Ten Top Tips for Defensive Driving

These easy to adopt behavioural changes are all you need to create a buffer zone around your car.

1. Master the Art of Observation, Don't Just Look. There's a profound difference between a casual glance and a truly observant eye. Your vision should be a dynamic tool, constantly scanning, assessing, and planning. Look where you want the car to go, but more importantly, look for potential hazards before they materialise. Averted glances are for amateurs; true experts see everything.
2. Drive with 'Throttle Mastery.' The brake pedal is a tool of last resort, not a primary control. True masters of the road use the throttle with finesse. By anticipating the flow of traffic and reading the road ahead, you can adjust your speed with subtle inputs to the accelerator, ensuring a smoother, safer, and more efficient journey. Strive to drive a full journey with minimal braking.
3. Perfect the 'System of Car Control' (COAST). The police driving bible, Roadcraft, preaches a systematic approach for a reason: it works. Before any hazard, you should consciously run through a sequence: Concentration, Observation, Anticipation, Speed, Position, and Transmission. This isn't just for trainees; it's a discipline that should be ingrained in every thinking driver.
4. Eradicate Distractions: Your Car is Not Your Office or Your Lounge. The modern car is a technological marvel, but it's also a breeding ground for distraction. Using a mobile phone while driving is not just illegal; it's a dereliction of your primary duty – to drive. When you are behind the wheel, your singular focus must be on the road. Everything else can wait.
5. Always Have an Escape Route. Never allow yourself to be boxed in. In every situation, from motorway traffic to a busy city street, maintain a space cushion around your vehicle. This "survival bubble" is your lifeline, affording you the time and space to react to the unpredictable actions of others.
6. Adjust Your Speed for the Hazard, Not Just the Limit. The posted speed limit is a maximum, not a target. A true defensive driver understands that the safe speed is often significantly lower than what the sign permits. Rain, poor visibility, tight bends, and the presence of vulnerable road users all demand a commensurate reduction in your velocity.
7. Assume Nothing, Trust No One. While a pessimistic outlook on life is draining, a healthy dose of scepticism on the road is essential for survival. Assume that other drivers will make mistakes. Anticipate that a car waiting at a junction will pull out, or that a pedestrian will step into your path. This mindset keeps you prepared for the unexpected.
8. Perfect Your Positioning for Maximum Vision and Safety. The patch of tarmac you occupy is a critical defensive tool. Position your vehicle to maximise your view of the road ahead, particularly through bends. Equally, position yourself to be seen by other road users. This proactive approach to your road positioning can prevent countless near-misses.
9. Drive with a 'Quiet Mind.' Aggression, impatience, and stress have no place behind the wheel. A calm and focused driver is a safe driver. If you find your emotions getting the better of you, pull over when it is safe to do so and take a moment to reset. Your mindset is as crucial as your skill set.
10. Never Stop Learning. The day you believe you have nothing more to learn about driving is the day you become a danger to yourself and others. Every journey is an opportunity to refine your skills, to critique your own performance, and to strive for that elusive, yet worthy, goal of driving perfection. Consider advanced driver training; it's an investment that pays the ultimate dividend.

Now it would be easy to read this and instantly forget all of the above next time you set off in your car. Think about how habits are formed and see if you can adopt individual measures one at a time. Print off this list and practice one at a time on future journeys. Driving should be challenging - you should be concentrating far harder! Turn off the autopilot!