What to expect in a defensive driving course

While the ability to drive is one that can prove invaluable to those of us who want to be able to get around with greater ease and convenience, it is also vital to remember that without the right skills the road can be a dangerous place. This is why it is important for drivers to ensure that they are able to exercise confidence while on the road without crossing the line into being an aggressive driver.

Defensive driving courses provide you with the opportunity to learn how to be more vigilant and careful while on the road, ensuring that you are not passive nor are you aggressive. The things that you learn as part of these courses go over and above what you learn from your driving instructor during standard driving lessons. These courses provide the perfect way to further improve your driving skills even after you have passed your driving test.

Some of the things you will learn

There are a number of different things that you will learn as part of a defensive driving course, and all of these are geared towards helping you to become more vigilant in a range of different situations. Some of the areas that are included in these courses are:

• The effects of driving under the influence
One of the areas you will learn more about when you are on one of these defensive driving courses is the effects of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and how this can affect your senses and abilities.

• Vehicle impact
Another area you may cover on your course is the physics involved in car crashes and what happens when a crash occurs. You may learn more about how you can avoid different types of impact, which will enable you to more easily avoid serious accidents.

• State traffic laws
Defensive driving courses may also cover state traffic laws, although this can depend on where you attend your course. You can then find out more about the effects these laws have on your driving and if or when you need to make changes in order to comply with driving laws.

• Safety
Another important part of these courses is often the safety equipment that is required to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers. This includes safety features and equipment such as seat belts, airbags, and head rests. You will not only learn about the importance of these safety features in vehicles but also how to maintain them to ensure maximum effectiveness.

• Effects of stress: 
These courses can also cover the effects of stress when on the road and how these can lead to road rage. There are various factors and emotions that can have a negative effect on drivers and this is something you will learn more about on these courses.

• Condition of the roads
Another factor that can impact on road safety and ability is the condition of the roads, which is another area that is generally covered as part of a defensive driving course.

All of the areas that are covered as part of these courses can prove invaluable in helping you to stay safe on the roads, help you to avoid accidents, and make you an overall better driver.

If you live in Perth WA, City West Driving School has been providing defensive driving courses for the last 15 years. They have very experienced instructors and are respected by examiners and students alike.

Tips for defensive driving

A key part of the role of driving instructors is to teach the rudiments of defensive driving when you are first learning to drive, in order to keep both you and the roads around Perth, Joondalup and Freemantle, safe and accident-free. Defensive driving is a skill that once acquired, becomes a sensible habit to maintain, but even experienced drivers from time to time should think about taking a defensive driving course as a refresher.

Remove distractions from the vehicle

There are a few hints and tips that you need to bear in mind when sitting behind the wheel starting with ensuring you get rid of any distractions that can take your attention away from what is happening around you. This in particular means mobile phones - talking on the phone, trying to read a text message or use the mobile as a hand held satellite navigation device - will cause you to have an accident. Don’t be tempted to have your lunch beside you either or a drinks holder so that you take your eyes off the road whilst foraging for a sandwich or a bar of chocolate.

Keep an eye on the bigger picture

When you first learnt to drive, the driving instructor would have told you to be aware of everything that is happening around you, this means checking your rear view and side mirrors so you know if you have cars, cyclists or pedestrians in the near vicinity. Use your eyes to “read” the road ahead, so that if the vehicle that is two or three cars ahead brakes, and you spot their brake lights go on then you are prepared for everyone to start to slow down. When approaching a built up area, particularly a school or play area, then be alert to the fact that children may run out on the road and start to read the situation around you.

Watch your speed

Control is really important for good and defensive driving and the slower you drive, the more control that you will have over your car or vehicle. You will also be able to keep your distance between you and the car in front with the 2-second rule. Pick a landmark such as a tree on the side of the road, when the car in front passes it then count two seconds. If you pass the tree before the 2 seconds are up, then you are too close so slow down and give yourself some distance.

Plan an escape route

This doesn’t mean leaping out of the car at the first hint of a problem, but being aware of where you could safely drive your vehicle if you had to swerve to avoid the car in front or an obstacle such as a fallen branch or debris on the road.

Staying alert and driving defensively is a life skill that no motorist can afford to be without, book a defensive driving course in Perth and brush up on your driving technique, because it could save your life and other road users in the future.

A defensive driving course at the Western Suburbs Driving School can also be used as a corrective programme to help experienced drivers eliminate bad habits developed over the years and learn new ways of improving judgment and reaction.

Top 5 bad habits new drivers should not pick up

After the euphoria of passing your driving test is over, it is really important to still keep the key messages taught to you by your driving instructor in the forefront of your mind. However, all too often, new drivers tend to quickly forget everything they have been taught and quickly fall into bad habits that negate the positive defensive driving techniques they have been taught.

The top five bad habits include the following:

• Failing to pay attention,
• Getting distracted with use of mobile phones and gadgets,
• Tailgating,
• Pushing in, and
• The speed up, slow down, speed up syndrome.

Failing to pay attention

During driving lessons, all drivers are taught that they need to be aware of their surroundings, to know who is behind and to the side as well as in front of them, and recognise potential hazards. Checking in the mirror every few seconds and remembering the mirror, signal and manoeuvre mantra, is part of the defensive driving technique that ensures you are in control and aware of what is happening around you. New drivers who forget this put, not only themselves but, other road users in danger.

Getting distracted with use of mobile phones and gadgets

Using mobile phones or trying to reset the satellite navigation system whilst on the move, is a habit that many drivers have and it detracts from keeping your attention focussed on what is happening around you. It is said that if driving and using a mobile then you increase the chances of an accident by up to 400%. Even reaching for a cold drink from a cup holder can be a distraction and you can be easily caught off guard.

Tailgating

Keeping to the two-second rule and not tailgating the car in front is really important. All too often new drivers will get so close to the car in front that if they had to put on the brakes, there would be no chance to avoid a collision. Picking a landmark on the highway, such as a post or sign, and ensuring the vehicle in front goes past it two seconds before you do, will give you space and time to react to a sudden stop. Driving schools advise not looking at your watch but saying the words, “one Mississippi, two Mississippi” as soon as the vehicle in front goes past the landmark which gives you an idea of whether you are far enough away or not.

Pushing in

When driving around in busy cities, one of the worst habits new drivers can get into is to confuse aggressive driving with defensive driving, and start pushing in at busy junctions making everyone else brake for them. This also occurs at highway exits and when changing lanes on the freeway. As a driver you need to look well ahead so that you can spot potential hazards or know when it is safe to change lanes, and this is all part of defensive driving techniques.

The speed up, slow down, speed up syndrome

Finally there is the speed up, slow down, speed up technique, often seen on the freeway particularly with drivers who feel aggrieved at being overtaken so have to put their foot on the accelerator and get in front again. Not only does this affect your fuel consumption but as the driver is fixated with getting past one vehicle they may well fail to spot a potential hazard ahead. All drivers from time to time should take intensive refresher driving courses and there are experienced driving schools in Perth who will give you an honest review of your driving skills and help knock those bad and potentially, life threatening habits on the head.

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Some of the information in this post was kindly provided by City West Driving School, Perth.

How to use peripheral vision for safe defensive driving

Peripheral vision is the sight that occurs just beyond the centre of our gaze, typically as we look straight ahead what we directly observe is with 10 to 20 degrees of our line of sight. However just outside and around that direct line of sight we can detect other objects and this is what is known as the peripheral vision. When the vision is stimulated by movement or flashing lights, this causes us to turn our head to look fully at the object, which is why our car indicator lights flash instead of remaining static.

As human beings we do have the widest range of vision when we are remaining still but this changes when we move at speed, and we are not really designed to go faster than around 15. We don’t have eyes in the back of our head (unless we are high school teachers or astute mothers) so when motoring, making the most of our peripheral vision is a skill taught by our driving school instructors. It is certainly part of defensive driving course techniques and ensures that we make the roads safer for ourselves as well as other highway users.

Driving schools in Perth and Fremantle teach the rudimentary methods of defensive driving and also ensure that students practice using their peripheral vision to gain a fuller awareness of what is happening around them when they drive. Sitting back in the driver’s seat is a good way to start, because it allows you to make the most of your peripheral vision. The driver’s range of vision widens and includes the passengers, as well as the driver’s window.

Another easy tip is to make sure you are not squinting or narrowing your eyes, so wearing appropriate eye wear or prescription sunglasses to deflect the glare will make the most of your peripheral vision. Driving instructors will advise you not just to focus on the one spot ahead, but to keep scanning the road with your eyes and checking your mirror. This is something that will be observed during the driving test as well as it enables you to get the bigger picture of what is happening to the front, back and sides of your vehicle. If you use this scanning technique, then you will soon find out that your eyes catch the movement of a car closing in on the rear or to the side of you.

Other sudden movements, beyond your control, can also be detected, allowing you to avoid any potential hazards such as a dog running across the road or a car cutting across you to change lanes. Constant monitoring of your surroundings will help you to formulate what is known as an “escape plan” so if someone does brake suddenly due to an unforeseen obstacle in their way, you will have noted that the lane to the side of you is free so you can quickly move into it to avoid a collision. Driving schools in Joondalup, Perth and Fremantle can help in educating you to make full use of your peripheral vision, which is an extremely useful tool to have when driving ourselves and our passengers safely from one place to the next. Speak to a Western Suburbs Driving School instructor today.