Multi-combination theory course

KEEPING A MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN LONG VEHICLES (RULE 127):

The driver of a long vehicle must drive at least the required minimum distance behind another long vehicle travelling in front of the driver, unless the driver is:

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  Driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area; or
  

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  Overtaking.
  

Required minimum distance means:

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  For a long vehicle in a road train area – 200 metres; or
  
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  For a long vehicle in another area – 60 metres.
  

CRASHES - LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

A DRIVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH MUST:
1. Stop immediately.
2. Renders assistance to those injured.
3. Give names, and addresses of the driver and registered owner, and the registered number of the vehicle and any other information that could identify the vehicle to others involved in the crash or their representatives.

4. 
   Report the crash to Police as soon as possible, including details of weather and road conditions, positions and speeds of vehicles before and at the time of collision;
   

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  In any case, where special circumstances exist, within 24 hours;
  

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  If the required details are not given to the other driver for any reason;
  

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  If the vehicle is towed or carried away by another vehicle;
  

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  If a fair estimate of the cost of making good the damage to property is more than $3000.
  

5. Report the crash to Police within 90 minutes where a person is killed or injured.

6. As soon as possible, notify the 3rd party insurance company in writing if any person is injured or killed.

DRUGS AND DRIVING
It is an offence to drive under the influence of drugs in all States of Australia. The drug does not have to be illegal; it could be prescribed by a doctor. However, if it affects your driving ability, then it becomes an offence.

WHAT IS A DRUG?

A drug is any chemical compound, which when taken, affects the mood, performance or the state of being of the person.

Alcohol is a drug.

FACTS ON ALCOHOL:

Alcohol is a depressant drug. Its effects are varied and can depend on the amount that is consumed

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  Your age
  
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  Body size
  
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  Gender
  
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  Mood and emotional state
  
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  How tired you feel
  

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION

The level of alcohol in your blood can be measured. This measure is called BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration.

HOW IS BAC DETERMINED?

The BAC can be determined by analysing a sample of blood or by using a Breath Analysing Instrument (Breathalyser) to measure the level of alcohol in the breath.

The results are expressed as a ratio of alcohol (in grams) per volume 100 millilitres of blood.

In other words a BAC of 0.08 means that there is 0.08 of a gram of alcohol in each 100 millilitres of your blood.

DRUGS AND DRIVING (continued)

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON TRUCK DRIVERS:

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  Feeling light-headed.
  
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  Feelings of fatigue are noticed much earlier.
  
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  Being less alert, more relaxed and more likely to fall asleep.
  
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  False sense of confidence, making drivers more likely to take risks on the road.
  
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  Poor driving ability, e.g. slower to react and poor judgement.
  
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  Remember – even very low levels of alcohol in the blood can cause feelings of fatigue. Drivers need to be aware of this when they plan to have a drink before starting a shift.
  

ALCOHOL ABUSE CAUSES SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS:

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  High blood pressure.
  
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  High risk of stroke.
  
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  Ulcers, cancer of the mouth, throat and stomach.
  
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  Liver disease.
  
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  Depression.
  
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  Brain damage.
  

MEDICATION:
Certain medicines such as cough mixtures cold/flu and allergy medications can:

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  Cause drowsiness.
  
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  Impair senses.
  
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  Slow your responses, particularly while driving.
  

If you have taken any kind of medication, watch for the following signs before you start to drive:

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  Drowsiness.
  
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  Blurred vision.
  
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  Mood changes.
  
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  Strange feelings you don’t normally get.
  
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  Be sure to strictly follow any medical advice given to you.
  
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  Read and understand information about drowsiness, potential effects while driving and correct dosage. If this kind of information is not on the label, then it is your responsibility to ask the doctor or chemist.
  

DRUGS AND DRIVING (continued)

STIMULANT DRUG GROUPS:

Amphetamines, such as Methedrine or pep pills, have immediate effects of:

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  Excitement and feeling high.
  
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  Reduced fatigue.
  
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  Boosting of person’s confidence.
  

When stimulants wear off, depression and fatigue set in.
Cocaine is a mental and physical stimulant, commonly used as a drug to stay awake. It has the

immediate effect of appearing to reduce feelings of tiredness. As it wears off, the user becomes depressed and even more fatigued.

The effect of marijuana usually has two stages:

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  High feeling, followed by:
  
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  Being less alert and having a loss of judgement of time and space.
  

OFFENCES FOR PUBLIC PASSENGER AND HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERS (section 47 Road Traffic Act)
IT IS AN OFFENCE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA IF THE FOLLOWING DRIVERS DRIVE WITH ANY CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL IN THEIR BLOOD:

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  Vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 15 tonnes.
  

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  Prime movers with an unladen mass exceeding 4 tonnes.
  

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  Buses designed to carry more than 12 persons including the driver.
  

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  Mini-buses designed to carry 9 - 12 persons, including the driver, which are used for hire, business or community purposes.
  

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  Taxis and hire cars while carrying passengers for hire.
  

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  Vehicles used to transport dangerous substances within the meaning of the Dangerous Substances Act.
  

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  Persons who are driving under learner’s permit or probationary licence conditions.
  

MAIN ALCOHOL OFFENCES WHEN DRIVING:

1. 
   DUI. Driving Under the Influence
   
2. 
   BAC. Driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration
   
3. 
   Refuse a Breath Test.
   
4. 
   Refuse a Blood Test.
   

THE EYES




ABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

EYESIGHT
Of the five major senses the most important one when driving is sight. Vision is the main sense that we use. The four areas of the eye that we use are:

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  Peripheral Vision (180° with both eyes)
  
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  Colour Vision (60° - 70°) Recognition
  
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  Clear focal vision (2° – 3° for each eye)
  
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  Blind spot area
  

DEFINITION: A blind spot is an area in a driver’s visual field which is obstructed in such a way that the driver may be blind to potential danger from those areas unless the driver takes specific precautionary action to manage such potential danger.
TWO TYPES OF BLIND SPOTS ARE:

1. 
   This blind spot is from a small oval shaped area of the retina, where the optic nerve enters; in which vision is not experienced (i.e. there are no light-sensitive Cone or Rod cells in that part of the Retina to detect light).
   
2. 
   A place or area where vision is hidden or obscured such as behind the screen pillars or behind another vehicle or object outside the vehicle.
   

OBSERVATION

The ‘rods’ and ‘cones’ within the eye are nerve endings that receive the light images that translate those images and colours to the brain by way of the optic nerve.

RULES OF OBSERVATION
Knowing that the ability to see is the most important sense that we use in driving, researchers have nominated five “Rules of Observation” to provide a system of training the eyes and mind to consistently select the important details:

AIM HIGH IN STEERING:
Look well ahead when driving your vehicle. Steer the vehicle using your lower fringe vision. Look in the direction you want the vehicle to go especially in bends and corners.

GET THE BIG PICTURE:
By moving your eyes, you are able to check the far distance, the middle distance and the near distance directly in front. In addition, the mirror should be checked on average at least once every 8-10 seconds. This constant checking ensures that the driver is fully aware of everything that is occurring around the vehicle.

KEEP THE EYES MOVING:
Don’t fix your eyes on any single object for more than about 2 seconds. Keep moving your eyes from object to object; otherwise danger could threaten your vehicle from another source without you being aware of it.

LEAVE YOURSELF AN “OUT”:
When driving, always have a plan of escape should the traffic conditions change quickly. If a vehicle is tailgating, leave more space in front of your vehicle which reduces your braking requirements. Offset your vehicle where possible to the vehicle travelling alongside. This allows space for other vehicles to escape if they should swerve suddenly.

MAKE SURE OTHER ROAD USERS SEE YOU:
Look at the faces of other drivers to see if they are looking at you. Get eye contact with those other drivers. Use your signals early in plenty of time ensuring they are clearly understood. Position your vehicle in such a way to clearly show your intention. Where possible do not travel in the blind spot areas of other vehicles.
NIGHT DRIVING
Night driving is something that does not come naturally to humans. Unlike creatures such as bats and owls which are nocturnal, our eyes are designed to work with light and if there is none then we have to compromise by using artificial lights such as the headlights of the vehicle. During the day we can see all around us by turning the head and moving the eyes as there is light everywhere but at night we can only see where the headlights are pointing which is in front of us so we cannot see to the sides or behind us. We also become reliant on other drivers using their lights correctly.
Some simple rules for night driving are:

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  Do not out-drive your headlights. If, at the speed you are travelling, it takes 100 metres to stop and your lights are only showing you 80 metres ahead then you are going too fast.
  

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  Do not look directly at on-coming headlights, look to the left side of the road and if necessary, follow the edge line, slow down or stop if you cannot see. You can easily be ‘blinded’ by the lights and it will take several seconds to recover so keep your speed down until your eyes recover from the glare.
  

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  High beam must be dipped if an on-coming vehicle is within 200 metres. Consider dipping your headlights earlier if possible and safe. . Rule 219 states that “a driver must not use, or allow to be used, any light fitted to or in the driver’s vehicle to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle, another road user”
  

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  High beam must be dipped if driving behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction that is within 200 metres. Consider dipping your headlights earlier if possible and safe.
  

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  Keep your windscreen clean, both on the inside and outside and don’t forget the headlights.
  

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  Avoid using dark or tinted glasses at night as these cut down the available light to the eyes.
  

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  Stop and rest if you feel tired or drowsy, even a short break can be beneficial.
  

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  Avoid smoking – it depletes the brain of oxygen and reduces alertness.
  

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  Allow for reduction of night vision as you get older.
  

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  Avoid bright lights inside the cabin at night.
  

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  Ensure headlights are adjusted for load.