In spite of the continuing pleas for better driver education in Australia by the more perceptive members of the community, governments continue to ignore this need.
For many years a great number of people have been campaigning for better driver education. Most of the campaigners are referring to basic tuition- the use of controls, traffic sense, and intelligent understanding of the laws of the road. There is so much more. In a discussion on the subject of driver education with someone who should have known better (he was a member of an advanced driving institute), I once insisted that the complete motorist should know how to get out of a vicious and unpredictable oversteer slide. My protagonist, firstly, did not know what an oversteer slide was and, secondly, when I had explained it to him, was adamant that a good driver should not ever get into such a situation. Later, when I describe in some detail what an oversteer slide is, you will understand what I mean when I say that to guarantee that you will never encounter one, you would have to drive all the time at less than 60kph. And if you do so, you are not a competant driver.
The competant driver can confidently keep up with the traffic flow. On the open highway they can drive at the speed limit with assurance and accuracy. Thus they do not present the hazard we so often strike of a motorist pottering along 40kph under the limit and making himself into a mobile chicane. Now you might say that there is no law which says that you have to drive up to the speed limit. There certainly is. It is the law of common sense and good manners. When the weather and road conditions make it safe for the bulk of the surrounding traffic to motor at 110kph (or 100kph in Queensland) and when they are obviously doing so, you must keep pace with them. Interrupting the natural traffic flow is a major cause of accidents on the open road. People who drive at a speed significantly below the flow are even more likely to be involved in an accident than those who drive significantly above it.
Drivers therefore must be trained to drive in unusual situations in addition to the regular rules of the road. Many unskilled drivers try to brake their way to safety in all situations. This is often the least appropriate tactic. Unluckily, for the sake of promoting speeding tickets, many authorities encourage this by indicating that the only way to avoid a collision is to brake to a complete stop. Unskilled drivers need to learn the skills required to effectively avoid collisions. Another thing that must be taught is the six basic rules of driving.
1. common sense
2. observation
3. concentration
4. judgement
5. anticipation
6. courtesy
If even one of these rules is not observed the driver can never be considered a skilful driver. These rules require explanation.