Defensive Driving Skills & Collision Avoidance

What is defensive driving? It is a set of driving skills that allows you to defend yourself against possible collisions caused by bad drivers, drunk drivers, and poor weather. If you look ahead and keep your eyes moving, you will spot potential hazards more easily. Once you have identified a potential hazard and decided what to do, act immediately (Read more).

“Defensive drivers are able to avoid dangers on the road by using their safe driving practices.”

Learning Objectives

To contribute to a reduction in the risk of incidents involving employees driving various types of light motor vehicles that might result through conflict on the road, leading to property damage, injury or death.
To encourage the attendees to develop a culture of taking responsibility for the outcomes of their actions upon themselves and other road users.
To develop in the attendees a system based style of driving that reduces identified risks to a minimum

Course Key Topics – Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving Basics

Why You Should Improve Your Driving Skills
What Is Defensive Driving?
Which Driver Are You?
Five Characteristics of a Defensive Driver

What Is a Preventable Collision?

Stopping Distance Formula
How Close Is Too Close?
Following Distance Worksheet
When Someone’s on Your Tail.
Avoiding Head-On Collisions

Scanning the Road

Accelerating and Braking
Passing and Being Passed
Intersections
Important Traffic Rules

The Dangers of Speed

Evasive Maneuvers
Your Body, Your Mind & Your Driving
The Golden Rule of Safe Driving
Five Basic Groups of Drugs & How They Affect Your Driving Abilities.

Driving on Bad Roads

Driving After Dark
Driving in the Rain
Driving in Fog
Driving in Snow and Ice
Urban Driving Hazards
Rural Driving Hazards
Towing Tips

Driving Large Vehicles (LTV / HTV)

Pre-Trip Inspections
Following Distance
Sharing the Road With Pedestrians
Sharing the Road With Cyclists and Motorcyclists
Sharing the Road With Slow-Moving Vehicles
Loading and Unloading Safely
Parking and Delivering Safely

Defending Yourself Against Vehicle-Related Crime

Defending Yourself Against Carjacking
Auto Emergencies

Fleet Safety Management

Driver’s Interview Checklist
Simplified Road Test Instructions
Driver’s Daily Report
Driver of the Month Award

Case Studies

Could This Collision Have Been Prevented?
Slippin’ and Slidin’
Patience Is a Lifesaver

KEY Benefits

At the end of this Course participants should:

Understand the reasons why their participation in the driving course is required
Understand the particular issues and problems facing the drivers of light vehicles
Understand the possible effects of light vehicles on other road users
Understand the factors that affect an individual’s driving behaviour including the effects of stress fatigue and distractions
Show increased hazard perception and risk assessment skills
Display a planned and systematic defensive driving style
Understand how to avoid road crashes and that crashes are within a driver’s (their) control
Understand their social responsibility as a road user
Have updated their knowledge of road rules and procedures and understand why they should comply with the rules of the road

Course Audience

Employees who must drive automobiles (cars, vans, pickups) as part of their job.
Positions like field industrial personnel, field technicians, or personnel visiting offsite locations including delivery of small parts or equipment.

Job Interview Preparation (Soft Skills Questions & Answers)