Emmanuel Aubrey asked:


Why should you bother reading this article, well I know the topic isn’t fun in fact it makes me sleepy remembering my first driving class but there is some information here that could save your life and save you some money.

OK as you probably already figured the number one reason to be a defensive driver is because it increases you chance of living I don’t want to get into the number of traffic deaths because that stuff is just so sad but anyways when you learn to drive defensively you help yourself and others. Now of course you can’t control how other drive but you can control how you react and how fast you react. When you a defensive driver you should become free from road rage, which leads us to the next reason.

Reason number 2 to become a defensive driver is it should create one less maniac on the roads. If you practice defensive driving you will begin to see things about to happen before they do kind of like you will be come a clairvoyant of the road.

Since you will know how to react according with your practice it should cause you less frustration which should prevent road rage and we all know what happens with road rage and it’s not pretty.

As a side note if you think about it you are hurting your self in so many ways with road rage stress which leads to some many altercations, if you get in an “accident” out of rage it will drive you insurance rate up which will cause you to have less money which then will cause more stress can you see were I’m going, not to mention your rage could turn to instant death or debilitation,

Reason number three to practice defensive driving. At the end of that past paragraph insurance was mentioned well I let you think about this one, if you take your defensive driving certificate to you insurance agent what do you think is more likely to happen insurance rate go up or insurance rate go down.

OK did you figure it out great if not re-read that first part for eternity. Now that your insurance is down and you have less stress more money and a better chance of survival what else could there be.

So I bet you want to be a defensive driver now and help the road world be a better place well I’m happy for you just remember were you seat belt or else all these stuff is useless.

By the way there are many defensive driving courses on line some are boring but there is one that is made to be funny and interesting the courses range from 30-100 dollars. If you want to become a better driver, reduce points on your license or get a lower insurance rate I would recommend taking a defensive driving course.



Vera

Mike Pontic asked:


For quite some time, motorists from all over the world have been exposed to the concept of defensive driving. The practice is derived from a kind of training going beyond the usual rules imposed on the road for all motorists.

Actually, for some, defensive driving is more of practicing safety or paranoid measures when driving. Safety practices are implemented significantly. Thus, there is no denying the fact that indeed, defensive driving really helps drivers get on and survive the intricacies and complexities of driving in the modern turbulent highway.

Studies conducted not just in the United States but also in other developed countries where people practice defensive driving show that the driving practice significantly helps further implement safety on the road.

As you all know major roads and highways are usually busied by different types of drivers who have different personalities. Some are careful and responsible drivers while others are bad and are careless. When road accidents happen involving the latter kinds of drivers, even responsible and careful drivers themselves are often dragged into messy situations.

Through defensive driving careful and responsible drivers are made even more protected. If more and more drivers will just adopt the practice, for sure the volume of car accidents and road hazards would be significantly reduced. The roads and major highways would surely be safer and accident free. Moreover, the advantage of practicing defensive driving skills can be more appreciated with the following practical advantages.

? Safer and accident free driving procedures and techniques are instituted. Not only would the highways and roads be made a better place for driving and mobility. There would be less damages and less incidence of accidents and occurrences that often claim lives.

? Responsible actions and road reactions especially during times of emergency are implemented. Thus, further safety during abrupt situations is ensured and the road is made still functional and the traffic moving despite such situations.

? Protection techniques towards road rage and the practice of speed driving are instituted. In the end, less accidents on the road are observed.

? Possible court actions and legal impediments are prevented in the future. The driver will also get to avoid violations and related charges.

? Responsible and safe highway driving, extreme weather driving and night driving are observed. This means that the skills and safety measures practiced on the road are extended and widened further.

? Drivers take advantage of reduction in the drivers’ license points, increasing the possibility of better insurance coverage.

Overall, defensive driving simply is helping make better people out of drivers. By adopting and practicing the driving techniques, people are effectively transformed not just into safe drivers but also into more responsible citizens.

It should always be noted that the road is a public infrastructure. Every hour, there are hundreds or thousands of men, women and children in the busy highways. By helping make the roads safe and accident free, you would be helping save lives though helping prevent incidences that could possibly claim lives.

Defensive driving really helps. In fact, some governments are now proposing to implement proposed legislations that would pave the way for the institutionalism of those driving techniques. Know the basic rules of defensive driving now, or attend classes for you to learn them.



Roland

Jean Littman asked:


Defensive driving techniques are not restricted to technical driving skills and tactics. One of the simplest and most effective defensive driving techniques to protect yourself as a driver or a passenger is to ALWAYS wear a seat belt. It is well proven that seat belts save lives, and drivers should learn all they can about seat belt safety facts.

Research has shown that vehicle occupants have a 40 percent better chance of surviving a crash if they are wearing a seat belt (this statistic is dependent upon the severity of the crash – some crashes are so severe that survival is impossible). However, in many crashes seat belts play a major role in reducing injuries. Each year around 20 per cent of all road fatalities were people not wearing a restraint. Hundreds of other people are disabled for life in road accidents where they were not wearing a seat belt.

SEAT BELT SAFETY FACT #1

Seat belts protect drivers and passengers in a number of ways, such as:

1. Decreasing the time it takes an occupant to come to a stop upon impact

2. Minimizing a person’s contact with the interior of the vehicle

3. Spreading the force of the impact over a greater area of the body

4. Preventing ejection from the vehicle.

SEAT BELT SAFETY FACT #2

If you are the driver, before the car starts moving you need to make sure of the following:

1. Your own seat belt is properly fastened and adjusted to fit firmly

2. Your passengers’ seat belts are properly fastened and adjusted firmly

3. Children traveling in the car are properly restrained.

If you are a passenger, before the car starts moving make sure you have:

1. Properly fastened and adjusted your seat belt

2. Encourage the driver and other passengers to buckle up.

SEAT BELT SAFETY FACT #3

Being pregnant is no reason not to wear a seat belt. Wearing a seat belt means you are protecting both yourself and your unborn baby if you are involved in a crash. Here are a few tips for comfortably and correctly wearing a seat belt whilst pregnant:

1. Place the lap sash part of the belt under the baby bulge, as low as possible. The lap part of the seat belt should sit over the upper thighs, not across the bulge.

2. It is often possible to adjust the angle of the seat belt by using a seat belt locator.

3. Make sure the sash part of the belt is in between the *******.

SEAT BELT SAFETY FACT #4

Children must be restrained in a restraint suited to their size and weight. The restraint must be correctly and securely fitted to the car. In certain cars it is possible to fit an additional lap belt to accommodate a fourth small child in the back seat. Lap belts are not recommended on their own, but are safe if used in conjunction with a properly fitted child harness.

Before moving children from a booster seat into an adult seat belt, certain conditions should be met.

1. The adult seat belt fits correctly. The lap part is low over the pelvis (not the stomach) and the sash does not touch the child’s face or neck and all slack is removed.

2. Lap/sash seat belts offer much greater protection than lap belts. Where possible put your child in a seating position with a lap/sash belt.

3. Children riding in school buses must wear a seat belt if one is available. Only one seat belt per person must be used.

SEAT BELT SAFETY FACT #5

Seat belts must always be kept in good condition. Car owners should check the condition of seatbelts in their vehicle as a standard part of vehicle maintenance routine. The following things should be checked:

1. The seat belts themselves are not twisted, cut or frayed.

2. The buckles are in good working order, engaging and releasing properly.

3. The retractors work properly. The seat belt should pull out smoothly and be fully retracted when not in use.

In many countries, such as Australia, it is illegal not to wear a seat built. By law, every person travelling in a car must wear a seat belt if one is available. Tough penalties apply for those who break the law. More and more countries around the world are embracing this fact, and the message about the importance of “buckling-up” is being spread loud and clear.

Wearing seat belts is clearly one of the easiest defensive driving techniques a driver or passenger can employ, and learning all the seat belt safety facts is the best place to start.



Suzanne

Alex Baumm asked:


From Mt. Highway, Mr. Police Officer would like to tell you the 10 Commandments of Defensive Driving:

1. Be attentive

Always pay attention. Always check your side mirrors and look far enough to see other cars not just the one in front of you. Be alert when you are near intersections and pay attention to road signals and signs. If the sign tells you it’s slippery when wet, don’t speed up or else… Pay attention to fast cars because you’ll never know if the person driving is drunk or not.

2. Yield and give way.

Yep, you are on the right way and what you are doing is just fine. But if you see one car which is running way too fast it’s wiser to give way. Because if you get hit, you may end up dead or injured, too. It pays to be forgiving and calm when you are on the road just to increase your chances of not getting hurt or killed.

3. Don’t trust the other driver.

The third rule is another cardinal rule – don’t trust the other driver. Because you’ll never really know whether the other driver is cautious or not, it’s better to pay attention and be alert at all times.

4. No alcohol, please!

Plain and simple don’t drive when you’re drunk! You need not ask the reason because that’s plain common sense and it will not take an Einstein to realize how dangerous it is to drive while one is drunk. Defensive driving is being clean from intoxicating substances.

5. Buckle up for safety.

Yeah, that’s right buckle up for safety. Use your seatbelt. Don’t worry about your pants or shirt being slightly folded when you wear seatbelt because at least you can do something to fix it because you are still alive. But if you are dead, you’ll never really know the difference between a well-pressed and a not so well-pressed shirt.

6. Wear helmet.

For motorists, always make sure that you wear your helmets on because experiences of many people will tell you how many lives were already saved by the mere act of wearing helmets. Defensive driving also means wearing your gears.

7. Never beat the red light.

Simply put, if you try beating the red light for sure you are going to give yourself a headache if are caught doing it. So, as a piece of advice don’t.

8. Be cool.

If someone overtakes or somebody honks… be cool. It’s not the end of the world anyway. Being defensive is always better.

9. Use signals.

Use your flashers and lights properly to relay your intentions. When you will be turning left it is not hard to turn on the left signal light to alert the other driver.

10. Never Play Chicken with a Train!

If you are in the Hamlet like “to be or not to be” situation, just don’t if the train is coming. A few minutes of waiting is better than not being able to experience the next minute anymore. Defensive driving is all about being patient.

Remember all these simple things on defensive driving. By following these defensive driving tips you are sure to enjoy your trips more.



Tara