Defensive Driving
Control, Space Cushions, Traffic
Flow, Corners and Vision, Zones of
Visibility and Invisibility, Intersections,
Following Distance, Stopping
Distance, Rules of the Road, and very
very importantly, Attitudes.
But the good news is that my
attitude was given the green
light, and it this behaviour that
goes a long way in avoiding
accidents.
The course was comprehensive, so here
is just some of the Important Information
gleaned from the course:
•
•
•
Only 30% of drivers and front seat
passengers are using their seat belts
(scandalous)
Always do a pre-check walk around
before getting into your car
When stopping at a robot always leave
a one car gap between your car and
the car in front, to allow yourself space
to get away if confronted by a highjacking situation
Be a mentor – pass on what you have
learned on the course to others
•
Don’t drink and drive (whilst one beer
is safe, rather abstain totally)
•
Similarly, don’t text and drive, and
even go as far as not using your
cell phone while driving, not even
hands-free
•
Don’t use your gears to slow down –
that’s what the brakes are for
•
Don’t turn too early into a corner
– there are important safety
considerations to be considered
•
Use the indicators judiciously
•
With traffic roundabouts give way to
the right, but with traffic calming circles
it is first come first served
•
Always check your blind spot before
changing lanes
•
➲ Instructor Derek Kirkby stands next to the Ford Ecosport used for the one-on-one
Always apply the hand brake when
stopped at a robot, and put the car
into neutral
•
I just wish that this course was
available when I was 20 years old.
From an old geezer, thank you guys.
In wet weather increase this gap to five
to seven seconds
•
And panel beaters and undertakers
definitely won’t like it if everyone
went on this course, because
business would drop dramatically!
Always keep a three to four second
gap between your car and the car in
front of you, no matter what speed you
are doing
•
His observations, in conjunction
with a smooth driving application on
his cell phone, gave me immediate
feedback on my driving style and my
defensive driving skills, and I was
surprised to find out that my driving
technique was not as perfect as I
have always assumed, and that I will
need to work on ironing out 40 years’
of habits that are not totally in sync
with vehicle sympathy.
Tyres start degrading four years after
manufacture (and the insurance guys
look out for this after an accident)
•
Instructor Derek Kirkby handled the
one-on-one in car practical, and his
eagle eye did not miss much.
•
Overall, an extremely worthwhile
exercise, carried out by
professionals with courtesy and
competence, and I strongly
recommend that every single driver
on the road does this course and
the sooner the better.
Use your common sense and your
sixth sense
•
Always look 12 seconds ahead
in-car practical
| words in action
69
SEPTEMBER 2014