What you need to know about Overtaking – The General Overtake

Overtaking quite simply is when another vehicle wants to get in front of a car it was previously behind. This is a manoeuvre you will need to perform quite frequently as a driver.

Overtaking needs to be done safely, at the legal speed limit and only once you have performed all the necessary checks.

Here are some steps to follow before and during the overtake and are some of the key assessable points that our driving instructors in Chatswood will observe/guide you on;

Before:

 

During the overtake:

 

At Autogear Driving School in Chatswood, we will equip you with all the necessary skills to perform a legal and safe overtake. Our Driving instructors Chatswood and all across the Lower North Shore of Sydney will work with you until you are a confident motorist able to (1) quickly identify when to perform an overtake and (2) how to do so safely. With our decade long driver-coaching and instructing, and local expertise, be reassured you are in the right hands for all your driver education needs.

For any questions, tips on our best exam preparations skills to have, and or general help with your driving education, contact Autogear Driving School in Chatswood today

Driving Examination Decision Making Tips

As part of this examination tips blog, our next topic will be decision making.

Decision making is critical behind the wheel and is a core component assessed in your driving exam. Whether you enter traffic, merge across lanes, make a 3-point turn or turn at an intersection, you will need to utilise your decision making skills.

One of the best ways to improve on your decision making is by practising your driving in real-world conditions. At Autogear Driving School Macquarie Park, we have worked with thousands of students. Using local knowledge and a proven teaching style, our highly professional driving instructors will work with you to improve your confidence and guide you to make the right decisions. Our instructors use a defensive-minded driving approach – meaning they will take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

We understand that initially you may not be as skilled or weary of your surroundings. This is why all our instructors across Sydney, including our driving instructors in Macquarie Park, have dual-fitted breaking pads in their cars. This allows our instructors to apply a greater level of control during your lesson, ensuring you keep a three-second gap, do not merge into oncoming traffic and comply with road safety rules.

Regardless of your level of skill, our Instructors at Autogear Driving School in Macquarie Park will work with you, to coach and to help you understand and proactively make the right decision behind the wheel.

If you want to improve your decision making skills behind the wheel or general confidence, call us today and get in touch with one of our friendly team members.

Lessons Needed To Achieve a Driving Licence at Autogear Driving School, Ryde

Driving School in RydeGenerally, the success of a student undertaking driving lessons in Ryde should not depend on how much he/she attends the driving lessons but should be based on the amount of experience and confidence gained under expertised supervision, before the driver test is taken and tackling the road alone.

Taking a drive with an experienced person, whether it be a parent or a friend with good experience or a Qualified Driving Instructor at Autogear Driving School is definitely a good idea since, at the end of the day, all that counts is the basic, safe driving skills taught in a professional manner. The instructors at Autogear Driving School, Ryde are proficient with the training novices’ drivers traffic laws, routs surrounding local area.

The initial component one would expect to learn at Autogear Driving school in Ryde would be becoming familiar with the car and getting to know how to use all the essential controls. This includes: adjusting all the rear-view mirrors, seat belt, seat height, the indicators, hand break, window wipers, maneuvering headlights, emergency hazard lights and changing gears. Once a novice driver is familiar with the accessories of the car then it is important them to learn the use the escalator and brake control pedals confidently and comfortably and drive the car without over and under steering.

At Autogear Driving School we are dedicated to teach learner driver achieve a good foundation for lifelong safe driving. Supervised driving is essential for the student to become familiarised with wet and rainy conditions. Beginners will start on quiet roads and then progress to the busy Ryde roads where one may get comfortable in overtaking or being overtaken on heavy traffic roads. An essential experience to be learnt is night-time driving in rainy conditions.

Preparing Your Teen for Driving

Getting a driver’s license is among the most crucial needs of teenagers who undertake this challenging task in one of Sydney’s RTA centres such as the one located in Silverwater, New South Wales. Once over the age limit, the individual is free to apply for this important and potentially life changing learner licence. As a parent, it is your duty to increase the chance of your child passing his/her driving test by encouraging them to become responsible for their own learning. Your challenge when preparing your learner for P plate driving is to avoid saying “Do as I say”.

The education, training and continuous practice offered to these students from their parents and driving instructors can be deemed as unparalleled and immeasurable. During their respective exams students would be required to take both knowledge (DKT) and practical tests before earning their licenses gradually. These tests cover an individual’s knowledge of traffic rules and also gauge if one can handle impromptu disruptions safely while on the road. Below are some of the ways your teen can prepare to become a better driver.

1. Practice driving along both busy city streets and highways and also in as many suburbs as possible. It will most certainly help the driver become more observant of the traffic rules, paying attention to other vehicles on the road and maintaining safe speed levels.

2. Spend time learning how to park. Mastering the art of parking a vehicle is a challenge to most beginners, but with enough training your child will eventually get it right. Whether it’s parallel parking, three point turn or any other type of parking your son/daughter will be taught how to succeed depending on the experience and expertise of the teacher.

3. Hillstart practice. It involves starting and stopping a car confidently along a sloppy terrain, your teen may be asked to feign the maneuvers that they would make in a parking slot or when pulled over for routine checking.

4. Emergency braking. Here, one would learn how to stop fast and abruptly so as to avoid accidents. Driving Schools operating Sydney wide and in areas such as SilverWater will teach your child the art of breaking and how sudden it needs to be depending on the circumstance. A skill, which means, the difference between life and death in a real-life situation.

Before attaining a driver’s license , a novices driver should always be able to control their vehicle confidently while going in reverse. To succeed in such a task, one should learn how to look back over their shoulders, constantly checking their mirrors and blind spots.

As a novices driver, our final advice is for you to try visiting the area around your testing site before so, as to familiarise yourself with the surrounding streets and any obstacles that may be present on the road. Take note of all road signs that are on the way as well as speed limits, your supervisor will want to know whether the rules are adhered to or not. For even more insight, ask fellow friends or family members who may have taken their tests at that location in the past to give you hints on what to expect come your turn. Passing the driving test in SilverWater, is easy provided you are well prepared for it.

Is your driving instructor giving you the value for your money?

Are you looking for a qualified driving instructor? And or Are you getting the value for your money from your current driving instructor?

It is important to note that the majority of learners start to search for driving lessons having this question in mind. They tend to look for driving lessons which are cheaper. You should stay away from that option if you truly want to select a well-qualified driving instructor.

Prices charged for driving lessons differ widely depending upon the suburb from which these lessons are conducted. If in case the price is cheaper then you should find out whether the driving instructor is really qualified. The undervaluing or ‘cheapness’ of such lessons could possibly illustrate a lack of experience. On the contrary, Individual instructors and driving schools in Chatswood tent to charge a fair price offering generally well qualified and profession instructors.

When should you realise that the lessons being provided are not upto standard?

This is a crucial element most learners fail to pick up on immediately and we can’t blame them. It is not easy to simply judge your instructors with in the span of a couple of lesson however one main factor exists which can help you distinguish a potential success rate. In order to give yourself the best possible chance of success at obtaining a driver’s license, you should choose a RTA qualified and well experienced driving instructor.

Let’s say you’re driving instructor is well experienced and qualified but simply lacks a teacher’s helping mentality. Well, outlined below are few reasons which might help you select the best possible driving instructor to alleviate your chances of success and not only based off the ‘price’ differential.

Are they quick tempered?

Is your Approved Driving Instructor shouting at you? Is he also losing his temper on every minor mistake that you make? If so, then you need to take a firm decision. An experienced and often profession driving instructor should know that training involves making mistakes. This is one indication which signifies that you simply won’t make much progress alongside wasting both your money and time.

Not enough driving?

After the exception of your first lesson where you will be driving for close to half of your lesson time, the following lessons should actually consist of driving throughout the entirety of the lesson long. If you find yourself driving a reduced number of minutes than what you’ve paid for, then it should yet again exemplify that your instructor is incompetent and will yet again losing both money and time.

Any sort of feedback from driving instructor?

A good and competent RTA instructor will always keep track of the learner’s progress. With progressive feedback the learner will be better able to establish their confidence and understanding of what their strengths and critical flaws are. If this is not happening, we again suggest you to find a better instructor who will not only provide you will critical feedback but will also work with you ensuring your driving success thus adding value for the hard earned money you or parents are spending.

This brings us to the final point. Money and Money Value

Getting the value for your money is essential due to it solely affecting you and your success in the long-run whilst also draining out your bank account. To ensure your success, we urge you to consider to always choose a RTA approved and well experienced driving instructor. Furthermore, it must also be noted the driving instructor selected must provide their lessons at an economical and ‘humane’ rate helping you establish your driving skills through the many vigorous lessons required for this enduring task.

Why it is important to select a Good Driving Instructor in Ryde

Learning the art of driving a car can be challenging for many of us and to overcome this challenge, we need to find a respectable and well qualified driving instructor in Ryde. Staying under the supervision of a good instructor is important and also will help the student complete the driving course comprehensively and efficiently whilst acting as great return investment considering the time, dollars and strength spent learning the essentials. However, here we have to address the pivotal question, How to obtain a license to drive?

To ensure your success at Ryde RMS where if you opt in to sit your driving test at this location, it is most advisable to pick a local instructor who is not only skilled as a driver but also as a teacher. This means you should pay a bit more attention to the areas where your instructors particularly specialises and make sure that they do so in Ryde, New South Wales.

Choosing a reputable Driving Instructor who has a local understanding of Ryde’s streets, intersections and ‘black spot’ areas can give you the following benefits. They will provide a professional learning environment focusing on the more significant and ‘tricky ‘roads. Also these instructors will offer structured training courses often enhancing your skills on busy routes. In addition, these well qualified ‘personal coaches’ also help you acquire your license much faster and more direct in comparison to any unqualified teacher.

Last, but not the least, understanding the traffic rules, symbols and road signs are essential for learners to have down-packed. None but a well versed instructor can guide you in this regard with sheer precision.

Furthermore, in the long term, it is important to understand the mechanism of a car. Professional instructors regardless of the suburb are capable of guiding you step by step. Learning sharply, as well as swiftly should be your priority. Moreover, driving instructors must also plan and execute interactive learning sessions for the learners so as to ensure that the learner not only enjoys the task of driving but also drives without any fear and can confidently drive on Ryde’s toughest streets safely.

As a driver it is important to exude confident body language. These are critical skills that will be taught from the trainer or coach: patience, confidence and focus being among the most preached. Even with all the previously noted statements, it is important for you the learner to have an adequate number of driving sessions, especially in Ryde, this will help you build confidence and drive at a natural and relaxed tempo while attempting your test.

Whilst price is a major factor of the decision making process, it recommended to compare at least a few instructors offering their specialised services within Ryde. Some instructors may over price their service for no particular reason. On behalf of AutoGear Driving School, we give our potential students another valuable tip, that being to always consider the range of discounts and promotions offered by the individual instructor or school. This depending on the number of lessons you believe you will need in order to confidently drive through the roads of Ryde and its surroundings.

Tips For Driving on Bad Weather

Driving in bad weather can be a scary thing to undertake, and does in fact require some practice and some preparation. While anyone with preparation can get from point A to point B without a problem, nerves will only settle once you have had some practice and become a seasoned driver. This is very normal, and should be understood to be so, as our driving schools in Macquarie Park will teach you. However, the prior preparation portion should not be taken lightly. If you hear or see a warning for bad weather, heed it. Ignoring will cause you to be under-prepared, and that could be costly. Also, unless absolutely necessary, postpone your trip till after the weather has cleared and road conditions have been restored.

However, if you must travel, there are some things you must pay attention to. Make sure you maintain a four second gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. This will give you time to avoid a collision due to sudden braking. This can be measured by counting one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, and one thousand and four when the vehicle in front passes a landmark. If you passed the same landmark before you finished counting, you are driving too close/fast. Slow down and increase the gap. Always, remember to slow down according to the situation and look forward. See if the conditions in front are conducive to continued driving. This preparation will help you and the cars on either side of you, by giving you all space to manoeuvre in.

Additionally, pay attention to signs (and speed limits) on the roads. This will guide you and give you an indication of areas that are affected by bad weather. Listen to the radio for weather updates, if possible avoid the areas affected,

Age is not a barrier to learn driving

Many people think that learning to drive is a young person’s thing. It really is not. Many people aged 50 and even above still continue to learn driving. All you require is a ‘can-do’ attitude and an interest in learning to drive. Hence, for migrants, learning Australia’s driving system will find it easy and quick. Come to AutoGear driving schools in Ryde, to learn how to transition from your native country’s system to the Australian road and traffic system, and be independent enough to drive yourself around without being dependent on your spouse, family and or friends.

The task is made easier by the fact that you have developed your mind more so than a ‘youngsters’, and possibly, you may have driven in your own country and are familiar with the rudiments of driving. When you come to AutoGear driving schools in Ryde, our patient and well-informed driving instructors will take you through everything from learning how to drive to the adhering to the road safety laws in.

The Australian system is fairly easy to grasp, and runs like a well-oiled machine. There are demerit points and fines for bad driving, which have drastically helped reduce traffic and accidents. New South Wales, especially, is safe for driving, and is preferred by migrants learning to drive. As long as you follow the rules our instructors at AutoGear driving schools in Ryde teach, you will be fine.

Getting a driving licence is essential, especially given the long distances one might have to travel especially due to Sydney’s under-developed public transport network. It will also help make you independent, able to get around by yourself. So, whether you are in your early thirties or late fifties, our driving schools in Ryde have a place for you, and we will be happy to teach you how to drive safely and well in Australia.

How to overcome nervousness when driving for the first time

Driving can be a daunting task if you are just starting out. There are multiple things to keep in mind, and it can be a bit worrying. However, there really is nothing to worry about. Driving is a pleasure to learn and to engage in, so buckle up and get behind the wheel!

Whether it is your first driving lesson and your instructor or your driving supervisor is next to you or it is your first time out alone after passing the test, your nerves can take a beating over the whole experience. What you must do is try to remain calm and confident, sure that you can do it. Additionally, you need an instructor who will be patient with a flexible approach and who is able to stay calm even when students make mistakes. That is where our driving lessons in Ryde come into play. AutoGear driving school instructors will patiently guide you every step of the way.

First, get comfortable with your seat and the vehicle. Take your time, there is no hurry. Get acquainted with the feel of the car, adjust the seat to fit your requirement. Buckle up the seatbelt. Make sure you can see the vehicles coming from behind you on both sides by adjusting the mirrors. This will change according to each driver so be sure adjust the rear view mirror two side mirrors after each change of drivers, and also every time you get into the car. Make sure your rear-view mirror, as well as the side mirrors, at the proper angle. The side mirror should show part of your vehicle as well as the vehicle behind you.

Keep your focus on the driving and let it become fun for you. Remember to get plenty of practice reversing so that you don’t feel scared to reverse when driving. It is very important to become comfortable with the vehicle and with the manoeuvring beforehand so that on your first drive you won’t feel like you are looking for things. Also, you can opt to drive in areas you are familiar with or that have less traffic, thus avoiding unknown areas. In addition, you can avoid highways and toll roads so as to minimise the pressures.

That is what driving lessons from AutoGear Driving School in Ryde can do for you. We will prepare you and guide you as you take your first driving steps. Have fun driving!

Tips for driving at night

Driving at night is an important component of any driving lesson, and in NSW, a learner must have a minimum of 20 hours of night driving out of the total 120 hours of supervised driving for the log book holders. Night driving is defined as driving between sunset and sunrise. The driving school in Manly pay special attention to these requirements, and will help you master driving at night easily.

When driving at night, what is most important to keep in mind is to have your lights checked beforehand, and to have it on as light fades so that your vehicle is visible to other drivers. To do so, walk around the vehicle and check all the lights before you start. Pedestrians and other drivers may not see you easily in the night and you may not see them easily (especially if pedestrians are not wearing bright clothing or lights are off on other vehicles), so it is imperative you have your lights on.

However, you must not have your headlights on high beam, if you are 200 meters towards an oncoming vehicle or behind another vehicle. If you are being dazzled by an oncoming vehicle, slow down and prepare to stop if unable to see well.

When making the transition from a well-lit road to an unlit or badly-lit road, slow down and keep an eye out for pedestrians and other vehicles. The human eye takes time to adjust to the change from lit to unlit, so slowing down will give you more time to react to oncoming obstacles and conditions. Also, slow down when passing places with crowd and parked vehicles. In any case, maintain a slower speed than you would employ driving during the daytime. Drive with extra caution when driving at night, and do not drive at all if you are feeling tired or sleepy: First get some rest for at least a couple of hours wherever you are and then start again.

Finally, remember to keep a four second gap. This is where you, as the following vehicle, pass a landmark 4 seconds after the vehicle in front – this can be measured by counting one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, and one thousand and four. If you passed the mark before you finished counting, you are driving too close/fast. Slow down and increase the gap. This will help you be safe on the road given the low lights.

Come to our driving schools in Manly and learn from the best instructors for a comfortable drive.

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