In the art of war, Sun Tzu mentions that the best defense is to attack, a saying that in sports has been translated that the best defense is the offensive one, however, when driving, we will notice that in most of cases, defensive driving is the best option.
If you don’t know what defensive driving is, stay with us and discover it… Believe us, is a method that can get you out of many troubles of being behind the wheel.
What defensive driving is?
As the name mentions, defensive driving is the one that asks motorist being alert before mistakes of others, anticipating to moves of others. Always thinking that driver in the other car can perform an improper or wrong movement. All this, without the need of violence or aggressive acts.
We live in a world that made us believe that acting defensively instead of attack, is our weakness. This though is so strong that has transported to road matters, preferring many times the violent attitudes before wheel to “win the passage to other”. Of course, the frustration, tiredness, anger, and traffic jam boost all these behaviors.
However, driving with a cool head can be the difference, from fines and clashes to fatal accidents with other drivers or passengers.
Different traffic accident could be avoided, if at least one of two pilots prevented the actions of the other, and would be better to do both.
In short, when you’re behind the wheel, defensive driving is put into practice of all those measures, cautions and maneuvers that you execute to avoid accidents with other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Mentioned in other way, is the ability to anticipate to risks, avoiding them or knowing how to act when these happen.
Who can apply this kind of driving?
Basically, any person that can and know how to drive, is able to apply defensive driving. The only necessary thing is to be cautious, observer, analytic and have responsiveness.
Afterall, in this kind of driving, reactions depend of your own behavior, but, again, always when you do it thinking in the acting motorists of other cars could have.
However, your attention shouldn’t be focused in other motorists only, but also in the road. With this, we want to say that you must pay attention to a bad signage, highways in bad conditions, etc. At the end, everything counts when driving.
Keys for a correct defensive driving
Now that you know what defensive driving is, we will give you some techniques and advises to apply it in the best way. Take some notes:
Watch out for danger!
Whether is a small road, such as streets, residential housing or other places of greater speed, like highways, you need to be aware of all the possible dangers that surround you.
Identify them will allow you to have an idea of the possible scenarios to face. Remember that, as much calmer a road is, there’s always risk of accidents
Fast responsiveness
Avoid all kind of distractions. You need to be aware of the road to face all the problems that may arise. In this way, you can react and give solutions in the correct moment.
Good mechanics
It won’t be so useful to be an experimented motorist, with a safe driving and aware of road, if at the moment of reacting before a chaos your car isn’t prepared for that. Give your car the periodical maintenance, always having a good condition.
The previous information involves from correctly maintain the oil, water, fuel and other level, to a correct maintenance of brakes. Even, the cleaning also counts. It’s important that your crystals and rear-view mirrors are clean for a better and greater 360 visibility.
Don’t forget to change your wheel before these are smooth, preventing skids.
At Good distance, better reaction
One never knows when is going to brake the car in front of you. Whether for any external or mechanical factor, braking can cause you an impact. In order to prevent this, is suggested to maintain a correct distance between one car and other. By being considerably separated from other, you have a greater time of reaction. Is recommended to leave the twice of distance between one sheet and other.
Distract yourself without distracting
In this part, we don’t refer to leave your attention in the road, but your sight must always be aware of this. However, your eyes must always be in move, observing everything that surrounds you.
Never observe just one point of the highways or street; always pay attention to everything that is occurring around you. Be alert and don’t trust in anything.
Now, when driving during night, is recommendable to sing or talk with your co-pilot or passengers. Of course, everything with caution, due aim is that talk or sing keeps you awake. If you are too sleepy, don’t drive or in all case, brake in a safe point.
Observe to some people and make yourself visible
Remember that defensive driving is driving as if someone else was about to commit a mistake. In this way, when you have the right of passage, observe what the other cars do, don’t suppose or confirm that will let you pass. The same occurs when you brake, make all the possible things for everyone else to know you will stop, set your turn signals and brake carefully.
Don’t underestimate the road
A usually committed mistake, is though that road won’t present obstacles. In some occasions you will face some bumps. For unexpected situations, you’re going to require a complete driving, for that you must always maintain both hands in your wheel. In the same way, is vital to always wear safety belt, and avoid the use of devices that distract you.
Advantages of this driving class
With these advises, the great advantage of defensive driving is that can take you with life to you and your loved ones. Remember that going behind the wheel you’re the main responsible of you and your passengers.
This driving class ask you to be alert in all moment of the road, don’t believe that all the other motorists know what they have to do and how you will react. Don’t forget a correct defensive driving, avoid unnecessary offensives.
