While there are courses you can take to learn defensive driving techniques, you can also teach them to yourself over time. Through repetition and habit, you’ll quickly start driving in a way that’ll keep you safer on the roads of SA.
Here are some of your most common questions about defensive driving techniques, and their answers.
The best defensive driving technique is awareness.Being aware of your surroundings feeds into all the other defensive driving techniques you’ll learn or hear about, so start with this one if you want to be safer while driving. Awareness means focusing on what you’re doing, where you are, and what’s ahead, beside, and behind your vehicle.
If we were to sum up all defensive driving techniques into 3 main principles, they’d be:
Action: Always obey the rules of the road and have an escape plan if danger comes.
5 common distractions that plague South African drivers include:
In South Africa (and many other countries) it’s against the law to talk on the phone while driving. Because phones can be so distracting, it’s also illegal to text while driving.
Many people do use their phones for GPS capabilities or listening to music/podcasts while they drive, but this should be done without handling the phone when the vehicle is switched on or in motion.
Younger people, aged between 18 and 26, are more distracted while driving. This generation is more likely to use their phones, and they also have less driving experience. It’s important to know that driving takes focus, and many new or younger drivers get easily distracted because they haven’t been driving for as long as older people.
To drive more safely you should teach yourself defensive driving techniques. But you can also employ technology like vehicle cameras, GPS tracking, and safety alerts to your family and loved ones. Cartrack offers these as well as driver safety software for companies running fleets—both large and small.
You can avoid aggressive drivers by getting out of their way and driving at a reasonable speed if they’re around you. Always drive in the left-hand lane if possible, and let aggressive drivers pass you on the right. If someone is hounding you on the road, ignore them as best you can and consider stopping in a public area to call someone for help.
To know whether it’s safe to switch lanes, always do a 3-point check while indicating. First check your rearview mirror to see if anyone is behind you. Then check your side mirror to make sure no one is beside your vehicle. Finally, check your blindspot before eventually changing lanes.
The most important road rule in South Africa is to keep left and pass right (if it’s safe to do so). This not only helps to keep traffic flowing, but also keeps you safe on highways and main roads when others are driving faster than you are.
Going over the speed limit in South Africa can earn you a traffic fine. If your driving is reckless and exceeds the speed limit, a traffic officer might use their discretion to arrest you—especially if you aren’t in possession of a valid driver’s license or are intoxicated.
You should signal first before checking your blindspot. Your turn signal (or “indicator” as it’s commonly called in South Africa) shows others your intentions. This is important because the last place you want to be unpredictable is on a busy road.
Yes, Cartrack has software that pairs well with GPS technology and with your vehicle’s operations to provide driving behaviour data. This data can be analysed and used to improve driving.
In fact, many parents use this to keep tabs on their newly-licensed teenagers as a way to guide them on how to be better drivers. It’s also used by fleet companies to ensure road law compliance.
