I watched these videos when learning to drive and this one actually saved my life. I had to run my car completely off the road to avoid being hit head on! I hope many others watch this because it will certainly save many lives

Thank you for providing this life saving tips in dodging a bullet! you have saved my life and many other lives!

Hot vinyl seats, no air conditioning and lamb chops. What a time it was to be alive! Seriously though, these films are just as relevent in these days of distraction.

It's amazing just how subdued these 1970s Australian road safety films are compared to the ones here in North America during the same time period like "Highways of Agony" or especially "Death on the Highway". The latter actually went so far as to highlight the gory parts of the crash photos by applying a bright red filter to them!

Some very grim wreckage in these films - almost certainly all fatal. I once knew a bloke who tried to avoid a dozing driver on the wrong side by swerving to the RIGHT...the sleeper awoke, corrected his course and BAM! Both survived, with bad injuries and questions from the cops...the guy in the EH Holden (right swerve) ended up with brain damage. The sleepy one broke bones and ended up with legal issues stemming from drugs in his system. Sound the horn. Apply the brakes. Escape to the LEFT.

@Seattlecarnut Yes quite a few we will be posting - don't drive until you have studied them all!

Very very good videos.

These old films are more easier to understand than the modern documentaries.

The technique talked about from about 6:45 to 'straighten out the curve' is more commonly known as the racing line and is not the safest option at highway speeds. It will allow maximum speed through the curve by reducing the sharpness of the curve (and therefore g-force) but this is not sensible for driving on public roads - you shouldn't be driving in a way where your tyres are about to let go. A safer technique is to drive for maximum forward visibility around curves so you can see hazards earlier. On left curves move towards the centre line but do not cross it, stay there for the curve. On right curves, move towards the left side of the lane and stay there. In both cases maximum visibility is yours.

One important thing i learned from russian dash cam videos. When a driver attempts to overtake a vehicle next to him and fails (next vehicle drives too fast or his car is unable to speed up in a reasonable amount of time or just overestimation of road situation), he often seeks safety on an opposite side of the road. Drivers from the oncoming traffic seeing that someone approaching fast attempt the same manouver and collision happens.

Awesome backing music!

@Seattlecarnut 8 more in this series so a steep learning curve coming up - remember you drive on the other side of the road over there so don't get too confused watching too many Australian road rules!

Congratulations. Glad we could help.

For a release in any other country apart from former uk colonies (except North America) or Japan, swap the right for left and the left for right, and mirror the video. This is because these countries mentioned above drive on the left, while all others drive on the right.

@Seattlecarnut Not sure if we will have a lot on snow driving skills but I will check. Because we do not have a large proportion of snow affected roads and traffic I suspect it could be an overlooked scenario. Just be careful!

I'm here only for the mutton chops.

@Conniptions886 Great thanks for the info. We don't always know this stuff ourselves.

Thanks doodroti1 it's part of a series so there will be more to come (2 uploaded so far)

4:38 - Is my shirt that bad? LOL

thanks ,you saved me on my bike in the park on the first situation

What about when there is nowhere to drive to the left? Like there are fences, trees, concrete walls?

This is a good video of how to avoid a head on collision. Has the techniques of 1973 stayed true to today or have they changed with the more advanced technology?

Reminds me of the numerous Russian car crash videos here on KZfaq in which people do NOT avoid head-on collisions. Some of the license plates in these films are black on yellow, and others are white on black.

Looks like modern dash cam footage. Besides age of the cars of course.

Mk2 cortinas toyota coronas all good stuff

Nice cars and fashion back then lol

Last two big tickets I paid was for defensive driving. I'd rather avoid a crash at any cost. Do whatever you need to avoid accident. Rules are made for us. We weren't made for them!!!

2:35 Tiger Woods... when he's sleepy from the codeine.

Any video on road makings

9 altogether. You can find them all at the uploader.

I've been involved in head-on collisions before.

If a single lane and no shoulder, Best way is to slow down and prepared for head on collision. Avoid not to be hit at the weakest part of the car like the passenger sides. Most fatal death happened when the car was hit at the side and violently started to roll and if the roof was smash, that is the end. In a head on collission with a reduced speed, a chance of surviving is more possible.

May I know which part of Australia was this video made?

Now the road danger are newcomers behind the wheel

and what happens when we escape to the left and into heaps of trees or telegraph poles

oooh yeah look at that body roll haahhahaha

7:12 Car is massively over the centre line. WTF.

On a two lane road, the next time you see an oncoming car touching the double yellow line, reach forward and point at the front tire of that car. The driver will think he has a flat....that is, until he realizes his own stupidity in driving so carelessly and recklessly. Unfortunately for most of these pumpkin heads this warning message will never sink in. Note: This should only be done on moderate speed-limit roadways.

An interesting view but I have to call bullshit on the point of impact. You don’t take your hands off the wheel in a head on collision, quite the opposite., I walked away with just a broken wrist, animal instinct takes over at the point of impact.