CarAdvice Fuel Card Giveaway
February 3, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Picking the winner for the CarAdvice Fuel Card Giveaway this month was a particularly hard decision. We had a number of very constructive and well considered comments on a range of topics, but as always, there can be only one winner.
For his rather detailed but thoughtful comment regarding driver attitudes within our CarAdvice College article, Robert Williams has scored himself a $50 Fuel Card on us (read comment below).
Almost everyone here has made excellent points, though I’m not seeing much in the way of practical solutions.
The “this is what we should all do” speech isn’t working anymore – as personal opinion goes nowhere in the age of online forums have proven (ie: those that matter, the lawmakers, do not pay enough heed to them) and it’s principally a venting space for, well, all of us. There are two key words that apply here:
Driver & Attidue.
How is Driver Attitude relevant to improving… anything… that is wrong with our contemporary driver and road situation / problems?
It impacts upon everything.
- Courtesy to stay out of the right hand lane
- Allowing those that clearly indicate the space to merge
- Using our indicators as we wish to appear polite
- Clearly knowing our own abilities, and not feeling the need to see how far we can push them (the PRINCIPLE problem with younger – prominently male – drivers); a whole other kettle of fish!
- Not seeing the need to lane jump in heavy traffic / at stop lights / where there’s no room to do so.
- Increasing our awareness and perception of traffic conditions / car space / time of day – becoming more Switched On.
The list is long.
How is Driver Attitude Improved?
From the start, when a learner first gets in that automobile. With trained professionals, ideally placed as mandatory Advanced Driver Training (NOT the parents of the child. It can be the parents handing down the a) bad habits and b) bad attitude that is currently in existence).
Someone to teach them more than “how to parallel park” or “You will be penalized for going 3kmh over the limit”, but getting their Heads Right when behind the wheel.
But, yet again… this is just another internet rant. Very unfortunate. Regardless, it’s food for thought for everyone here.
From, Someone Who’s Been Young, Sped Lots, Drove Dangerously, Lost Licences, yet Come Out The Other Side With A Wiser, Better, Yet Unique Point Of View.
Congratulations Robert, please contact CarAdvice via the ‘Contact Us’ section to claim your prize.
To be in the running for the prize next month simply leave a comment on any article published between the first and last day of February with an active email address (as directed – will not be published) and at the end of each month the winner’s comment will be decided.
As comments will be moderated, please ensure your views abide by our Code of Conduct. Good luck!
Print it: 
I’m amazed that HSV didn’t win this, his insights into how crap every other vehicle in the world is compared to a HSV are great to read. :P
Is $50 the best we can do?
I for one, vote to have Roberts prize doubled, nay, tripled!
He’s summed up a lot of the behavioural issues on our roads. We fail to teach our drivers, young and old, about how to act on the roads. Mastering how a vehicle operates if far from a full training course.
I hope one day soon we’ll implement licencing systems more in keeping with the European models (expensive but exhaustive).
Cheers Robert.