Defensive Driving Tips and Techniques

A key aspect of defensive driving techniques is to signal your intent when you are out on the road. This means communicating to other drivers what you are about to do. As a first step it is essential that all lights that help you communicate to other drivers are functioning.

Indicators, brake lights, head lights and other driving lights must be in good order. It’s almost impossible to adopt a defensive driving attitude if other drivers have got no idea what you intend to do.

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You can’t drive very far with your eyes closed without running off the road or hitting something! Impaired vision is a real handicap in adopting defensive driving techniques. If you drive, the health of your eyes, or sight, should be considered paramount. Have regular eye tests and adopt appropriate remedies for any condition which might effect your driving, both during the day, and at night.

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Six new driving laws being introduced in 2008 will certainly help drivers employ more defensive driving techniques when on the roads. Relating to hands-free driving, the laws will target cell phones, text messaging and teens.

To those drivers possessing even a small modicum of common sense, the concept of text messaging and speaking on a hand held cell phone whilst driving seems to beggar belief. As one of the key defensive driving techniques is to “avoid distractions” whilst driving, trying to text message and drive at the same time is simply impossible.

The following article by Steve Thomas discusses the new laws - read on, it is very interesting!

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Before starting out on defensive driving technique #4, we should define “unsound”. The definition of “unsound” according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary is “defective, decayed, impaired or damaged.” When used in the context of driving, “unsound” means that an element exists which reduces a driver’s capability of safely controlling their vehicle.

Alcohol & Drugs: The #1 Cause of Driving Impairment.

If ever there was a defensive driving technique which should be automatically adopted by all drivers, it is “don’t drink and drive”. Strangely enough, that’s not the case!

One of the most common causes of driving in an “unsound” state is alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, and begins to reduce a person’s faculties with the very first drink. It is a proven fact that even blood alcohol levels that are way under the “legal limit,” cause impairment of a driver’s physical and mental capabilities.

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If you ask many drivers what their pet hates are about other drivers, one common reply is “other drivers who neglect to signal lane changes and turns. Likewise, in many courses on defensive driving, lane change techniques are an important part of the curriculum.

If you regularly drive on our roads, how many times do you see drivers signal one way and turn the other? Or even worse, drivers who do not even signal at all. What about those trucks, motorbikes and cars whose signals do not self-cancel? You see them cruising along completely oblivious to the fact that their signals are still blinking despite their turn being made several miles earlier.

Tip! Defensive driving lane change techniques and correct signaling are essential to remaining safe on the road

Some drivers consider driving to be some kind of contest, and deliberately do not use turn signals. Their view is that by forecasting a lane change on the highway with a signal, other drivers will counter their move by closing the “gap” in the lane. Although this does happen, the majority of drivers will display courtesy and will not close your gap. And remember that courtesy is contagious too. Just as many drivers WILL make a space for you if they are aware you want to switch lanes.

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