How Times Have Changed - Kids Today don’t know what they’re Missing!

If you grew up in the 1960s or 1970s it’s quite likely your family holidays involved a long car trip in the family station wagon, or Dad’s Datsun 180B. Only a lucky few went overseas for holidays. You may have gone interstate, but it would almost certainly be in the family car.

The most popular of the era being the Ford Falcon, Holden Kingswood, the good old Datsun (now Nissan) and the Toyota triplets; Corona, Corolla and Celica. 

Holden Kingswood wagon

We remember families chugging along the one-lane highway, often dragging a caravan along behind, avoiding potholes and hoping the overloaded car would make it up the next hill. (There’s nothing quite like breaking down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere on a 35-degree day!)

Ah those were the days!  Hours and hours of driving, with your thighs sticking to the vinyl, and the open window serving as air conditioning. No DVD players, iPods, no Bluetooth, no MacDonald’s.  You’d pass around the tin of barley sugar and entertain yourselves with lots of sing-a-longs, games of eye-spy while munching on squashed vegemite sandwiches.  

Kids usually sat on the bench seat in the back (with no seat belts required till sometime in the early 70s) and maybe one or two littlies squeezed in between Mum and Dad in front. If your aunty, uncle and cousins were coming along then the adults got the seats and the kids would lie down in the back of the station wagon lined up like sausages in a pan - often joined by the family dog. And heaven help you if you got carsick! 

With air-conditioning, smartphones and frappes at civilised rest stops during modern family car trips, kids today just don’t what they’re missing!

Tips for Instructing a Learner Driver

Do you have what it Takes?

It can be almost as nerve-wracking teaching someone to drive as it is learning to drive yourself.  To help both you and your learner driver we have listed what the legal requirements are, as well as some tips for making the experience as smooth as possible.

The essentials you need as a supervisor:

·                  A current full Australian driver licence 

·                  A good understanding of the road rules

·                  Be a competent driver

·                  Can effectively communicate information and ideas clearly

·                  Have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of under 0.05

·                  Learner Driver Log Book – use this to record the student’s progress

Prepare yourself before you begin instruction

-       Read the latest edition of the Road Users Handbook and remind yourself of the rules of the road. Remember, things may have changed a lot since you learned to drive! http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/publications/tasmanian_road_rules

-       Review how you are driving – you are after all a role model for your student. Make sure you are driving safely, obeying all the rules of the road, checking blind spots, and behaving respectfully towards other drivers.

Tips for when you are supervising:

-       If either your student or yourself are tired or stressed reschedule your lesson.

-       Begin with very short and frequent sessions on quiet streets.

-       Start teaching the easiest tasks first and only move onto harder ones once your student has mastered them.

-       Get into the driver’s seat and show your student how to do something before asking them to do it.

-       Both you and your student should discuss what’s happening on the road and what they should during the lesson.

-       Stay calm and positive – don’t criticise mistakes but explain what went wrong and ask them to try again.

-       Always give praise, even when your student is trying hard but may not necessarily have mastered a particular task.

Keeping Pets Safe in Cars

Travelling with pets in your vehicle is sometimes a necessity. Whether it’s to the vet, the park or on a long haul journey, keeping them and you safe is of utmost importance. Failing to restrain animals properly is illegal and can cause an accident involving harm to your pet, yourself, your passengers, bystanders and your car. By taking these precautions you can help keep everyone safe.

Travelling with dogs

·      Prior to travel - Just like a child, ensure your dog is fed and has been to the bathroom. Keeping them calm and making sure their immediate needs are met before you leave will allow them to settle easier in the car. A little exercise beforehand is a good idea too, so that your dog is happy to have a rest once inside your car.

·      Restraints - It is mandatory in all states of Australia to have your dog properly restrained so they cannot interfere with your concentration while driving. No matter how small, a dog sitting on your lap is a big no-no! Dog restraints can be purchased from pet stores and tethered to the back seat belts or onto the back of your utility tray. If your dog is small enough for a pet carrier, it must be kept secure behind a cargo barrier in the rear of your wagon or with a seatbelt around it. Pet carriers can become lethal weapons in an accident if left unrestrained.

·      Water and food - Be sure to take a small container of water and some snacks for your dog, particularly on a long trip. Becoming dehydrated or hungry may upset your dog and see them become anxious during travel. Taking a rest break for some exercise and food is also a good idea on an extended journey, helping your dog to resettle and remain calm throughout.

Travelling with cats and other small pets

·      Apply these tips to cats and other small animals when travelling too. The main thing to remember about these types of animals is they cannot sit in a restraint as dogs can. Instead, they must be transported in an animal carrier, properly secured behind the cargo barrier or with a seatbelt. Cats and smaller animals love to hide, so if they are let out of the carrier they can easily upset your concentration and get into unsafe places such as behind the steering wheel or under the pedals. Very dangerous!

Happy travelling!

A safe way for small dogs

Better for the larger dogs!