Defensive Driving (Techniques, Road Courtesy & Safety)
Defensive driving is often defined as preventing crashes before they occur, it is the demonstration of
an attitude, awareness and driving skills such as:
Stay alert and keep eyes moving so that you can keep track of what is happening at all times;
Look for trouble spots developing around you;
Have a plan of action if the other driver does the wrong thing; and
Know that the law requires drivers to protect each other from their own mistakes.
A Defensive Driver must:
Be able to keep a safe driving record.
Have a positive attitude on road safety.
Be physically and mentally fit to drive.
Have received proper training before driving.
Factors that Affect Driving
1. ATTITUDE
A defensive driver must develop and demonstrate an attitude that:
Shows concern for other road users;
Recognizes that other road users will make mistakes;
Knows no journey is so urgent that a safe speed can be maintained;
Driving is a skill which requires the application of good techniques; and;
Believes that safe driving requires an alert mind at all times.
2. BEHAVIOR
An ideal defensive driver:
Always clean the seatbelts;
Keeps within the advisory speed limit;
Constantly scans the road for potential hazard;
Signals his intentions at all times and;
Shows courtesy at all times.
The factors affecting the behavior of the driver are the following: alcohol, drugs, and fatigue.
3. RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE
A defensive driver always maintain a safe caution of distance in front and behind his vehicles by: a)
observing the four-second rule b) adopting a positive and skilled mental approach.
Search – the road seen ahead, around and rear of the vehicles
Identity – the potential and immediate hazard on the road
Predict – the actions of other road users
Decide – what to do to avoid an unsafe situation
Keys to Effective Defensive Driving
1. CONCENTRATION
Standard of vision, hearing and health all have a bearing on the amount of concentration.
The driver must adjust the speed of his vehicle on the degree of concentration he is able to apply.
2. DRIVING PLANS AND DECISIONS
Driving plans should be made on the correct assessment of the changing scene both ahead or to the
rear of the vehicle.
Driving plans should enable the driver to make decisions in a methodical manner.
Plans and decisions are combination of what can be seen, what cannot be seen circumstances which
are expected to rise, allowances for the mistakes of other road users.
3. VIEW FROM THE VEHICLE
The driver must aim to have the best possible view of the area around the vehicle
Windows and windshield must be clean.
Washers and wipers should be functioning.
Mirrors are properly adjusted at the start of the journey.
4. VISIONS AFFECTED BY SPEED
The driver must adjust the length and the depth of his vision according to the speed trail.
Focus further ahead as his speed increases.
Road and traffic conditions will govern speed.
Mirrors are properly adjusted at the start of the journey.
5. VISIONS AFFECTED BY FATIGUE
Continuous driving for long periods will cause fatigue which will result in eye strain.
Recognition and assessment of dangerous situations will become late and inaccurate.
Making it essential to have period of rest.
6. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Fog, rain, fading daylight or bright sunshine will reduce visibility so speed must be kept low.
7. ROAD SURFACE
A good driver is one that looks ahead and recognizes any change in the road surface.
Keep a steady speed on open roads. Slow down smoothly. Press the gas pedal lightly. Starting up
slowly give other drivers and people walking a chance to see what you are doing. They can then judge
how to react. When you have reached the speed you want, glance at the speedometer.
DRIVING TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY
Keys to Safe Driving
Good vision, look with your eyes but see with your mind.
Obeying traffic rules and regulations.
Proper care of your car.
Be courteous to other road users.
Proper signaling. Failure to signal is dangerous and inconsiderate.
Physical fitness. Let someone else take the wheel if you are not physically and mentally alert.
Proper Use of Brakes
A good driver uses his brakes. An experienced driver is able to make without using his brakes a
great deal and yet be perfectly safe, as compared to the less experienced one who keeps on banging at
his brakes every now and then. Skidding is cause by sudden hard and violent braking as the weight of
the vehicle is thrown forward and downward thereby subjecting the front suspension to a force greatly in
excess of what is normal. Steering therefore becomes unwieldy and because the weight at the back is
suddenly transferred to the front, road holding by the rear tires is greatly reduced - hence sliding and
skidding. A good driver should therefore be able to anticipate stops by intelligently reading the road and
be able to apply progressive light braking and have control of the vehicle at all times, smoothly stopping
before any potential hazard with ease.
Steering
In order to be able to have control of the car, the driver must be sitting in the correct comfortable
position in relation to his size.
When turning, hand in the direction you are going should pull down; the other hand allowing the
wheel to pass through it, if necessary, the other hand can help by pushing the wheel upward.
When transferring from one lane to another, or when pulling in after overtaking, the turn should be
gradual and never a sudden swerve which may result in skidding.
A firm, not a tight, grip on the wheel is all that is needed. Never grip tightly on a greasy road.
Do not move the wheel to and from while driving; a firm straight steer is better.
Both elbows should be free from obstruction. Never rest eh left elbow on the window frame while
driving.
Never drive off without first having made sure that the seat, mirror, doors windows, etc., are properly
adjusted.
Gear Changing
Avoid over-reviving in lower gears- a direct cause of over-hearing, engine wear and high fuel
consumption. Do not put unnecessary load on your engine by not changing to lower gear when
necessary. Change gear before a potential hazard.
