According to the latest data, the total number of deaths across Australia due to road crashes or accidents for the year ending July 2022 was approximately 1.2 thousand. The total number of road deaths is slightly higher as compared to the previous year. The data itself says a lot regarding how important it is to practice safe driving, in the form of defensive driving techniques.
By practicing defensive driving tips, the number of road accidents can be cut down to a lot of extents. Also, the road will become safe for all, including car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists as well as motorists. There are many keys to defensive driving that are taught in driving school to help drivers know all the defensive driving techniques for overhead obstacles as well as other tips and tricks. Well, before understanding defensive driving techniques one should know what is defensive driving.
Defensive driving is a method of driving where a driver practices safe driving techniques. This helps a driver a lot to respond timely to detected dangers on the road and save lives. Dangers on the road can be caused by poor weather conditions, bad road conditions, drunk, and inexperienced drivers. By knowing the dangers beforehand one can easily defend themself against possible collisions.
The keys to defensive driving are much beyond following the standard traffic laws and rules. To know about defensive driving tips and tricks, you must enrol yourself in a reputed driving school in Australia. In a driving school, students get to learn to improve their driving skills and make safe, well-informed judgments while driving on the road.
Defensive drivers are able to avoid dangers on the road by practicing safe defensive driving techniques. Read this article to know about the important defensive driving techniques that you can start using right away while driving.
Driving is a very responsible task and there is no point in taking driving casually. You need to be very serious about driving and keep yourself prepared at all times. This is one of the most important keys to defensive driving.
When driving never make the mistake of assuming that everything is fine just like you have experienced previously. You never know what’s going to happen today, so be alert all the time while you are sitting behind the steering wheel and keep your mind and eyes focused on the road.
This will help you to see or judge a hazard from a distance and make necessary steps to avoid a collision.
One of the important defensive driving tips is to stay alert and focused all the time. There is no question of getting distracted even for a few seconds when you are on the driver’s seat. A distraction of any kind can turn out to be fatal for your life as well as for others.
As one of the main causes of car accidents in Australia is distracted driving, you need to take all the steps to avoid distractions of any kind. When driving, avoid talking or texting on your smartphone, eating or munching something, typing on the GPS system, adjusting the radio, reading, grooming and applying makeup, and so on.
At the same time do not start daydreaming or think seriously about some meeting in the office or any other matter. You must always pay full attention to the road when driving.
To practice defensive driving, it is important to build the habit of keeping a close eye on your surroundings and scanning the road from all sides all the time.
A good driver is one who is not just focused on the car right in front of him, but is aware of the surroundings. This helps a lot to be aware of potential hazards and to avoid them on time before it is too late. One of the tips for defensive driving is to develop the habit of checking the mirrors every few seconds.
You never know when a cyclist came out of nowhere or a pedestrian starts walking in front of your car. To avoid such mishaps, you must always keep checking the mirrors before passing through an intersection, changing lanes, or coming to a halt. To keep an eye on the surroundings, it is important to adjust all the mirrors according to your height for the best view.
When it comes to defensive driving tips, drivers must be able to predict a possible risk or danger. The power of the right prediction will come naturally as soon as you develop the habit of becoming aware of your surroundings.
For instance, if you leave the home after hearing the weather forecast and you are aware of the fact that it might rain heavily, then you are mentally prepared to drive slowly on slippery wet roads. This means you are ready with a plan and mentally prepared regarding what to do when it rains heavily.
In another incident, if you are driving behind a huge truck loaded with heavy materials, then it is better to maintain a good distance and not make the mistake of overtaking the truck. This helps a lot in keeping yourself safe from potential risk.
No matter how much you are in a hurry to reach the destination, try to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This is one of the most important defensive driving tips.
By knowing how much distance there should be between your car and the others on the road, you get enough distance when there is a need for an emergency brake. This in turn helps to avoid collisions, one of the major reasons behind deaths on roads. As a general rule, there should be at least three seconds of driving time between your vehicle and the one in front of yours.
However, if you feel there should be more space than that, especially during bad traffic jams, bad road conditions, and bad weather conditions or when another vehicle is tailgating you, then maintain more distance. Always remember that safety should be your first priority.
When driving, it is important to stay away from the blind spots of another vehicle. In fact, blind spots in driving can result in accidents, an unfortunate circumstance for anyone present on the road.
A blind spot is defined as an area around the vehicle that simply cannot be noticed by the driver, neither in the outside rearview mirror nor in the inside rearview mirror. It is very difficult to make judgments by a driver regarding how much distance should be maintained or how the other car will react in case of an emergency.
Driving in the blind spot of another vehicle can also cause a distraction to the other driver. Also, chances are high that the other driver would not check the blind spot before making a lane change or a U-turn. This is one of the most important defensive driving techniques for overhead obstacles that can help prevent possible collisions to a great extent.
One of the major keys to defensive driving is to drive as carefully as possible and not expect other drivers to be driving in the same manner. You are following carefully and following all the traffic rules and regulations does not mean that other drivers are also driving with caution.
When you are driving, it is important to pay attention to your driving and drive as carefully as possible. There is no need to show your driving skills to others but try to set an example for others to follow.
Be a careful driver and drive by maintaining at least three seconds of travel time from the car in front of you. Also, when stopping behind a car, you must try to leave enough space to drive around it if needed. Follow the traffic signals properly all the time and even if the road is empty.
Remember that your careful driving can save your life as well as others.
When practicing defensive driving techniques you must not drive when you are drunk, tired, or feeling sleepy. At the same time, when you are on the road and notice a driver that seems to be driving under the influence of alcohol or medicine it is always a good idea to maintain a safe distance from such drivers.
Some of the signs of drunk driving are driving on the lane marker or center lane, driving too slowly or too fast, drifting in and out of the lanes, or tailgating. If you notice a car driving recklessly or poorly, simply maintain a distance and inform about it any traffic officer.
Also, when it comes to defensive driving tips, you must pull over in case you are feeling sleepy or tired. During such a time it is not a good idea to drive. Park your car by the roadside and take a short nap. Drive only when you are in a situation to make the right judgment.
One of the essential defensive driving tips is to avoid road rage situations. When driving, it is essential to stay calm all the time.
Aggressive driving can take many forms like tailgating, weaving, and speeding, which in turn can be dangerous for you as well as others. It is not a good sign for any driver to express significant anger or aggression behind the wheel.
When other drivers are showing signs of aggressive driving then you must stay calm and don’t get involved in a road rage-like situation. Try to slow down and allow the other driver to drive away from you and stay safe.
For some drivers, aggressive driving may be the norm and you must try your best to stay away from such drivers.
One of the most important defensive driving techniques taught in a driving school is to not make the mistake of changing lanes frequently. This can cause a lot of problems for others who are sharing the road and in some cases, it can be the reason behind sudden collisions.
The risk of a road accident is higher when a driver constantly keeps changing the lane and that too without giving the right signals. During your driving, whenever there is a need to change lanes, do it in the correct manner. Try to give an indication to other drivers about your move using turn signals and vehicle lights.
Apart from giving the right signals, you must also follow the signals given by other drivers present on the road. Understand the signals and drive accordingly. Giving the right signal and following the signals is a sign of a good driver.
Overspeeding is not a good sign of a good and responsible driver. In any driving school, one important thing that all instructors give stress is to drive within the speed limit no matter how empty the road is.
One of the keys to defensive driving technique is to know how to control the urge to drive at a high speed. The faster you drive, the more the chance of losing control over your car, which can ultimately lead to a severe collision or an accident.
Always drive within the speed limit and enjoy the ride and reach your destination safely. While there is no need to drive at a very high speed, it is also important to avoid driving too slowly. Slow driving will unreasonably block the path of another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian. Try to maintain your car’s speed limit according to traffic, road and visibility, and weather conditions.
When it comes to what is a defensive driving technique, one important element is to learn the skill of anticipating other road users’ intentions and actions.
Remember that it is not always the case that due to some kind of driving mistake from your end, an accident or collision has occurred. Mistakes from other road users can also be the reason. Hence to be a safe driver, it is important to understand other users’ intentions and what will be their next actions.
You need to understand tell-tale signals that other drivers make when they are about to make a mistake. This can help avoid accidents from your end.
Knowing other users’ intentions is not something that you can learn in a day but when you drive with full concentration you will be able to make the right judgment.
It is worth learning all the secrets of defensive driving and enforcing them to make the road safe for all. When it comes to safety it is not restricted to only yours but also to others who share the road with you. One small mistake can be hard on your life and others too. Hence, take driving seriously and try to learn defensive driving techniques for overhead obstacles and other tips and tricks too.
If you are interested in learning all the major keys to defensive driving, it is highly recommended to join a reputed driving school. Find a reputed driving school and join a defensive driving course that suits your budget and schedule. Instructors will teach you everything related to what are defensive driving techniques and make you an expert defensive driver.
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