12 tips for learner drivers on the road

Becoming a better, safer driver is easier than you might think. These driving techniques can help you stay safe, avoid accidents and make the road a better place for you and fellow motorists:

1. Avoid distractions

When driving, distractions are everywhere. Your phone is the biggest distraction, so make sure you put it away when you are driving— even if it’s just down the road.

2. Plan ahead

Planning ahead will save you the trouble of potential speeding tickets and unnecessary wrecks or scares.

3. Keep to the speed limit

Speeding is not only dangerous, but it also makes you a hazard for other motorists on the road. Driving is not a race, it is a means of getting from point A to point B. Sticking to the speed limit will ensure that you get to your destination as safely as possible.

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4. Control the rage

Characters of drivers differ and there may be times when you get annoyed by their actions.  Do not let them get under your skin. If you get cut off in traffic, take a few deep breaths, keep your cool and keep driving safely.

5. Wear your seat belt

While wearing your seat belt may not make you a driving better, it is one of the best safe driving tips because it helps to prevent serious injury from occurring if you are involved in an accident. There is a reason all cars come equipped with seat belts, and wearing one is as easy as “grab and click.”

6. Adjust your mirrors

As soon as you climb into your car, it’s important to make sure your side and rear view mirrors are in the proper position so that you can see your blind spots. This will drastically increase your vision on the road and substantially reduce the chance of getting into an accident because you ‘didn’t’ see another vehicle

7. Leave some space

Leaving adequate space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you is especially important if you are driving in rainy weather. If the roads are wet, it could take twice as long to stop as it would in dry conditions.

8. Watch out for other drivers

Paying attention to the flow of traffic will help you spot slowdowns or complete stops ahead, giving you time to break and prepare to slow or stop. Watching out for other drivers is one of the best defensive driving tips and techniques.

9. How do I make a booking for a learner’s licence

You can only book online by going to the website

Once there:

• Register your profile.
• Make a booking at a centre where you’d like to be tested.
• You must pay for your booking at the testing station at which the pre-booking was made.
• Payment must be made within three days of making the pre-booking.
• You can do the eye test on the day of the payment at the DLTC, or visit a qualified optometrist where a certificate will be issued that will be acceptable at the testing station.
• If the date and time you would like is not available, it could be that it has been already allocated as the system is live, or the testing station is fully booked at that time.  You can either wait until booking timeslots become available or try a different testing station.

10. How do I obtain a Learner’s Licence?

Before you can obtain a valid driver’s licence, you need to first get a learner’s licence. Bookings are made through the online system and when visiting the centre you need:

• proof of identity, preferably a South African Identity Document (ID),
• take your booking receipt,

• two black and white ID photographs,
• booking fee,
• completed LL1 form, available from DLTC,
• to have an eye test,
• to pass a multiple choice theory examination. The test focuses on vehicle controls, rules of the road and traffic signs.

11. What types of learner licences are there?

There are three types of learner licenses:

• Code 1 caters for motorcycles,
• Code 2covers vehicles including minibuses, buses and goods vehicles weighing less than 3500kg,
• Code 3is for all vehicles (except motorcycles) weighing more than 3 500kg.

NOTE: Code 2 and 3 learner drivers must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver at all times while driving.

12. How do I obtain a driver’s licence?

Once you have your learner’s licence, you can apply for your driver’s licence at your nearest DLTC. Here’s what you need:

• Your Identity Document (ID),
• Valid learner’s licence,
• Completes DL1 form, available from the DLTC,
• Two black and white ID photographs,
• the prescribed fee,

The K53 method requires you to pass a driving test that incorporates a yard test (parking manoeuvres) and a road test. If you pass the driving test, you will be issued with a temporary driver’s licence which is replaced with a permanent one within six months.

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