A F E T Y Horse riders Under the Australian Road Rules, a horse is considered a vehicle and therefore is permitted to be ridden on the road. If you see a horse and rider on or near a road you should: treat the horse as a potential hazard slow down and, when safe, pass with care stop your vehicle on the left side of the road and turn off the Motorcycle riders engine if the horse is unsettled or the rider signals this to you Motorcycle riders, including scooter riders, are over-represented not accelerate or rev your engine near a horse in road trauma. They are nearly 30 times more likely to be killed or not sound your horn or make unnecessary noise seriously injured than other vehicle drivers for the same distance travelled. In South Australia motorcycles make up 4% of registered not throw objects or shout at a horse or rider. vehicles and account for around 15% of fatalities. Because motorcycle riders are less protected than car drivers, they have a greater chance of being killed or injured in a crash. The law requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets and they should also wear protective clothing, particularly with bright colours to make them more easily seen. Riding with headlights switched on can also improve motorcycle riders’ safety. Riders who use daytime running lights increase the chances of other road users seeing the motorcycles approaching. Drivers can help make roads safer for motorcycle riders, in much This road sign indicates that horses may the same way as they do for bicycle riders, by always checking be present, so drive with caution. what is in front of their vehicle, behind it and to each side. Always leave plenty of room if overtaking a motorcycle rider. > 34 The Driver’s Handbook Trucks The DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE SIGN fitted to the rear of Heavy vehicles are large, not very manoeuvrable and often slow trucks and trailers allows the truck to around the city. Therefore, it is important to obey traffic laws, be legally turn from the second or third cautious and patient when near them. lane from the kerb if needed to safely On country roads people often become impatient when behind get around the corner. A trucks but you should not take unnecessary risks when overtaking. Always assess the risks. B Turning truck Some trucks need extra space at corners, Always be careful when passing a intersections and roundabouts. If they are over turning truck that has these signs. 7.5 metres long they have ‘DO NOT OVERTAKE Watch for truck indicators. If you are TURNING VEHICLE’ signs, and may need on the truck’s left – which is one of the multiple lanes to make their turn. So keep Do not drive past driver’s blind spots – it may need to A a safe distance away and give them room or overtake trucks turn left across your path, without the displaying these signs to move. if they are indicating driver being aware that you are there. to turn either left or B > right, unless it is safe to do so. In the example shown left, when the truck pulls into the right lane but has its left indicators on, do not pull up the inside left lane, as the truck will turn across your path. At smaller roundabouts a truck may require both lanes to A get through the roundabout. Leave space for the truck. The Driver’s Handbook 35  R O A D S A F E T Y So don’t cut in front of a truck as it is slowing down to stop (for example at traffic lights) because you may not leave enough room for it to pull up. When driving on wet roads drivers should remember that Blind spots a truck will take much longer to stop. A blind spot is where you as a driver lose sight of the vehicles around you. You know where your blind spots are when travelling Roundabouts on the road. Know where a truck driver’s blind spots are: Roundabouts can cause problems with car drivers not allowing for the beside the truck’s left door need of the truck to possibly use the entire roadway. The ‘DO NOT directly beh