Driver Safety - Basic Principles of Defensive Driving for Left-Side Drivers
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Regardless of how experienced your employees are at driving, the potential for collisions and accidents is still present. This is because not everyone drives the same way. Your drivers can only control how they drive; not what other drivers do. This concept is at the center of defensive driving. In this subject, learners are taught the basic principles of defensive driving, from what it is to specific strategies they can use while they're on the road to help prevent them from causing or being in an accident. Note: This content is written for those who drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Regardless of how experienced your employees are at driving, the potential for collisions and accidents is still present. This is because not everyone drives the same way. Your drivers can only control how they drive; not what other drivers do. This concept is at the center of defensive driving. In this subject, learners are taught the basic principles of defensive driving, from what it is to specific strategies they can use while they're on the road to help prevent them from causing or being in an accident. Note: This content is written for those who drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Regardless of how experienced your employees are at driving, the potential for collisions and accidents is still present. This is because not everyone drives the same way. Your drivers can only control how they drive; not what other drivers do. This concept is at the center of defensive driving. In this subject, learners are taught the basic principles of defensive driving, from what it is to specific strategies they can use while they're on the road to help prevent them from causing or being in an accident. Note: This content is written for those who drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Topics
What is Defensive Driving? - Left-Side Drivers
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Defensive driving is an over-arching term for a collection of driving techniques that help keep you safe on the road. Specifically, it’s about anticipating danger so you can react to it in a safe way without getting in or causing an accident. In this topic, we’ll go over the definition of defensive driving and what its three main principles are. We’ll also look at how effectively knowing and maintaining your vehicle plays a role in driving defensively.
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Questions (level 1, 2, 3)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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Defensive driving is a driving strategy that involves predicting hazards on the road and then reacting to them appropriately to avoid causing or being in an accident.
There are three main principles of defensive driving: visibility, communication, and space.
Visibility refers to your ability to see and identify potential hazards while you’re driving, as well as remain visible to others on the road (i.e., drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians).
Communication refers to how you engage and communicate with others on the road, including other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Space refers to how you manage the area around your vehicle and includes both the space you give others, like drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and the space they give you.
Do regular vehicle checks and maintenance on your vehicle to make sure it’s in good working order and is safe for you to drive.
Become familiar with how your vehicle operates and its unique features so you know what kinds of situations and movements it can handle safely while you’re driving.
Tips for Defensive Driving: Maximizing Visibility - Left-Side Drivers
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One of the main concepts associated with defensive driving is visibility. In this topic, you’ll learn some strategies for making your vehicle more visible to others as well as how to improve your own visibility to better predict potential hazards.
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Questions (level 1, 2, 3)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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Constantly look ahead of, beside, and behind your vehicle using your mirrors and windows, so that you can be aware of your surroundings and react quickly and safely to a potential hazard.
Continually scan the road ahead of you for potential hazards. The faster you can identify a hazard, the more time you’ll have to prepare for it and plan how to avoid it.
Focus on the act of driving and avoid distractions so you can stay alert and increase your response time if you encounter a potential hazard.
Don’t assume that other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists are going to act the same way as you. Expect them to make mistakes and focus on the things you can control to avoid an accident.
If you see a potential hazard, think about the worst possible outcome of it, and come up with a safe plan and escape route to avoid it. This way you’ll be prepared to act right away if it does happen.
Check your blind spots often while driving, especially before you change lanes, so you don’t accidentally hit someone else.
Tips for Defensive Driving: Communicating Effectively - Left-Side Drivers
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Defensive driving is an effective driving strategy for reducing your chances of being in or causing an accident. An important principle of this driving strategy is communication. In this topic, you’ll learn techniques for effective communication while you’re driving so that you keep yourself, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians safe on the road.
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Questions (level 1, 2, 3)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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Stay calm and control your emotions while you drive. This will help improve your focus and reduce your chances of being in or causing an accident.
Don’t engage, retaliate, or make eye contact when you encounter frustrating or aggressive drivers. Getting upset could escalate the situation and make an accident more likely.
Use your lights, turn signals, hand signals, and eyes to communicate with cyclists, other drivers, and pedestrians, so they know what you’re doing and can react appropriately to avoid an accident.
Obey traffic signs and lights and avoid sudden actions while driving. This helps you be more predictable to those around you and helps lessen the chances of an accident, keeping everyone safe.
Be a polite and courteous driver to help reduce your chances of being in an accident. This includes things like not driving while impaired or tired, not cutting people off, being patient, and yielding to others even when you might not need to.
Tips for Defensive Driving: Maintaining Space - Left-Side Drivers
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In this topic, we’ll cover defensive driving strategies for maintaining a safe space around your vehicle. You’ll also learn how to check that you’re maintaining enough space around others by using the three-second rule and how to deal with aggressive drivers and drivers who tailgate or drive too close to you.
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Questions (level 1, 2, 3)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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While driving, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles ahead of, behind, and to both sides of you, so you have enough space and time to react if something happens unexpectedly.
Use the three-second rule when driving. This means keeping at least three seconds of driving time between you and the vehicle in front of you.
To check if you’re following too closely, pick an object, like a road sign or tree, in the distance. When the vehicle in front of you passes it, count how many seconds it takes for you to reach it. If it’s three or more seconds, you’re following the rule.
Drive at a reasonable speed that suits the driving conditions and is within the limits of the road. The faster you go, the less control you will have of your vehicle if you have to react quickly.
To reduce the chances of other drivers hitting you, avoid driving in their blind spots or right beside them. You want to be as visible as possible to other drivers.
If you see a bad or dangerous driver near you, give them as much space as you can, slowing down or safely changing lanes if necessary. The more space you can give them, the more time you’ll have to react and help avoid an accident.
If another driver is tailgating you, gradually slow down to increase the amount of space between you and the car in front of you; don’t brake quickly. Then, when it is safe to do so, change lanes and let them pass you.
