Utiling a mobile phone
when you are driving
is the same as being mid-range on an alcohol breath test
Guests today were Senior Constable Lynda Hart, a School Liaison Officer who was a wonderful support sharing information about some of the Learn to Drive programs available in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai area. We also had Louise Talbot who has worked for two MPs on the Legislative Council on and off for the past 25 years. Louise advised us on processes and understandings around voting. We had 2 students dropping in today - Angus and Jeremy both made appearances on the show in between their after school activities. All in all I hope you will find some very practical tips!!
Currently you get fined and get demerit points for anyone in your car
without a seat belt ...
you can lose your licence in one car ride if those in the car with you
don't buckle up
RYDA - This is a great one day program to encourage your school to be involved in - check out the link to their website here.
In their program they cover:
Getting behind the wheel of a car as a young driver or passenger is said to be amongst the most dangerous things a person will do in their entire life - RYDA Road Safety Education
PCYC - The Safer Drivers Course is a combined theoretical and practical course for under 25 year old learner drivers who have completed 50 hours of log book driving hours.
There are 2 modules included and both modules must be completed to receive the log book credits. The courses are rolled out through 44 locations across NSW. For more information click here.
Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers have a talk on strategies for teaching young drivers 4 times a year. It is a great presentation by Trent Driving School's Jeff McDougall for both students and their parents! The talk is free, held 4 times a year and bookings are essential. For more details click here - it is an old flyer but has current contact details.
In their program they cover:
- Speed and stopping
- Hazards and Distractions
- The personality Test
- Rights and Responsibilities
- After the Crash
- Genevieve's Story
Getting behind the wheel of a car as a young driver or passenger is said to be amongst the most dangerous things a person will do in their entire life - RYDA Road Safety Education
PCYC - The Safer Drivers Course is a combined theoretical and practical course for under 25 year old learner drivers who have completed 50 hours of log book driving hours.
There are 2 modules included and both modules must be completed to receive the log book credits. The courses are rolled out through 44 locations across NSW. For more information click here.
Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers have a talk on strategies for teaching young drivers 4 times a year. It is a great presentation by Trent Driving School's Jeff McDougall for both students and their parents! The talk is free, held 4 times a year and bookings are essential. For more details click here - it is an old flyer but has current contact details.
Top 5 Distractions when driving
- Mobile phones - talking and texting - NOT allowed on Learner or P1 licences even hands free.
- Adjusting vehicle settings - radio air conditioning, windows
- Passengers - the stats show more chance of causing a fatal crash when you have 2 or more friends in the car - especially male passengers
- Eating drinking and smoking
- External distractions
- Stop
- Supply other driver with details of driver and other car
- Call for an ambulance someone is injured
- If you don't feel comfortable with anything call the police
- Police do not need to be called unless there is suspicion of alcohol/drugs or if someone injured
- Take photos of the damage
- Get witness details if they are willing.
Tips from Testing Officers - Via Geared
You have to check out this blog on top tips from testing officers - they are all very practical and helpful tips which could meant he difference between you passing and failing. It is all about preparation and staying present.
You have to check out this blog on top tips from testing officers - they are all very practical and helpful tips which could meant he difference between you passing and failing. It is all about preparation and staying present.
Your driving test is for you to see if YOU are ready to drive unacompanied on the road as much as the instructor on behalf of other users of the road. See it as another learning experience and if you fail, then you know there is more to learn.
That is a life lesson just like learning to walk -
not a judgement on you as a person.
Voting - arghhhh what do I do??
Firstly - definitely get involved! I saw this quote from the UK that was slightly concerning!! 6 million people aged 18-34 voted in the UK elections and in 2009 10 million voted for their favourite singer on the X Factor!
f you are a first time voter then here are some good websites to check out. The first time at a poling station can be quite an overwhelming experience and it is worth taking some time to understand what the parties represent and who is standing before you head down to vote. If you are still not sure head to ABC vote compass here which can help you understand the policy and the party that you are best suited to. It also offers a more extended questionnaire should you wish to partake and the opportunity to take further interest in ABC Vote Compass research.
With regards what to take with you to vote...nothing comes in the post for you to take with you apparently...it seems you just turn up with your ID.
There are always people who stand outside polling stations to catch anyone who is unsure of who to vote for..every vote counts. You count.
This year, on 28th March 2015, the NSW electors will be voting for the 56th parliament.
Poling Stations
To find your closest poling station check out this link - don't forget to take loose change and go on an empty stomach so you can help the hosting schools take advantage of the fundraising opportunity. You may find on your way in that you get handed lots of flyers and people hoping to catch anyone not sure of who to vote for. I found this really intimidating the first few times I did it but now I understand that they are just passionate people wanting other people to be engaged I have understood why they are there and it bothers me so much less.
What you are voting for:
Legislative Assembly
The New South Wales Legislative Assembly consists of 93 Members of Parliament, who each represent an electoral district. Each electoral district has its own unique ballot paper. The method of voting for the Legislative Assembly is known as optional preferential.
The names of each candidate for that District and their political party affiliation are shown on the ballot paper. The order in which the candidates appear on the ballot paper is determined by a draw conducted by the Returning Officer for each electoral district.
To vote, you must put a number '1' in the square next to the candidate who is your first choice, that is, the person who you want to be elected. If you want, you can put a number '2' in the square next to your second choice, and a number '3' in the square next to your third choice and so on.
Examples of how to complete the form can be found here on the Vote NSW government website.
The Legislative Assembly are also known as the lower house and is where policy is first deliberated on and enacted.
For a list of the candidates for the Legislative Council check out this link
Legislative Council
The NSW Legislative Council consist of 42 members who represent the whole state in Parliament. At each state election 21 members are elected to serve 2 terms of parliament, that is, a maximum 8 years. The Legislative Council is also known as the upper house and is where the policy's go for review after they have been deliberated in the lower house. It is possible for the upper house to overthrow decisions made by the lower house.
The method of voting for the Legislative Council is known as proportional representation.
You can vote in 2 ways on this sheet - above the line and below the line. The squares above the line represent the groups of people listed below the line. You vote above the line if you are voting for a party and below the line if you are voting a particular person but once you start voting below the line you have to put a number by everyone below the line in order of preference.
Examples and videos of how to complete this form can be found here on the Vote NSW government website. The whole website has been very helpful writing this blog!
Finally a useful page about the 3 tiers of government can be found on the NSW election website but also on this link as an alternative.
Firstly - definitely get involved! I saw this quote from the UK that was slightly concerning!! 6 million people aged 18-34 voted in the UK elections and in 2009 10 million voted for their favourite singer on the X Factor!
f you are a first time voter then here are some good websites to check out. The first time at a poling station can be quite an overwhelming experience and it is worth taking some time to understand what the parties represent and who is standing before you head down to vote. If you are still not sure head to ABC vote compass here which can help you understand the policy and the party that you are best suited to. It also offers a more extended questionnaire should you wish to partake and the opportunity to take further interest in ABC Vote Compass research.
With regards what to take with you to vote...nothing comes in the post for you to take with you apparently...it seems you just turn up with your ID.
There are always people who stand outside polling stations to catch anyone who is unsure of who to vote for..every vote counts. You count.
This year, on 28th March 2015, the NSW electors will be voting for the 56th parliament.
Poling Stations
To find your closest poling station check out this link - don't forget to take loose change and go on an empty stomach so you can help the hosting schools take advantage of the fundraising opportunity. You may find on your way in that you get handed lots of flyers and people hoping to catch anyone not sure of who to vote for. I found this really intimidating the first few times I did it but now I understand that they are just passionate people wanting other people to be engaged I have understood why they are there and it bothers me so much less.
What you are voting for:
Legislative Assembly
The New South Wales Legislative Assembly consists of 93 Members of Parliament, who each represent an electoral district. Each electoral district has its own unique ballot paper. The method of voting for the Legislative Assembly is known as optional preferential.
The names of each candidate for that District and their political party affiliation are shown on the ballot paper. The order in which the candidates appear on the ballot paper is determined by a draw conducted by the Returning Officer for each electoral district.
To vote, you must put a number '1' in the square next to the candidate who is your first choice, that is, the person who you want to be elected. If you want, you can put a number '2' in the square next to your second choice, and a number '3' in the square next to your third choice and so on.
Examples of how to complete the form can be found here on the Vote NSW government website.
The Legislative Assembly are also known as the lower house and is where policy is first deliberated on and enacted.
For a list of the candidates for the Legislative Council check out this link
Legislative Council
The NSW Legislative Council consist of 42 members who represent the whole state in Parliament. At each state election 21 members are elected to serve 2 terms of parliament, that is, a maximum 8 years. The Legislative Council is also known as the upper house and is where the policy's go for review after they have been deliberated in the lower house. It is possible for the upper house to overthrow decisions made by the lower house.
The method of voting for the Legislative Council is known as proportional representation.
You can vote in 2 ways on this sheet - above the line and below the line. The squares above the line represent the groups of people listed below the line. You vote above the line if you are voting for a party and below the line if you are voting a particular person but once you start voting below the line you have to put a number by everyone below the line in order of preference.
Examples and videos of how to complete this form can be found here on the Vote NSW government website. The whole website has been very helpful writing this blog!
Finally a useful page about the 3 tiers of government can be found on the NSW election website but also on this link as an alternative.
I think the Government should spend its money on making every child in Australia be able to go to school and make sure everyone fits in, They should encourage children to include one another and organise programs to talk to schools about respecting one another and showing interest in them because you never know how nice someone could be until you dig a little deeper and discover. Matilda 11,NSW -Things That Matter Unicef report 2014
Resources
Rotary - RYDA Program
PCYC - Safer Drivers Course
Ku-ring-gai strategies for teaching young drivers
Information on Seatbelts
Centre for Road Safety
Geared - for the articles on Distraction and Top Tips from driving instructors
RMS - Geared Home Page
NSW State election website
ABC Vote Compass
ABC NSW election guide
Schools website for an overview of the different levels of government
UNICEF - Things That Matter Report 2014
Behind the Spin - Elections Need X Factor
PCYC - Safer Drivers Course
Ku-ring-gai strategies for teaching young drivers
Information on Seatbelts
Centre for Road Safety
Geared - for the articles on Distraction and Top Tips from driving instructors
RMS - Geared Home Page
NSW State election website
ABC Vote Compass
ABC NSW election guide
Schools website for an overview of the different levels of government
UNICEF - Things That Matter Report 2014
Behind the Spin - Elections Need X Factor
With thanks to Glorious Music for use of their music in my show and podcast. Check out their website here. Both tracks are from their dance albums below. tracks are called Groove Your Foundations and Down and Serious. Thanks also go to Triple H for giving me the space to have my show on their station!
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