We all like to think we’re pretty good drivers, but there can always be little blind spots in our knowledge base. It’s important to recognise these when we can. After all, how could we then teach others to drive in a comprehensive fashion?
This is the message being sent out by the keys2drive campaign, as it celebrates its 400,000th lesson.
“We all need to learn how to be safe drivers and we all need to be diligent drivers at all times,” said Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in a January 22 media release. But what in particular does this course do, and are there tangible benefits?
Studying up on the basics of driving through a course could be a great idea.Protecting the family
One of the great things about getting a vehicle through a novated lease is that even though this arrangement is with your employer, you aren’t buying a work car. With a novated lease, you’ve got a vehicle for your own personal use – which might include use by your kids.
When young drivers get their P plates, their risk of crashing increases by 3,000 per cent.
Mr McCormack noted that safe driving habits start young, which is why programs like keys2drive were so important. In fact, he claimed that when young drivers get their P plates, their risk of crashing increases by 3,000 per cent.
A program to teach basic safety could be just the ticket to ensuring drivers and vehicles alike stay intact on the road.
Does it produce results?
The University of New South Wales conducted a study in 2013 of the keys2drive program, reviewing its effectiveness. It found that participants in the programme were less likely to report crashes (as either a learner or a provisional driver), and they were also deemed less likely to break the rules of the road.
Of course, risks still remained – even the keys2drive course couldn’t eliminate distracting habits like listening to very loud music while driving or using a vehicle after drinking any alcohol at all. These are habits that need to be removed at a core level, to minimise road risks in general.
Overall though, the UNSW report found that the course exacted positive change. When you’ve got a family vehicle, through a novated lease or not, it’s important to make sure that anyone who uses it knows every aspect of the road. Additionally, insurance should cover anyone driving the vehicle.
With a novated lease, you get flexibility and insurance options that can be tailored for your exact situation. Contact Alliance Leasing to find out more.
