Carrying loads on a car, motorbike or trailer
Loading a car Roof racks If you can’t fit a load in your car, the safest ways are either to have a roof rack with a custom mounted box, or to use a trailer. When not carrying a load on…
Car Resources
Should you buy a petrol or diesel car?
If you are choosing a new car or your first car your main choices (unless you really want to go all-electric) are petrol (including petrol-hybrid) or diesel. Let’s assume you’re not heading down the hybrid route at the moment and…
Car seat rules: child safety and booster seats
Children aged 0-6 must be properly restrained by an approved child restraint and must not travel in the car if you can’t put them in an approved child restraint. Children aged 7 must use a child restraint if available. If there’s…
Joining the Institute of Advanced Motorists NZ: tips for passing your test
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is a UK-based organisation, founded in 1956, which developed an advanced driving framework from the police driving manual. It is also in operation in other countries such as Australia and New Zealand. While it has…
Driving and riding in strong winds
Whether you drive a car, truck or bus, or ride a motorbike, heavy winds can cause a lot of extra danger. This article explains the hazards you could experience during and immediately after heavy winds, and their effects on other…
How to adjust your wing mirrors correctly
Adjusting your wing mirrors correctly is very easy once you know what to do. Both your left and right mirrors should be adjusted so that you can see the maximum amount of the lane to the side of you as…
Is it dangerous and distracting to listen to music in the car?
The car is where many people listen to the majority of their music, and our cars are becoming ever more connected. Some cars, like later model Holdens with MyLink, will interface directly with Pandora and Stitcher music apps so you…
How distracting is talking on a mobile phone when driving?
It’s well known that we’re not supposed to drive while using a hand-held mobile phone to talk or send an SMS, but you can drive while talking on a hands free kit. But what about driving using a hands-free phone…
Guide to driving in hot weather
The Road Code contains nothing about driving in hot weather, only a small section on driving in bad conditions (fog, heavy rain, etc). However, hot weather can be as treacherous. This article explains all the risks of driving in hot…
Overhauling the driver licensing system
It was announced by the Transport Minister, Craig Foss, that the driver licensing system will be overhauled to try to make it simpler (read: less costly to run). This is partly because the current price of obtaining a driving licence…
Effects of dehydration on driving
Now we’re starting to get into the warm weather you are more likely to be travelling places either on holiday or for day trips, and you will be losing water from your body more rapidly. If you don’t replace your…
Career opportunities in driving
If you love the idea of driving for a living, or having an occupation that involves a lot of driving, this article explains what career choices you can make. Car Delivering goods Courier – deliver parcels and goods usually in…
Commentary drives: what are they and how can it improve your driving?
If you are just learning to drive you might be feeling inundated with everything you have to take in – road signs, other vehicles, lane markings and more. Once you’ve been driving a while, trying a commentary drive can take…
10 ways to improve your fuel economy
If you need to save some money, looking at how and what you drive can help. Most of us don’t drive in the most fuel economical way, but we look to try to buy a more fuel economical car to…
Driving after taking medicine
At some point in your life you will take some medication. It might be for a headache or to alleviate the symptoms of a cold or virus, or it might be for something like high blood pressure. Certain types of…
Smoking while driving – physical and physiological dangers and risks
What happens when you smoke and drive? The physical process of smoking The act of taking a cigarette out of the packet, finding your lighter and coordinating your hand or hands to light the cigarette means you are likely to…
Why you should get your driving licence before you do your OE
Many people do an OE, or overseas experience either after leaving school or leaving university. The majority go to the UK or Australia. To make yourself more employable before you get there, having your driver’s licence all sorted out is…
New driver licence format changes
If you have a car (class 1) or motorbike (class 6) licence there are new time limits being introduced from 1 December 2014 and a newly designed licence. The class 1 and class 6 learner and restricted licences will be…
Using a life coach to help you pass your driving test
If you’ve been struggling to find the motivation or confidence to go for your driving licence, or you have fears and phobias about driving, perhaps a life coach can help you. Having a driving licence will give you added mobility…
Using hypnotherapy to help you pass your driving test
There are a few techniques and therapies you can use to give you more chance of passing your driving test and in this article we cover hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy can be used to improve your confidence, reduce nervousness, improve your spatial…
Vehicle and workplace training
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