Defensive driving – What is it and how do you apply it?
More than 95% of traffic accidents are caused by human behavior. The accidents are often due to distraction, poor driving techniques, but also to antisocial driving behavior. If everyone used this driving style, the number of accidents would undoubtedly fall.
Defensive driving definition
Defensive driving literally means: driving with a focus on preventing accidents, saving time and not wasting money by driving economically and safely. Here you do take into account the environment and actions of other road users.
Avoidance, Recognition and Control.
Why do we call this defensive driving? Is this not just good driving ability and vehicle control?
The questions above relate to this triangle:
Here you can read that the number of time per operation is decreasing. Defensive driving is therefore a driving skill where you focus on dangerous and uncommon situations to prevent accidents.
How do you apply defensive driving?
There are various methods and models available for applying this technique. We will discuss the SAFE method in this blog. Safe stands for:
See and be seen
Always a way out
Far and wide view
Ever aware of surrounding – always drive and pay attention to your surrounding
See and be seen
When participating in traffic it is important that you make yourself visible and ensure that you can see others. Therefore make sure that you have the correct sitting and steering position.
Always a way out
Make sure there is always a way out of the traffic situation. Therefore keep a sufficient distance from your predecessor. In this way you create time, you can make your own decisions and you remain independent.
Far and wide view
The right viewing behavior is indispensable when applying a defensive driving style. Look far ahead and not only at the vehicle in front of you but also next to you. Use the mirrors correctly and adjust them correctly so that you have the smallest possible blind spot
Ever Aware
Stay alert to your vehicle and your environment, let yourself be distracted as little as possible. This way you are always alert to intervene when something goes wrong.
Now that you know more about this driving style , you are ready to use this in your vehicle too.
Do you not yet have a driver’s license but do you want to start? There are several driving schools available in the area of Eindhoven that specialize in defensive driving. Rijschool Breda is specialised in defensive driving.