Take a cursory look

Having learnt to drive in the country (rural Victoria), I learnt pretty quickly there were more things to look out for than just other traffic. Country drivers have a few other obstacles to lookout for when taking to the road. Adjusting to different road conditions, be it narrow bitumen roads, dirt roads, icy conditions or even snow help to sharpen your skills when behind the wheel; not to mention things jumping out from the side of the road such as kangaroos or deer, or seeing sheep and cows who have found greener pastures over the fence. These things and more have helped me to stay focused on the road and definitely better prepared me for city driving, where we have different obstacles.

One of the things that I have never taken for granted is the traffic light. I’ve had a few experiences where even though I’ve had a green light in my direction, a car coming from the left or right has missed the signal to stop. This has made me more cautious in approaching traffic lights, roundabouts, stop and give way intersections. As part of your defensive driving awareness, it always pays to have a cursory look (left and right) as you approach the intersection, even if you have right of way. #staysafeontheroad #lifeontheroad