Defensive is a term used to describe the good driving technique which should be adopted by all drivers. Usually regarded as advanced driving, defensive driving is a system which leads the driver to approach the task in such a way as to anticipate and compensate for all possible risks.
Over time all drivers tend to develop habits or adopt approaches and attitudes which are not conducive to safe driving practice. Practical on-road training is designed to identify, highlight and correct such potentially dangerous and costly faults.
The importance of training drivers to a higher more skilful level may be judged from the current accident levels. Each year there are approximately 300 people killed on our roads, with a fatal accident costing €2,280,000 and a serious injury €304,600?
Our problem solving approach serves to focus attention on the need for improved anticipation and provides practical training in best driving techniques for minimising the accident risk.
The following mnemonic is useful for safer driving – ACOST – anticipation, concentration, observation, space and time.
Drivers who have passed an advanced test have a 50-70pc lower accident rate than the average driver.
Advanced Driving Tests in Ireland are provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Institute of Advanced Motorists
RoSPA Phone: 0044 (0)121 248 2000 Web site: www.rospa.com IAM Phone: 0044 (0)20 8996 9600 E:enquiries@iam.org.uk;iam.org.uk