Category: Driving Tips

The future of driving is here, and it’s not what you think. The reality?

We’re going to be riding in fully automatic cars sooner than we think. With the push for a cleaner environment and more time on our hands, this new technology could change the world as we know it. In this article, I want to discuss some things that you should do now so your life isn’t turned upside down by these advances in technology!

Jockey wheels are a crucial part of a good quality trailer make sure you keep yours in good working order as you don’t want it cause a crash

As technology advances and capabilities to do things with less effort become more common, it’s inevitable that many of the things we do daily will become even easier and hands free. With the likes of Tesla creating their immaculate electric cars that have autopilot modes, it’s only so long before we will have cars driving themselves.

So a world full of cars that pilot themselves, what could this mean?

Well, for one it means less time wasted on traffic jams and also a much cleaner environment. It has been said that the air in Beijing is so bad because of pollution from cars driving around all day. The idea of having an automated vehicle would make this a thing of the past!

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Automatic cars are not just going to be taking over our highways, but they will have other uses too like warehouse vehicles being able to go up and down zig zag tracks with ease without crashing into any boxes or human beings who may get in their way.

Technology is advancing every day and by 2030 we could very well see more than 50% off road accidents caused by humans eliminated because there was no driver at the wheel.

The technology and money invested into robots making them become more ‘human’ is excelling each year, currently in the US there are robots used in fast food restaurant chains to flip burgers. Many tasks that require a human to do are in fact replicable, especially ones that are simply a repetitive labour task and not so much thinking. We will see this in no doubt in modes of transport sooner than you could imagine, and it’ll be a huge change for society.

Does this mean manually driving cars won’t exist at all?

No, but it will be a much smaller niche market.

Ever since the first car was invented there have been debates about how and why to drive them manually or use automatic cars. The reality is that driving an automatic car can save you money on gas as they are more fuel efficient than manual ones depending on your style of driving (getting better over time), plus most people don’t know how to change gears in manual anyway!

So it doesn’t meant the end of manual driving for us petrol heads, and rightly so. Driving a car can be fun in circumstances, especially if its a nice sports car. But the whole point of this isn’t to stop humans from enjoying their time driving or simply to just convert to a robot world, its for safety. Majority of crashes are caused due to human error, whether it be loss of vision, falling asleep at the wheel, lack of reaction time, these are all things that could cause someone to crash or put them off driving.

Having auto pilot cars means that these people still have the opportunity to drive to places and not be restricted to public transport or simply just having to get others to do the chores for them. It’s about creating safer roads and opportunities for everybody.

Whether you like driving or not, the future is going to be filled with autonomous cars and we need to start planning for it now. This article provides a helpful overview of what needs to happen before companies can deploy fully automated vehicles on public roads so that society has time prepare itself for this new reality. The first step in preparing yourself is understanding how autopilot technology will affect your day-to-day life as well as the lives of those around you.

Make sure to stay safe when driving and to also stay alert, if the unexpected happens and tragedy strikes make sure you’re always prepared with a fire extinguisher

There are around half a million HG V drivers who have reported suffering from work-related anxiety and stress according to HS E. This number has been rising as the years go on. Around 30% of all self-reported work-related illnesses in the transport industry are the result of depression, anxiety and stress. The problem is that there is a stigma attached to mental health and 95% of workers who call in sick due to this will cite a different reason for the absence. Of the 22% of workers who have been diagnosed with a mental health problem, less than half have told their employers.

Why Is Mental Health Important?

Mental health was a very taboo subject and you could not talk about issues that you were struggling with. It was also seen as unseemly to admit to having mental health issues. This has changed and discussions about mental health are more common and have a more positive spin. However, without these positive conversations and care, the transport industry could lose a lot of qualified drivers who have taken their CPC test. There is also the fact that mental health issues have cost the UK transport industry around £100 billion. HG V drivers are faced with a lot of songstress that could cause mental health problems.

There are the long working hours, tight deadlines, traffic, night shifts and the mental as well as physical fatigue that comes with the job. The lack of ability to exercise will also play a role as exercise is one of the natural anti-depressants available to us. All of these factors combined will create a stressful and difficult working environment. It is also important to note that gender does play a role. Statistically, men will be less likely to talk about their mental health problems when compared to women. This is the case in most industries, but it is more prevalent in transport. This creates a sense of isolation which will cause conditions such as depression to worsen when they are not treated.

Loneliness

The most prevalent of the mental health issues reported by HG V drivers is loneliness and this is not very surprising. Drivers are generally away from home and their families for prolonged periods of time and this separation will take a toll on them. A lot of drivers also report that they feel they do not have a personal life and that seeing their families only for short periods of time takes a toll on their mental well-being.

How Can You Help?

You might be wondering how you can ensure that your own mental health is being taken care of. Fortunately, there are some tips that you can use to help with this. The first is to talk about it and you will find that this can make more difference than you imagine. The saying that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is very true when it comes to this and talking about the problem can go a long way to resolving it. There is still a culture around mental health that means me in particular feel they should not talk about this. However, trying to solve mental health problems alone can make them worse.

If you are suffering, you should talk to your manager or a co-worker about what you are going through. You should also talk about what you need to get to a better mental place. You should also make the most of the time you have with your family. Depending on the driving that you take on, you may not be able to spend a lot of time with your family or as much as you would like. This is why you need to make the most of the little time you do have so your entire family can benefit from it. If you have children, it is important to note that they will often remember the quality of the time you spend with them and not the amount.

Distracted driving is one of the most serious issues on California roadways. Each year, thousands of people lose their lives because someone looked at their smartphone while behind the wheel. As you can see, texting while driving can not only lead to a Long Beach traffic ticket, it can also result in death and jail time for the perpetrator. This is why it is prudent for every driver in the state to be aware of California’s laws on the matter. That way you will never need a lawyer for cell phone ticket.

What Laws Are in Place?

Over the years, California has passed numerous laws regarding distracted driving. One of the earliest was the Handheld Wireless Telephone Law of 2008, which states that motorists cannot use any type of wireless, handheld device while operating a motor vehicle on a public road. This law did have exceptions. The law stated that someone who was at least 18 years of age could use a handless device, such as a speakerphone or Bluetooth.

Texting while driving became illegal in the state in 2009 with the Wireless Communications Device Law. This law states t hat drivers cannot text or respond to a text while behind the wheel. The law also relates to motorists who come from out-of-state. An exception to both of these laws is that motorists may use a smartphone during an emergency.

What Does the Law Do for Novice Drivers?

No teenager should ever have to ask, “Where is a traffic ticket lawyer near me?” That is why novice motorists cannot text or use a mobile device for any reason. That includes using a Bluetooth device. The only time novice drivers can use such a device is to get in touch with fire, police or medical authorities if an emergency is present.

What Does the Law State for CDL Holders?

The same rules are in place for motorists who hold a commercial driver’s license. Commercial drivers are not allowed to send texts or talk on the phone. However, commercial drivers are allowed to use a hands-free device.

What Are the Penalties for Distracted Driving?

The consequences for texting while driving vary depending on whether it is the driver’s first or subsequent offense. For the first and second offenses, drivers have to pay either $20 or $50 as a base fine. In the event of a conviction with a penalty assessment, those base fines can double or triple. Additionally, the infraction will go on the driver’s official record although he or she will not accumulate any points that go toward the suspension of a license.

Commercial drivers lose their ability to drive for 60 days after a second offense. They lose their licenses for 120 days after a third or future offenses. They may also need to pay a civil penalty fine of up to $2,750. Commercial drivers will accumulate points on their records for breaking the law.

There are many ways to avoid distracted driving. Motorists can turn off their smartphones before getting in the vehicle, and they can program their GPS or radio beforehand. In the event you do run into trouble with the law, get in touch with a distracted driving lawyer immediately.

Passing the driving test is a milestone in everyone’s life, and for some it comes earlier than others. There are people of all ages, from 17 to 70, who are preparing to take their driving test, and with that in mind, here are some tips on sourcing a competent driving instructor.

• Check out Their Pass Rate– The very best indicator of a driving instructor’s skills is their pass rate, and with the best driving lessons in Newton Abbot, your chances of passing couldn’t be better. Like many other professions, a driving instructor is a performance-based position, so avoid any driving school that doesn’t have a good pass rate.
• Cool, Calm & Collected– You would expect a driving instructor to be someone in control of their emotions, as getting upset when a student makes a mistake will do nothing for their confidence.
• Look for Positive Testimonials– Testimonials are a strong indication of a successful instructor, and if you search online for a driving school, look for one with glowing reports from previous students, who have passed, of course.
• Quality Cars– It isn’t just the instructor who needs to be of quality, the car you are going to learn in should be relatively new and a mid-range model.

If you have friends who have recently passed their driving test, as them how they felt about their instructor, and if it is all good news, your quest for the best driving instructor can end there.

If it’s time for you or one of your children to start driving, it’s important that they learn all of the proper techniques, safety requirements, and driving expectations from the beginning.

Enrolling in a reliable driving school will set you or your children up for success by giving them on-road practice in a controlled and safe environment. When you work with a reputable provider, you can expect all of the following from your classes:

• Skilled instructors
• Simple teaching methods
• Comprehensive training
• On-road practice
• Comfortable experience

Driving instructors know how stressful this can be for some individuals and they will strive to make the experience as comfortable as possible. The best driving school in Birmingham will work with you or your children at a reasonable pace and ensure that they get a quality learning experience.

Using Only Well-Maintained Vehicles

Your driving school only uses reliable vehicles for their training, and all of their vehicles have been maintained and inspected to ensure that there are no complications on the road. Not to mention, all vehicles are fully air conditioned and equipped with dual control.

Learn Manual or Automatic

You can also get training for either manual or automatic vehicles, so if you already know one, you can learn the other.

For either manual or automatic, you will find a handful of different courses to choose from, so you can pick the one that best represents the kind of learning experience you are after.

The hottest topic of discussion within the trucking industry in 2017 was easily the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate that went into effect in December. A few months into it, some of the discussions are still just as hot and heavy. But the fuss surrounding the mandate will fade over time. It will eventually be replaced by another rule that is not being talked about that much.

This rule might very well be the next ‘big rule’ that transforms the trucking industry. It is called the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule, and it will fundamentally alter how CDL training is offered in this country. When implemented, the final rule will affect CDL training offered at community colleges, private CDL schools, and even schools operated by motor carriers themselves.

Federal regulators say the rule is necessary in order to establish some sort of standardization for CDL training. Until 2006, there were no training standards whatsoever. Now, the standards are minimal. Federal rules require driver trainers to have at least two years of driving experience and meet any state requirements for training. Yet fewer than half of the states have any such requirements.

What the ELDT Rule Mandates

Transport Topics contributor and industry expert Laura MacMillan detail what the new ELDT rule entails in an excellent piece published in late February. The rule will affect both trainers and drivers to different extents, with most of the changes being felt by the trainers.

Beginning in 2020, any facility offering CDL training will have to meet minimum federal standards covering facilities, curriculum, and the trainers who offer instruction. Any facility not meeting the standards will not be able to legally operate. The standards are intended to accomplish a number of things:

• Prepare trainers to be effective at what they do
• Prepare drivers to safely operate commercial vehicles
• Force the development of comprehensive curriculum to train drivers effectively
• Eventually recruit and retain more drivers through better training and ongoing education.

MacMillan supports the rule as currently written. In her support, she cites European standards that go far and above what is required here. For example, CDL trainers in EU countries undergo a minimum of 145 hours of training designed to help them better perform in the classroom. These trainers are not learning the basics of driving and regulations – they already know those things. They are learning how to actually teach.

Those same trainers must undergo an eight-hour recertification course every two years to continue working as trainers. The European mindset is one of being better at training drivers by being better at training trainers. European regulators believe that well-trained trainers are better able to train future drivers in such a way as to positively affect retention rates.

There Will Be Opposition

By sometime next year it is expected that opposition to the ELDT mandate will begin to grow. As more drivers and motor carriers become aware of the mandate, they are likely to raise objections rooted in the idea that yet another mandate will just make the trucking industry more difficult to work in.

Meanwhile, companies that operate their own CDL schools – companies like C.R. England for example – will begin revamping their operations to bring them up to standards. They will start developing new curricula; they will begin looking at certifying their trainers; they will be implementing new training procedures at their schools.

If history is an indicator, opposition to the ELDT mandate will not prevent its implementation. By the end of the decade, CDL training is going to look a lot different in this country.

Car safety is just not a word – ‘to say, to listen and to let go’, it is necessary for every driver even the skilled ones to understand the basics of traffic safety time to time to save mishaps while on road. Car safety is a lot more than wearing a seatbelt or having your car equipped with safety seats. If you want to be safe on the road whether you’re going for a long trip or somewhere nearby, hold on to these car safety tips to keep yourself, other drivers and pedestrians as safe as possible it can be. Let’s check out these car safety tips:

• When you are on road, be alert and pay full attention to other drivers’ actions and don’t make assumptions that what the other driver is going to do or what they should do as per your thoughts.
• Make sure you are properly buckled up; wearing seat belt is the most basic and essential safety tip for drivers.
• There are two don’ts which every driver should follow – ‘Don’t drink and drive’ and ‘Don’t text and drive’.
• Be sure that your child safety seat is properly placed, it’s better to find a child safety seat inspection station near you, many cities have local inspection stations with trained technicians who can easily aid you with their services.
• Always keep the child booster seats in the trunk or clasp them securely when not in use, do remember that the unoccupied child booster seats can turn as a projectile in a car accident.
• Make sure that your car’s trunk or hatch are locked and protected while travelling or driving.
• When you are on a long drive, it is important to keep the car tools well equipped. One of the important tools to have in your car boot is tire pressure gauge. It is always good to check the tire pressure after 200 kilometre run. It protects tire life and also improves mileage and helps you in smooth driving.
• Keep out these three distractions out of your mind – first, taking your eyes off the road; second, taking hands off the wheel and third, taking your mind off from your ongoing thoughts, by doing this you can drive without any harm.
• Driving at night needs more alertness; make sure you are not tired or sleepy while driving, if you are sleepy better to hold on and to take rest.
• Always turn on the headlights at night while driving, and turn off during daylight, unless it is mandatory in your country.
• Before taking any long trip, make sure that your car is thoroughly serviced. Don’t forget to check that your fuel tank is full, tires have plenty of air, and the car’s exterior lights are functional.

These are some handy tips which are not so tough to follow, if you drive with these safety tips, you can not only save yourself in fact you can save numbers of life. It’s our duty towards us and the others who are on the road – to drive safe and let other drive safely. You are sharing the road with others so remember that you are not the only driver on the road there are others too. This is an important road safety tip that everyone should follow – share the road with others civilly.

This type of licence allows a person to drive a rigid heavy vehicle with 3 or more axles, and a gross weight of over 8,000kg and tow a trailer that does not exceed 9,000kg. In order to apply for such a licence, the applicant must have one of the following:

• A car (Class C) licence for at least 2 years.
• A light rigid (LR Class) heavy vehicle licence for at least one year.
• A medium rigid (MR Class) heavy vehicle licence for at least one year.

Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

If you meet the criteria and pass an eyesight test, you can learn to drive a HR class vehicle with a registered training organisation, and if you want to obtain a HR licence in Melbourne, there is an RTO locally where you can take the one day course. Should you pass the course, the training organisation will issue you with the correct endorsement and you can move on to actually take the HR test.

The Heavy Rigid Test

This consists of three separate sections, which are as follows:

1. On Road Driving Test
2. Off Road Reversing and Load Securing
3. Theory Test (Based on Victorian Bus & Truck Handbook

This series of tests will be conducted by the RTO after the initial training, and should the applicant be successful, their licence application will be endorsed by the RTO.

Training Course Details

The course typically takes 6 hours to complete, and it covers the following areas:

• Road laws and regulations
• On road practical driving
• Vehicle control
• Reversing skills
• Load securing – Using straps, chains and rope
• Defensive Driving instruction

Ideally, the RTO would provide the learner with one on one tuition, where there is an instructor in the vehicle with the learner, as this is the best way to learn. Some schools will sit 4 or 5 students in the vehicle, and while this might help to orientate the learner driver, there is nothing to compare with actually driving, so, if you are thinking of applying for this licence, look for a school that will give you a one on one learning environment.

Automatic Gearbox Licence

Most modern trucks have an automatic gearbox, therefore you are well advised to apply for the licence that applies to automatic transmission, although you can take the test with a synchromesh manual gear change facility, should you think you might encounter the older type of truck. If you would like to know more about the details of applying for such a licence, an online search would give you the website of the State department where you are located, and they would furnish you with the relevant information.

When searching for a registered training organisation, it pays to select one with a high pass rate, and also a school that emphasises one on one, in truck tuition, which is the only way to learn. If you have any trouble locating a suitable training organisation, an online search will certainly help.

There are times when driving yourself is not going to be practical. In this case, you should think about hiring your own personal chauffeur.

The chauffeur is going to be fully vetted by the company that is employing them. They will have a valid license that does not have any penalty points at all. This is going to put your mind at ease when you are picked up.

The chauffeur hire in Melbourne will be able to supply drivers who will pick you up and then drop you off at the times that have been specified. You will be able to keep in contact with the chauffeur. They can take you safely back home at the end of the day.

You can hire a personal chauffeur for a wide variety of different reasons.

You Are Hoping To Make An Impression On A Client

You may be collecting an important client from the local airport. You need to make a strong impression, so you might decide that you are going to hire a chauffeur. This chauffeur is going to meet the client at the airport and then they are going to be transported to your business premises.

The same firm can be hired whenever you need to make a good impression on a client.

You Are Going To A Party

You will not want to drive when you are going to go to a party where you will consume alcohol. The chauffeur is going to be able to pick you up at the end of the night and you will be driven home safely. This could be one of the most sensible decisions that you ever make.

You Want To Take A Tour Of A New City

You may be travelling and you have arrived in a new city. You will not want to use expensive taxis or public transportation that you are unfamiliar with, so you need to think about using a chauffeur. The driver is going to be able to take you to all the famous spots in a particular city.

You Want To Give Up Driving For Yourself

You may no longer feel safe driving for yourself. This means that you can hire a chauffeur. They can be used to take you to different locations. After you have hired a chauffeur for a short term, you might decide that you are going to employ a private chauffeur on a full-time basis.

The Qualities Of The Chauffeur

• The chauffeur is going to drive safely.
• The chauffeur is going to be able to answer your questions knowledgeably.
• The chauffeur is going to be able to drive you safely in all conditions.
• The cheffeur is going to be able to navigate around busy traffic.
• Your chauffeur is going to drive on a preferred route if you specify it to the company when the journey is being booked.

Summary

A chauffeur is going to be able to transport you when you are going to a party or visiting a new city for the first time.