Improving my defensive driving skills
VOLKSWAGEN DRIVING ACADEMY: GETTING TO KNOW HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS
The key to a defensive driving strategy is recognising potential hazards before it’s too late.
It remains a proven fact that the major cause of road accidents in South Africa and across the world is driver error. The number is as high 85-90 percent, and this includes not only the honest mistake or error in judgement, but also driver recklessness, driver inattention and many other factors.
As I am still in my tyke days as a motoring journalist, safety remains a priority all the time, with the objective to always strive to reduce errors on my side and adjust my driving to be more attentive and defend myself against the threats from errors by other road users.
Such skills and techniques are called defensive driving skills and to make sure that I am aware and prepared for hazards on the roads, and there are many, Volkswagen Driving Academy invited me for a full day safety training course at Zwartkops Racetrack to better equip me with the necessary attitude, awareness and physical skills to avoid being in potentially life threatening road situations.
Get it into your mind that over half-amillion accidents happen on South African roads per year, and your chances of being involved in one are extremely high. More than one thousand people die every month on our roads, which is around 30 people each and every day. Simply imagine your entire office or lecture room at varsity being wiped out every day. This is the reality you face on the road.
The training was conducted in a relaxed discussion format, where we were encouraged to actively participate. The theoretical presentation covered all the necessary driving skills required for a defensive driver. Subjects including skidpan theory, how to avoid getting hijacked, seatbelts, texting and driving, how to control oversteer and understeer and emergency skills are covered in detail. The key to any good defensive driving strategy is knowing how to avoid traffic crashes and recognise potential hazards before it’s too late. That’s why defensive driving courses tend to present a lot of information on crash prevention techniques.
As part of the defensive driving course, I learnt the crucial crash prevention techniques that include:
Scanning the roadway and adapting to surroundings
Employing the three-second rule for following distances
Knowing your vehicle’s stopping distance Being aware of reaction distance Environment hazards Vehicle emergencies Sharing the road Passing and necessary following distance Right of way Speed adjustments and railroad crossings Correct Seating Position ABS / ESC Emergency Braking Braking with and without ABS Hijack prevention tactics Different hijacking situations Types of hijackings You’ve passed your driver’s licence, right? Or maybe you’ve even been driving on SA’s roads for years and you think you’re a good driver, right? You may be right since you may have a lot of experience behind the wheel, but you have a lot of bad habits too, without even being aware of them.
One of the best ways to step back and take a closer look at your driving skills and knowledge is to go on an advanced driving course. Courses start from as little as R520, and for course bookings or enquires please contact 079 028 6313, e-mail or you can visit the Volkswagen Driving Academy at the VW SA website, vw.co.za.
As for myself, after completing the course, I have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and a better understanding of how to avoid potential collisions and injuring myself or others. The defensive driving module proves to be more than a mouthful when faced with day-to-day driving situations.