Driving Resources
Driving Tips/Topics
Adjusting Mirrors
Many drivers fail to optimise rear vision because their external mirrors are adjusted so narrowly that they can see little more than the sides of their vehicle.
A driver does not need to have constant vision of the side of their own
vehicle.
For correct setting, drivers should adjust the right mirror outwards so
that when they tilt their head towards the driver’s side window they
can just see the edge of the rear quarter panel. Similarly the left side
mirror should be adjusted so that when the driver tilts his or her head
towards the transmission lever only a very small portion of the car’s
rear quarter panel is visible through the mirror.
These mirror settings allows the driver a wider field of vision to the rear and sides and the blind spots are minimised.
To check the setting, vehicles approaching from the rear should only be
visible in the interior rearview mirror. As a vehicle overtakes it should
disappear from the internal rear view mirror as it becomes visible in the
appropriate external side view mirror.
It is important that the driver understands that even with this system
a small blind spot still exists next to the car.
Drivers still need to use a final head check to confirm that that
no vehicle is in the blind spot before merging or changing lanes.
Using these mirror settings takes time before the skills are automatic
and at first it may feel uncomfortable. The benefits of this system
only become apparent after continued use.
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Understanding Tyre Grip
It's easy to look at a tyre tread pattern and determine fairly
accurately how much grip you will have on a wet road.
The main reason for the grooves is wet weather, as well as better grip
on loose surfaces and gravel roads.
The wider, straighter and more direct the grooves, the better. A tyre
with a complicated tread pattern, might provide extra kilometres and
less road noise, but it might not grip as well on a wet surface.
Avoid tyre flex by increasing tyre pressures above the comfort-biased
level suggested by the manufacturers.
Firmer is safer in almost every respect, it will usually increase tyre
life and improve fuel economy, so try 252 kPa (36psi) for normal use and
280kPa (40psi) for long trips.
Always keep in mind on a wet day that half-worn tyres have lost half of
their drainage capability.
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Hot Tips for Kids in Cars
Travelling with children over summer has become a hot issue in the road
safety area.
Car crashes are the number one cause of child accidental death in
Australia and Kidsafe, which is a Child Accident Prevention Foundation
program and Holden have combined to promote awareness of the problem.
http://www.kidsafevic.com.au
Top of the list is the fitting and wearing of child restraint systems.
Around 70 per cent of in-vehicle child restraints are incorrectly fitted
or used and that accounts for a high percentage of serious injury.
So Holden has taken the initiative and is establishing a free child seat
checking program at certain dealerships in the New Year.
In the meantime, parents should be aware of the following while
travelling with children over the summer period:
- Double check that the harness fits the child (Contact Kidsafe on 9427 1008 for a brochure).
- Do not use a hood to protect the baby from the sun when using rear facing restraints. It will decrease airflow around the baby's head. Instead, use a visor or sun shade.
- Provide plenty of cool fluids and offer them regularly.
- Dress children in light colours and light weight fabrics to promote air flow around the body.
- Stop at least every two hours for exercise. Baby also needs stretch and exercise time so let it roll on a rug on the ground.
- Never leave children alone in a car (buckled up or not) while you run a quick errand.
- Avoid travelling in the hottest parts of the day when planning your trip.
- Research by Holden and Kidsafe shows that airflow decreases inside a car when temperature and humidity begin to rise. The younger the child, the faster the onset of heatstroke and dehydration.
On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car
can be as much as 30 to 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature.
For example, on a 30 degree day, the inside car temperature could be as
high as 70 degrees.
And larger cars heat up just as quickly as smaller cars. Winding windows
down by five centimetres causes only a slight temperature drop.
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Kick your shoes off baby, it's time to relax
A scene from a Humphrey Bogart movie? Nah. Driving advice for long trips
in hot weather. The ability to relax and concentrate is all important
when behind the wheel, with fatigue and a wandering mind the big killers
on our roads.
To help keep concentration up, keep the body temperature down. Start by
taking off the hat (or golf cap), because there is huge heat release
through the top of the head. Drive as light as possible by removing
heavy or medium-weight clothing, like jackets. If you are wearing shorts
(rather than slacks or trousers), cover the seat with a large towel.
Don't hesitate to drive with open windows, or use the air conditioner to
lower cabin temperatures.
With passenger approval, take off your shoes and drive in your socks to
give more heat release to lower body temperature. Avoid hearty food.
Nutritious snacks and plenty of non-fizzy liquid (water is ideal) will
help to offset fatigue.
One handy tip for long, hot weather trips is to carry ice in a small
foam Esky and suck ice cubes as you drive. Works like a miracle. Lower
body temperatures means more concentration and greater safety.
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ABS
One of the greatest safety innovations for the modern motor car is the
antilock braking system - usually referred to as ABS. It's probably the
best automotive safety invention since the seat belt. BUT as drivers, we
must not be lulled into a false sense of security.
With ABS you can brake as hard as you like and the car will never skid.
The pedal might shudder, but that's just the computer doing its work.
The second big advantage is that the steering continues to work
perfectly, unlike heavy braking in a car without ABS but here is a
warning: the ABS system won't necessarily stop the car shorter, so the
driver has no excuse to sit closer.
Every driver should leave a gap of at least two seconds, or even more
for special situations such as towing, gravel or dusty roads, wet
conditions or feeling tired.
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