It’s not a simple task to get into your car and drive and hope to get to your destination safely. When it comes to driving on South African roads, motorists need to be more alert than ever and this means you may need to do some defensive driving.
South African motorists may encounter potholes, reckless drivers, roads that are not well marked, poor weather or other motorists that break the rules of the road. What is defensive driving, and how can we adapt it to our everyday driving routine?
What is defensive driving?
Defensive driving is a set of driving skills that allows you to defend yourself against possible collisions caused by bad drivers, drunk drivers, and poor weather.
The best way forward is to go for defensive driving courses, so that you can improve your driving skills and anticipate a suspected driving risk and understand how to manage this situation. When you find yourself in this position , it’s best to make decisions based on your environment and the current road conditions.
Benefits of Defensive Driving
The main benefit of attending a defensive driving course is that you are less likely to be involved in an accident.
You can take a defensive driving lesson either online or at a driving academy. Understanding and knowing what to look for will help you when it comes to a hazardous situation while driving.
What’s Included in a Basic Defensive Driving Course
Defensive driving courses are regulated and are designed to train you based on the laws of your country. The sections below provide an outline of the information that is typically covered in defensive driving courses.
Road accidents
Taking a defensive driving course will help you exercise caution and make a sound judgement if you are met with an uncontrollable situation.
- Mental ability: A defensive driving course can help you deal with negative factors such as stress, tiredness, emotional stress and road rage by helping you develop a positive outlook while driving. This will help you differentiate what is happening around you and the behaviour of other motorists.
- Driving under the influence: Whether driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a defensive driving course will teach you the effects they have on a person’s body. What the blood-alcohol limit is and how drugs or alcohol can affect your judgement, inhibitions, motor skills and senses while you drive. In South Africa, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
- Importance of safety: Most road accident deaths result from motorists not wearing seat belts. It is very important to make sure that you and your passengers are wearing a seat belt. If you have a car with airbags it’s also there to protect you. Also, make sure to check the wear and tear of your vehicle often, for example, worn tyres can contribute to a serious accident.
Tips on preventing a car accident
- Being aware of your surroundings at all times
- Always keep a safe following distance
- Knowing the dynamics of your own car
- Having good cognitive reflexes
- Being aware of weather changes
- Being aware of other motorists
- Being cautious of space when overtaking
- Being aware of who has right of way
- Driving according to the rules of the road
All of this can be taught in a defensive driving course, but common sense prevails most of the time. Always obey every rule of the road . If you are not sure of a situation, then rather drive with caution until you feel more at ease.
Applying the defensive driving techniques could provide you with more peace of mind knowing that it is a safe way to drive. Are you looking for further peace of mind? Do you have car insurance? PMD offers affordable car insurance with unique benefits that include premiums that don’t increase* and a reduce to zero* excess. T’s and C’s apply.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
Sources:
https://www.safemotorist.com/Articles/Defensive_Driving/