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Defensive Driving (Techniques, Road Courtesy
& Safety)
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Defensive driving is often defined as preventing crashes before
they occur, it is the demonstration of an attitude, awareness and
driving skills such as:
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· Stay alert and keep eyes moving so that
you can keep track of what is happening at all times;
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· Look for trouble spots developing around
you;
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· Have a plan of action if the other driver
does the wrong thing; and
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· Know that the law requires drivers to protect
each other from their own mistakes.
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A Defensive Driver must:
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· Be able to keep a safe driving record.
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· Have a positive attitude on road safety.
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· Be physically and mentally fit to drive.
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· Have received proper training before driving.
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Factors that Affect Driving
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1. ATTITUDE
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A
defensive driver must develop and demonstrate an attitude that:
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· Shows concern for other road users;
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· Recognizes that other road users will
make mistakes;
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· Knows no journey is so urgent that a safe
speed can be maintained;
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· Driving is a skill which requires the
application of good techniques; and;
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· Believes that safe driving
requires an alert mind at all times.
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2. BEHAVIOR
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An
ideal defensive driver:
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· Always clean the seatbelts;
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· Keeps within the advisory speed limit;
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· Constantly scans the road for potential
hazard;
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· Signals his intentions at all times and;
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· Shows courtesy at all times.
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The
factors affecting the behavior of the driver are the following:
alcohol, drugs, and fatigue.
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3. RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE
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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.
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· Search – the road seen ahead,
around and rear of the vehicles
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· Identity – the potential and
immediate hazard on the road
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· Predict – the actions of other road
users
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· Decide – what to do to avoid an
unsafe situation
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Keys to Effective Defensive Driving
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1. CONCENTRATION
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· Standard of vision, hearing and
health all have a bearing on the amount of concentration.
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· The driver must adjust the speed of his
vehicle on the degree of concentration he is able to apply.
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2. DRIVING PLANS AND DECISIONS
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· Driving plans should be made on
the correct assessment of the changing scene both ahead or to the
rear of the vehicle.
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· Driving plans should enable the
driver to make decisions in a methodical manner.
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· 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.
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3. VIEW FROM THE VEHICLE
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· The driver must aim to have the best
possible view of the area around the vehicle
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· Windows and windshield must be
clean.
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· Washers and wipers should be
functioning.
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· Mirrors are properly adjusted
at the start of the journey.
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4. VISIONS AFFECTED BY SPEED
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· The driver must adjust the length and the
depth of his vision according to the speed trail.
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· Focus further ahead as his
speed increases.
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· Road and traffic conditions will govern
speed.
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· Mirrors are properly adjusted
at the start of the journey.
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5. VISIONS AFFECTED BY FATIGUE
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· Continuous driving for long
periods will cause fatigue which will result in eye strain.
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· Recognition and assessment of
dangerous situations will become late and inaccurate.
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· Making it essential to have
period of rest.
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6. WEATHER CONDITIONS
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· Fog, rain, fading daylight or bright
sunshine will reduce visibility so speed must be kept low.
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7. ROAD SURFACE
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A
good driver is one that looks ahead and recognizes any change in
the road surface.
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· 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.
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DRIVING TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY
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Keys to Safe Driving
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· Good vision, look with your eyes but see with
your mind.
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· Obeying traffic rules and
regulations.
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· Proper care of your car.
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· Be courteous to other road users.
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· Proper signaling. Failure to
signal is dangerous and inconsiderate.
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· Physical fitness. Let someone
else take the wheel if you are not physically and mentally alert.
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Proper Use of Brakes
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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.
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Steering
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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.
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· 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.
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· 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.
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· A firm, not a tight, grip on the wheel is
all that is needed. Never grip tightly on a greasy road.
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· Do not move the wheel to and from while
driving; a firm straight steer is better.
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· Both elbows should be free from obstruction.
Never rest eh left elbow on the window frame while driving.
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· Never drive off without first
having made sure that the seat, mirror, doors windows, etc., are
properly adjusted.
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Gear Changing
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· 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.
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