Defensive Driving

Practicing defensive driving will help keep you safe whether you have just passed your driving test or you have been driving for years. So what exactly is defensive driving? How do you drive defensively?

• Awareness - what do you see ahead, behind and to each side?
• Planning - what's going to happen next?
• Anticipation - what happens if?
• Staying In control - always drive within your limits, if you start to feel out of control you are probably driving too quick for the conditions - so check behind and slow down until it feels safer - trust your instincts.
• Drive responsibly with care, consideration and courtesy.

A few examples (there are many):
You see railings up ahead, there are likely to be pedestrians crossing - we sometimes see the railing before the crossing. What if there are people about to cross? If you are expecting it, you will be prepared for it - no suprise - keep control.

You see a green traffic light, we all know it will change to amber then red, we just don't know when. So anticipate it changing and check in the rear and be ready to stop smoothly or carry on if it doesn't change.

Similarly you see a bus ahead, what is it most likely to do - stop at a bus stop - so don't be surprised when it does.

Traffic calming is meant to slow traffic doen in urban areas, so try to keep steady speed around 20 mph, this will give you plenty of time to scan ahead and to the sides and react comfortably to the inevitable events such as pedestrians crossing, cars pulling away etc.

More posts soon, meanwhile check out these sites if you are looking to learn to drive soon