Safer Drivers WA

Drivers in WA

A recent survey by the RAC has revealed motorists in WA are concerned about the driving ability and behaviour of other motorists on the road. Eight in ten of the surveyed respondents said they experienced unsafe drivers every day on Western Australia’s roads while six in 10 of the respondents rated the standard of driving in WA as poor or very poor.

Merging, keeping a safe distance to the vehicle in front and using roundabouts were identified as the biggest single issues for drivers while on average more than a third of drivers gave incorrect answers to questions on road rules in WA.

Courses to become a safer driver on our roads

The RAC Driving Centre offers a variety of post-licence driving courses to improve the skills of drivers on our roads and at work.

The RAC Driving Centre comprises six purpose-built areas, with courses available to businesses and individuals. 

Defensive driving courses are designed to assist drivers in recognising risks and improving their driving skills and their safety on the roads. 

Four wheel driving courses put the driver’s skills to the test in a safe environment. Participants are taught how to drive a 4WD safely and confidently. 

Motorcycle training course is skills-based and covers a wide range of skill levels as well as all types of motorcycles. 

Forklift licences course teaches the skills and knowledge required to enable participants to apply for a National Licence in High Risk Work and Forklift Operation. 

First aid training and education offers professional first aid training that can be tailored to specific needs. All courses meet national training standards. 

Heavy vehicle (truck) operations courses are tailored to the transport sector and work to enhance the skills and safety of the driver.

Read more about RAC Driving Centre.  

Safer driving in the city

With increasing congestion and more drivers on our roads, city driving can be quite hazardous. It’s important to stay alert, be aware of your surroundings and be courteous.

Remember:

• Have patience while merging and allow other drivers to merge.
• Avoid cutting other drivers off.
• Maintain a safe following distance. Leave a minimum of two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead in normal conditions.
• Don’t respond to challenges. Avoid sudden swerving, acceleration or braking.
• Always park in a well-lit area.
• Use your indicators correctly; other people don’t know where you’re going and can’t read your mind. 
• Lift your vision and look further ahead than the car directly in front of you.
• Be prepared to make allowances for the bad driving behaviour and/or misdemeanours of other drivers.
• Be patient and don’t fall into the trap of being an aggressor.
• Be courteous to others and be prepared for the fact that others may not reciprocate your kind gestures or honourable intentions.
• Plan your journey; know or at least estimate the travel time required then add at least five minutes ‘just in case’.
• Remember to allow additional time to find a parking spot.

Safer driving in the country

Country driving can be quite dangerous, particularly if you’re not a regular country driver. The roads are a lot less congested than in the city but there are the greater dangers of road trains, wildlife and unsealed roads.

Remember:

• If you clip the gravel shoulder don’t swerve or steer suddenly to get back onto the bitumen as this can often upset the balance of the vehicle and cause it to skid. Smoothly and gradually steer back to the bitumen.
• Allow road trains plenty of room to brake and manoeuvre.
• When preparing to overtake a slower vehicle, particularly a larger vehicle (truck, caravan etc) that obscures your vision, hang back as this usually allows you to see further ahead. This will give you room to smoothly accelerate and smoothly manoeuvre your vehicle to the opposite side of the road to commence your overtaking run. Do not overtake unless it is safe.
• Take extra caution when driving at night.
• Drive with your headlights on LOW beam – even in daylight high beam (and spotlights) can dazzle on-coming drivers.
• Slow down and reduce your speed to suit the conditions (particularly on gravel surfaces).
• If using cruise control be mindful that the car cannot see the conditions you are driving in. It simply remembers that you are telling it to maintain a certain speed – no matter what – until deactivated. Cruise control does not know when you are negotiating bends, going up or down hills, following another vehicle, gazing out the window, listening to music, tired, falling asleep.
• If you use cruise control do not add a few extra kms for ‘good measure’.
• Prepare your vehicle a few days before if possible, not five minutes before you leave. Clean all windows and mirrors and ensure the washer bottle is full.
• Take a water bottle with you and maintain your water/fluid intake. Avoid screw-top lids as they generally require two hands to open.
• Plan your journey and take regular rest breaks to avoid fatigue.
• Ensure your driving position is correct; poor deportment behind the steering wheel can bring on fatigue quite quickly.
• Avoid eating heavy meals prior to driving.
• Be aware that animals could venture onto the road.
• Even in the country you still need to use your indicators.
• Respect the rural environment you are driving in.

Safer driving at night

It’s much more difficult to see and be seen at night and driving behaviour needs to be adjusted to ensure a safe journey. All of the above are applicable as well as the following.

Remember:

• Ensure all headlights are working and adjusted for optimum illumination. A single approaching headlight could be misconstrued for a motorcycle when instead it’s a car with the driver’s side headlight missing.
• Ensure all tail lights are working.
• Always drive with your lights on.
• Dip your lights for oncoming vehicles and when following vehicles.
• You may need to adjust your mirrors slightly to reduce or avoid being dazzled by lights behind you.
• If you are being overtaken keep you lights on high beam until the overtaking vehicle is level with your car, then dip to low beam. This maintains good forward visibility for both of you during the initial part of overtaking.
• If you are overtaking, keep your lights on low beam until you are level with or forward of the vehicle you are overtaking before activating high beam.
• If loading your vehicle or towing a trailer/caravan be mindful that the additional weight on the rear of your vehicle will cause the front to lift and therefore lift the height of your headlights. Low beam could be misconstrued by an approaching driver as high beam.
• Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists on the road.

Young people and learning to drive

The RAC has developed a number of programmes aimed at WA's young drivers as well as learner drivers of all ages.

Commnity Education

RAC Community Education is committed to educating Western Australians on issues of road and community safety. This is mostly done through a variety of free presentations on offer to schools, parents, community groups and associations.

For more information on the RAC’s Community Education Program, click here.

Learn to drive

Our Learn to drive program provides information to parents, learner drivers and teachers on every step involved in learning to drive and getting a driver’s licence. The RAC also has a driver instructor directory that will help you choose an experienced driving instructor.

For more information on learning to drive, click here.