When you start driving defensively you will be aware of the things happening around you and you will be ready to react for whatever happens while driving. This art is taught by the defensive driving course conducted by the State Motor Vehicles Division. The main aim of the defensive driving course is to make you cautious and be ready to take action against any potential accidents rather than putting your faith on the hands of the other driver who caused the potential accident. According to reports 90% of accidents are contributed by careless driving or bad driving. To solve this problem the Motor Vehicles Division has come up with various defensive driving courses to teach people about the art of safe driving. The 8 secrets of defensive driving are explained in the following paragraphs.
Safety – Think about your safety first while driving. When you feel safe you feel good about your driving and in turn be confident of noticing other drivers driving around the road. So always think of your safety first. Check the car before starting a journey that every component is working fine and check for the inflation of your tires etc. When you are perfect with yourself you can avoid 50% chances of accident.
Scan your Surrounding – Always have an hawk eye on the movements around you. Look out for other drivers on the road, pedestrians, stop signs, signals etc. The more you are aware of your surrounding you create an opportunity to escape if in case an emergency occurs.
Less Dependency – Do not trust other drivers driving on the road. They will never drive according to your desire. They may give way for you or even cut across your path. So do not take any overtaking decisions based on the dependency that the other driver will leave space for you. When your route is clear do the maneuver unless and until do try to do it.
Create Escape Route – Always have an ample amount of space around your car. This will enable you to escape if incase a potential accident happens.
Leave Time for Braking – Try maintaining a good braking distance between the vehicle in front of you. Have a braking time of 4-5 seconds between the two vehicles which will enable your vehicle to stop safe during the time of emergency.
Drive Cautiously – Always abide by the speed limit. Do not cross the maximum speed limit posted in an area. The speed limit is calculated considering many factors about the area and traffic conditions.
Separate Risks – If you are faced with multiple risks while driving try separating them and handling them one at a time. The focus has to be kept on escaping with minimal damage rather than messing up with an serious accident.
Avoid Distractions – Never get distracted by anyone or anything on the road. Do not drive watching TV or eating or speaking in a mobile phone. Always have your focus on driving which is the duty you are performing.
