P plater crash avoidance tactics
Below some practical 'tactics' to reduce a P plate driver's risk
of crashing.
Some of the tactics place a big responsibility on you, but it’s
worth the effort when you consider the consequences of not
accepting the task.
| Tactic for Learner
Driver |
What you both can do |
| Stay on L's for as long as possible. Delay getting P's |
Negotiate a reward for staying on L's; continue to be a 'taxi';
help to work out transport options; ask friends or family to help
out with driving practice. |
| Keep focused on the target - six months zero harm |
Negotiate rewards for making safe progress towards six months
on P plates with zero harm, or consequences for not making safe
progress. |
| Drive supervised even on P's |
Drive in the P plate driver's car; continue to invite them to
drive you in your car. |
| Get real about P readiness |
Ask a keys2drive accredited driving instructor
for a P plate ready assessment. If you want to have a go at making
an assessment together with your learner driver, use the P plate ready indicator |
| Stay within experience |
Help provide your learner wide experience on L's. Encourage
them to drive within the range of L experiences and then gradually
widen P experience. |
| Drive with room for error |
Encourage your learner to:
- follow at least three seconds from the car immediately in
front
- ease up on the accelerator if any of the five cars in front
slow
- put their foot over the brake if ever in doubt
- be very cautious in right turn situations (a common P plate
driver crash)
|
| Keep thinking like a learner when on P's |
Continue to encourage deep
experience – your P plater will benefit from thinking
like a learner driver and begin to notice smaller and smaller
mistakes. |
| Drive in a safer car |
Your learner should buy a car with the highest ANCAP star
rating they can afford. When the risk to the P plate driver could
be higher, e.g. driving at night, let them borrow your car if it's
a safer one. |
| Drive to use less fuel |
Help your learner learn how to drive to use less fuel.
Generally it's safer because you have to think further ahead and
drive more smoothly. |
| Manage special P plate driver risks |
Some situations are identified as particularly risky for P
platers. Advise these management tactics:
- minimise driving at night, particularly late on Friday and
Saturday
- limit passengers
- learn not to use a mobile
- avoid driving during normal sleep times
|
