Offensive and Defensive Driving

Are you an offensive or defensive driver? Driving is an everyday task for many of us, yet the way we drive has a large effect on not just your own safety but others on the road as well. Understanding the difference between these two driving techniques is crucial in reducing the number of accidents that happen. Defensive driving is a driving technique that anticipates dangerous situations so that a driver can avoid them. It involves techniques like maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front, scanning the road, avoiding distractions, not driving when tired or drowsy, being patient, and being considerate of others. On the other hand, offensive driving is considered the opposite. Offensive driving, also regarded as aggressive driving, is a driving technique that avoids dangerous situations by driving aggressively and taking no notice of other drivers’ actions. It consists of speeding in heavy traffic, tailgating, cutting drivers off, changing lanes without signaling, and weaving in and out of traffic. Most offensive driving comes from road rage or lack of knowledge/driver education. This can cause many car accidents, but if we educate ourselves on the importance of defensive driving, it can reduce the number of car accidents and deaths related to driving.

My father is an offensive driver. He has a tendency to tailgate, change lanes without signaling, and block cars attempting to pass or change lanes. Although he is a careful driver, his actions risk an accident. So far, my father has been in only one car accident, which could have been resolved if he used the defensive driving technique. I remember that car accident as I was seated in the back with my sister while my mother attempted to sleep in the passenger seat. As my father was tailgating the truck in front of him, a car suddenly attempted to merge into our lane a few cars ahead. In an instant, a pileup of vehicles crashed into each other. My father slammed on the brakes and narrowly avoided colliding with the truck, but his abrupt stop left little time for the car behind us to react, causing them to collide with our vehicle. The collision then pushed our car into the back of the truck, which had a tri-ball trailer hitch attached. This hitch ultimately destroyed our vehicle, and our insurance company deemed the car non-salvageable. This highlights the importance of how easily a defensive approach to the situation could have made a difference–had my father maintained a safe distance from the truck, it would have given both my father and the driver behind us ample time to react and avoid a collision.

On the other hand, my mother is a defensive driver. Generally, she maintains a safe distance from the car in front of her, is aware of others on the road, and avoids distractions. Her approach saved her countless times from being in an accident, and she has only had one car crash in all the years that she has been driving. Fortunately, it was not her fault. My sister and I, along with many other students, witnessed this crash happen. My sister and I were waiting to get picked up from school since school was let out early because of a tornado warning, so we were waiting at the pick-up area. Because the traffic was so heavy, my mom was halfway into the turn for the pick-up lane, meaning that she was still halfway in the previous lane. Suddenly, the vehicle that was previously in front of my mother in the lane that she was trying to get out of began reversing without warning. My mom immediately noticed this and began honking her horn in an attempt to alert the driver that she was there. Despite my mother’s efforts, the other driver in the car continued to back up, ultimately colliding with my mother’s car before the lady in the other vehicle noticed. I believe the lady in the vehicle did not check her mirror since it took her a while to notice that she just hit my mom’s car. After the police show up, they move the vehicles to the parking lot to sort out the details and write the quotes down of what happened. We overheard the other driver explain to the officer that she had “missed the turn for the pick-up lane”, prompting her to make a sudden decision to reverse. Because of the lady’s lack of awareness, she failed to notice my mother’s vehicle behind her until it was far too late. Had she been educated in defensive driving, she would have the newfound knowledge and understood the massive risk of an accident of backing up on a road in a jam-packed area. Additionally, this would inform her of the importance of staying vigilant in her surroundings and being aware of other vehicles on the road.

To reduce the number of car accidents, it’s vital to learn and implement defensive driving techniques. Numerous courses and classes are now available to learn how to use and equip defensive driving techniques on the road. These programs cover subjects like state traffic laws, vehicle knowledge, road hazards, and crash prevention techniques. These courses will help reduce the risk of potential accidents waiting to happen. The more drivers that educate themselves on these principles, the more likely that they will adopt defensive driving techniques, which will help them while driving.

Being informed on the difference between offensive and defensive driving is essential in today’s frantic world. We can all play a part in reducing the risks of dangerous situations by educating ourselves and others. By making a continuous effort to use defensive techniques instead of offensive techniques, we can create a safer road system for everyone. Educating ourselves on safety and driving skills can create a new standard for safe driving that prioritizes life instead of getting somewhere fast.