Defensive driving, commonly described today as an advanced driving course when it is referred to as a manufacturer-provided program, is something that warrants inclusion because it teaches better and ultimately safer driving habits.
This is the view of MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert, who says South Africans are often asked to overcome more than a few challenges on the country’s roads.
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According to Herbert, defensive driving techniques help prepare motorists to be more diligent and responsible because “no one wants to send a loved one on the road with only a K53 driving test as preparation”.
So, using a defensive driving style helps drivers in the following ways:
Anticipation
“The main principle of driver training is based on this principle. After a distance between three and six seconds provides space to respond to obstacles,” said Herbert.
“Looking 12 seconds ahead instead of just on the vehicle directly in front provides enough time to respond to a dangerous situation. Learning to anticipate the situation and the time of traffic lights or stop four also helps to reduce fuel consumption.
No more risk taking
The second, and also the most important trait, reduces the risk as a result of the so-called “bad habits” behind the wheel have been reduced or removed completely.
“One of these habits is driving while distracted. Through practical demonstrations, drivers can see firsthand how far they can travel while driving while distracted and how long the cognitive impairment lasts after the distraction,” said Herbert.
“It also shows the importance of staying calm on the road and not driving recklessly. Whether it’s traffic letting open, actions of other drivers, bad planning, responding negatively to the behavior of other drivers that frustrates you, driving recklessly is not likely to get you there faster. Defensive driving instructs drivers how to handle challenges safely.
Make the right decision
According to Herbert, the last aspect of defensive driving that makes people better motorists is the ability to make decisions with the least risk.
“The first two steps allow the driver to identify the threat quickly and stay focused on the task at hand. However, if there is a threat, the driver must also know how to respond to the threat,” he said.
“An invaluable skill is knowing the best way to handle challenges such as potholes, reckless or drunk drivers, what to do when encountering law breakers such as speeding, jumping robots or reckless drivers when offloading.”
For information on MasterDrive, please visit masterdrive.co.za.