Night time and wet weather driving tips for beginners
Driving at night or when it's raining can be unpredictable. That's why it's important to be even more cautious than you would when it's sunny. You can do this by:
- making sure your lights are on (and working) – and make sure they're appropriate for the conditions.
- driving slower, especially when tackling corners.
- leaving more room between you and the car in front of you, in case you have to brake suddenly.
Long distance driving tips
Road trips can be fun! But if you haven't driven long distances before, here are a few safety tips.
Before your trip:
- Check your water, oil, and tyre pressure (hopefully your supervising driver can show you how to do this!).
- Make sure you have a spare tyre.
- Consider packing extra fuel and drinking water, especially if you'll be driving through the Australian countryside where there may be long distances between petrol stations.
- Plan your journey including rest stops and timing.
When you're on the road:
- Take a break and switch drivers every two hours, at least. Switch earlier if you get tired before that.
- Be flexible about your timing in case you're running behind. It's better to take a little longer to reach your destination and get there safely.
Why is it important to be a safe driver?
Aside from the obvious benefit of keeping yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe, there are some real benefits to being a safe driver. Many insurance providers look favourably on good driving track records and claim history which can influence your premium (how much you pay).
But the unexpected still happens to even the safest drivers – that's where car insurance can come in handy. Bingle covers learner drivers1 (people on their Ls or L plates). There just needs to be a listed driver in the car to avoid the unlisted driver excess.
Find out more about Learner driver insurance