why defensive driving course meaning

by Weston Prosacco 10 min read

Defensive driving courses teach you skills and techniques to avoid problems on the road. They aim to give you the skills you need to make quick, safe judgments in response to unexpected hazards, so you can drive smarter and safer.

With defensive driving classes, students learn to improve their driving skills by reducing their driving risks by anticipating situations and making safe well-informed decisions. Such decisions are implemented based on road and environmental conditions present when completing a safe driving maneuver.

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What are the basic defensive driving skills?

Aug 10, 2021 · Today, we'll take a look at a solution that makes life safer for you, your employer, and your entire team: defensive driving courses. The 5 Elements of Defensive Driving. Defensive driving courses are for drivers of all skill or comfort levels, and they're based on five basic elements. #1: Obeying traffic rules. Traffic rules exist for a reason.

Why to take defensive driving?

Dec 24, 2021 · Taking a defensive driving course – or enrolling your drivers in one – is an excellent way to improve or ensure the safe driving practices of your drivers. While most truck drivers are generally good drivers, they have no control over what other drivers on the road do. In fact, many accidents between commercial and passenger vehicles are the fault of the …

What are some tips for defensive driving?

Feb 20, 2021 · Defensive driving courses teach you skills and techniques to avoid problems on the road. They aim to give you the skills you need to make quick, safe judgments in response to unexpected hazards, so you can drive smarter and safer. Defensive driving courses include instruction in: Driving in difficult environments, like in a storm or heavy rain

What are defensive driving classes?

Driver Safety Courses (defensive driving) are all about providing you with tools to keep yourself and others safe. The lessons you learn in defensive driving have a butterfly effect on the whole world around you. Putting the lessons into practice on the road saves lives.

Why is driving defensively important?

The importance of defensive driving cannot be overstated. As a defensive driver, you're much less likely to be involved in a crash. In turn, you're much safer and aware of what to do in the event of another driver's actions.

What is the meaning of defensive driving?

Defensive driving describes the practice of drivers who consciously reduce the dangers associated with driving. Defensive driving techniques reduce the likelihood of a collision or incident and can even save costs related to vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption, by driving smoothly and steadily.

Is it good to drive defensively?

As a defensive driver, you can avoid crashes and help lower your risk behind the wheel. If you've been out on the roads, you know that not everyone drives well — but most people think they do. Some drivers speed aggressively. Others wander into another lane because they aren't paying attention.

What is an important part of defensive driving?

An important aspect of defensive driving is to be alert and concentrate on your driving and your surroundings. If you are not alert and cannot concentrate, your response time to a hazard situation decreases, and you may not be able to react promptly.

Why driving is an important responsibility?

Driving a car is an important responsibility because you are in control of a vehicle that can cause harm to others or damage to other people's properties. Moreover, it's one of the most dangerous modes of transportation, causing around 38,000 deaths each year.Jan 31, 2022

What is an example of defensive driving?

Pay Attention To Your Surroundings – Check your mirrors, keep your eyes moving constantly, be aware of slowing cars or brake lights ahead, avoid road hazards, and pay attention to weather-related conditions which could impend safe driving.Jun 28, 2021

What is defensive driving Philippines?

Defensive driving is often defined as preventing crashes before they occur… It is the demonstration of an attitude, awareness and driving skills such as: Staying alert and keeping your eyes moving so that you can keep track of what is happening at all times. Looking for trouble spots developing around you.

What are the 3 basic principles of defensive driving?

Pass to stay alive.

Speed up to get around the other vehicle. Get back into the right lane as quickly as possible. Do not pass unless you can see far enough ahead.
May 11, 2009

What is defensive driving UK?

Defensive driving is a way of driving which can help you to keep away from problems on the road through detailed journey planning before travelling, and applying concentration, observation and anticipation whilst on the road.Jan 31, 2011

What is defensive driving course online?

Defensive Driving Course Online (4-hour and 2-hour course)

The course presents real-life driving situations, hazard recognition scenarios and defensive driving techniques to motivate drivers to change risky driving habits and behaviors to avoid collisions and traffic violations.

What describes the thinking of a defensive driver?

They consider what other drivers might do and are prepared to react. They expect no breaks and give none. Explanation Driving defensively means anticipating potential errors made by others and preparing to compensate for their mistakes.

What does it mean to drive safe?

Being a safe driver means being alert, always driving to the conditions of the road environment and being ready to take action at any time. Whether you be an experienced, older or new driver, a passenger, bike rider or pedestrian, read on for tips for keeping everyone safe on the road.Feb 9, 2017

Why do people take defensive driving classes?

Many drivers enroll in defensive driving courses for one reason: to get a traffic ticket dismissed. Completing a defensive driving course may be all that you need to do to have your ticket dismissed, but you will learn important lessons that will make you a better driver.

Why is defensive driving important?

Driving defensively has the added benefit of reducing wear and tear on your car. This is especially true of your brakes and tires. Aggressive driving leads to repeated sudden use of your brakes while you try control your vehicle, weave in and out of traffic or make turns at unsafe speeds. You can count on more frequent visits to the repair shop and higher costs of maintenance. Your car is an important investment and should be treated as such.

Do defensive drivers get tickets?

Drivers who take defensive driving courses may be less likely to get tickets for speeding and other traffic law violations. Drivers often walk away with a greater understanding of and respect for traffic laws and the consequences of violating these laws.

Traffic Crashes

Losses from traffic crashes have both social and personal impacts. Approximately 41,000 die annually as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 3,236,000 injuries. About 38% of all fatal car crashes are alcohol related with another 30% attributed to speeding.

Psychological Factors

On the roadways, drivers have to deal with several factors that can affect their driving. Though some of them are beyond the control of the driver, psychological factors can be controlled by the driver if he knows what to look for and how to handle it.

The Dynamics of a Crash

Vehicle crashes are almost always a preventable result of a series of events. The combination of speed, place of impact and size of object being impacted can determine the severity of the crash. In every accident, however, the act of one vehicle hitting another vehicle or other object is not the only collision that can occur.

Safety Equipment

Approximately half of all deaths that are result of an automobile crash could have been avoided if the victim were wearing a safety belt properly. Of course safety belts are only the most commonly thought of vehicle safety equipment.

Crash Prevention Techniques

The key to any good defensive driving strategy is knowing how to avoid traffic crashes and recognize potential hazards before it's too late. That's why defensive driving courses tend to present a lot of information on crash prevention techniques.

State Traffic Laws

The final portion of many state defensive driving curriculum requirements is state-specific traffic laws. While for many students this portion serves as a mere refresher course, state traffic laws are not always known by all students.

Defensive Driving Courses

SafeMotorist.com Driving Safety Articles: This article was written by SafeMotorist.com defensive driving staff writers and reviewed for accuracy by defensive driving instructors. All articles are based on current traffic laws and defensive driving practices.

Why do you need to take defensive driving classes?

Taking a defensive driving course will help you keep yourself and those with you safe on the road. It will also help you make sure your car doesn’t sustain damage and even if someone messes up, you’ll know what to do to keep losses low.

What is defensive driving?

What is it Exactly. Defensive driving comprises of numerous driving techniques that have been formulated to help drivers avoid potential hazards while on the road. As we have already mentioned, there may be others on the road who are not as careful as you and that is where defensive driving becomes extremely useful.

Does defensive driving reduce insurance premiums?

Apart from making you a much better driver however, taking a course in defensive driving can also help significantly reduce the amounts you pay on your insurance premiums. This is because you’re seen as less of a liability on the road as someone who has not trained in defensive driving.

Why do traffic accidents happen?

Traffic accidents can occur due to a number of reasons and on occasion, you might be involved in something that is entirely someone else’s fault. The problem is, regardless of whom there is to blame, the damage will already be done.

What is defensive driving?

By driving defensively, you are taking preventive actions that reduce your risk and the risk of others driving near you. Here are 5 defensive driving tips that all drivers should be aware of whenever they decide to hit the road to drive anywhere.

Why is defensive driving important?

Because it lessens the natural fear that many drivers have, it reduces the chances of getting involved in a car accident.

Can you use a cell phone while driving?

If you are using your cell phone while driving, you won’t be paying full attention to your driving and you certainly won't be paying sufficient attention to the other drivers around you. Too many people underestimate the risk of using cell phones while driving, but they are extremely distracting.

How to stay predictable in defensive driving?

One of the keys to defensive driving is in making sure your driving is predictable by others, and the best way to stay predictable is to follow the signs and signals exactly. Also, remember, you should never follow what the driver or drivers ahead of you are doing. What if the other driver is ignoring the road signs or is not the road signs.

How to drive defensively?

That includes focusing on how close your vehicle is to the car ahead of you and always make sure you are at a safe enough distance to stop safely. Sometimes, it is necessary to come to a fast stop and there may not be enough room for you to brake safely.

How many car lengths between car and car ahead of you?

A good rule of thumb is to make sure there are at least two car lengths between your car and the car ahead of you. Getting involved in a rear-end accident, even if it wasn’t your fault, could increase your auto insurance rate and other liabilities.

What is defensive driving?

Defensive driving also teaches you how to react calmly. When danger presents itself on the road, most people panic and overreact. For example, when hydroplaning, many drivers slam on the brakes or oversteer to regain control of the car, but doing so only makes the situation worse. A defensive driving course teaches you how to handle situations like ...

Why is defensive driving important?

Because defensive driving is proactive rather than reactive, it makes you more alert, helps you drive more safely, and helps you avoid collisions. Defensive driving also teaches you how to react calmly. When danger presents itself on the road, most people panic and overreact.

What is traffic school?

Traffic school provides a refresher course in traffic laws and safe driving principles. Most drivers who attend traffic school are instructed to do so by a California court when they get a traffic ticket. In California, certain traffic violations add unwelcome points to your public driving record and result in costly fines.

Can you change the behavior of other drivers?

Remember, you can’t change the behavior of other drivers . You can only control your driving and adjust it according to what’s around you. Because defensive driving is proactive rather than reactive, it makes you more alert, helps you drive more safely, and helps you avoid collisions. Defensive driving also teaches you how to react calmly.

How long is the IDriveSafely course?

The course takes only eight hours to finish, and you have the choice between a text-based or video course.

Do you have to pay a fine if you attend traffic school?

You will still have to pay your fine even if you attended traffic school. Not all traffic violations are eligible for traffic school. In California, you are not eligible for traffic school if you’re cited for any of the following: Non-moving violations, like parking. Equipment violation.

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