Name: Deon Anthony Smith
From: Jacksonville, FLORIDA
Votes: 0
The standard Safe
Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations, ANSI/ASSE Z15.1, defines
defensive driving skills as “driving to save lives, time, and
money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of
others.” This definition is taken from the National Safety
Council’s Defensive Driving Course. It is a form of training for
motor vehicle drivers that goes beyond mastery of the rules of the
road and the basic mechanics of driving. Its aim is to reduce the
risk of collision by anticipating dangerous situations, despite
adverse conditions or the mistakes of others. This can be achieved
through adherence to a variety of general guidelines, such as
following the assured clear distance ahead and two second rules, as
well as the practice of specific driving techniques. Some motorists
describe defensive driving as “driving as if everyone else on
the road were drunk.” History A driver safety program called the
Driver Example Program was developed in 1964 by Chris Imhoff of the
National Safety Council. The program instituted a Defensive Driving
Course . Defensive Driving Courses, along with Instructor Development
Courses were offered beginning 1964 and 1965, typically through
corporate sponsorships. General principles Driving defensively
includes: General principles: Controlling your speed. Looking ahead
and expecting the unexpected. Being alert and distraction free.
Regarding other participants in traffic: Preparedness for all sorts
of actions and reactions of other drivers and pedestrians. Not
expecting the other drivers to do what you would ordinarily do.
Watching and respecting other drivers. Regarding your own vehicle:
Maintaining a safe following distance. Driving safely considering
weather and/or road conditions. Adjusting your speed before entering
a bend, in order to avoid applying the brakes in the middle of a
bend. Training and courses Several government agencies, non profit
organizations, and private schools have launched specialty courses
that improve the public’s driving skills. In the United States a few
of the familiar courses in defensive driving include Alive at 25, DDC
or Defensive Driving Course, Coaching the Mature Driver, Attitudinal
Dynamics of Driving, Professional Truck Driving, and DDC for
Instructors. In relation to this, the government has launched active
air bag and seat belt safety campaigns that encourage high visibility
enforcement.
