Defensive driving: What exactly is defensive driving and how does a driver learn good defensive driving skills?

Different definitions tend to apply to the term, but defensive driving is essentially the ability to anticipate, plan for, and respond safely and effectively to the changing dynamics on the road for the purposes of avoiding accidents and contributing to a safe driving experience. Get the better results taking the best driving lesson options.

This shouldn’t sound daunting, even for new or teenage drivers. Many drivers on the road have driven accident free for decades. In fact, there are drivers who have perfect, accident-free driving records of 30 and 40 or more years. This doesn’t mean that those same drivers haven’t encountered obstacles, near misses, inattentive or inexperienced drivers, bad weather, and all the other variables that can contribute to accidents.

So, how does a driver maintain a perfectly safe driving record during a lifetime of driving? The answer is, by learning defensive driving skills and continually honing those good driving habits.

No one can control the actions of other drivers on the road, but driving defensively will help you respond safely and appropriately to avoid the risk of an accident. Some of the major problems and hazards that work against road safety include aggressive drivers, inattentiveness, and sheer carelessness – but there are many factors that create the changing dynamics of the road.

Driving is essentially a thinking activity. Learning to stay alert and plan for potential on-road scenarios are all part of defensive driving. One of the skills involved in defensive driving is learning how to anticipate and even rehearse in your mind potential changes that could occur on the road and knowing how you might effectively respond. But this is only one aspect.

Defensive driving is about being safe on the road at all times. Defensive driving is driving to save lives, as well as time and money, despite conditions around you and the actions of others. The techniques involved promote safety and decrease the risks of accidents because you are driving at lower speeds, while maintaining a keen awareness of your surroundings. Defensive driving is important for navigating through unfamiliar surroundings. You are better prepared to read signs and follow abrupt changes on the road when using defensive methods.

For those in the Greater Toronto Area, David’s Academy of Defensive Driving is a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course provider that excels in defensive driving education. This respected school has an excellent reputation as a driver training institute for offering a variety of driver-training programs by qualified professionals. The school provides graduate certification that is recognized by the Insurance Industry.