Every day, most of us travel on the roads. But travelling on our roads can be very dangerous. That is why there are so many rules, signs and traffic lights – to make driving or riding your bike as safe as possible.
The most important rule is that you cannot drive a car without a driver’s licence.
It takes a long time and a lot of practice to become a safe driver. To become a safe driver, you must study the rules of the road and learn to drive a car. While you are doing this, you must have a qualified driver with you – like a parent – and the car must have an L-plate attached to both the front and the back. Before you are given your provisional licence, you must pass a driving test. Then you are allowed to drive by yourself, but you must always attach the P-plates to the car and for twelve months you cannot drive faster than 90 km/h.
New restrictions on passengers and curfews
After three years of safe driving, you can sit another test and gain your full licence. But this does not mean you can do anything you like. You are given 12 points on your licence, which you must try to keep by driving safely.
Breaking the road rules is a crime. The punishment depends on how serious the offence was and how many times you have done it before. You may be fined, lose some or all of the points on your licence, lose your licence or even to to jail.
What have we learnt?
Rules of the road are there to make the roads safe for everyone.
Breaking the road rules is a crime and you can be punished
Let’s explore
Have you ever been in the car when your mum or dad has been stopped by a police officer?
When cars were first invented, someone had to walk in front carrying a red flag to make sure that the car didn’t go too fast and to warn other people using the road. Why do you think this was so?
Why is speeding dangerous?
Why is it so dangerous to talk or text on a mobile phone while driving?
