Expert Explains 5 Defensive Driving Skills Every Driver Must Know & Their Charges

DCI's ERT Squad conducts a drill during training
DCI's ERT Squad conducts a drill during training.
Photo
DCI

Did you know that there are driving schools in Kenya that teach all important off-road and defensive training courses?

Kenyans.co.ke spoke to defensive driving expert Anne, a trainer attached to one of Kenya's top driving schools, who gave more insight on this unique course.

According to Anne, defensive driving is essentially driving in a manner that utilizes safe driving strategies to enable motorists to address identified hazards in a predictable manner. 

These strategies go well beyond instruction on basic traffic laws and procedures.

A photo collage of an NTSA vehicle and an NTSA official inspecting a vehicle at an inspection centre.
A photo collage of an NTSA vehicle and an NTSA official inspecting a vehicle at an inspection centre.
Twitter
Victor Matara

“With defensive driving classes, students learn to improve their driving skills by reducing their driving risks while anticipating situations and making safe well-informed decisions.



“Such decisions are implemented based on road and environmental conditions present when completing a safe driving manoeuvre,” she explained.

Anne further revealed that participants in defensive driving must have at least two years of experience in driving before enrolling for the course.

“Before we enroll anyone in this course, they must have been actively driving for two years after which we put them through driving trials at the training before allowing them to participate in the training,” she explained.



On whether the training has a curriculum, she affirmed that indeed there are various stages and courses that drivers are taken through in the course of the training.

"We have two-stage courses for defensive driving, an Intermediate driving course that takes two days where theory and practical lessons are taught and an intermediate driving basic mechanics that takes three days," she revealed.

According to Anne, with the intermediate driving basic mechanics course, drivers are trained to detect any mechanical issue with the vehicle like a developing puncture or a faulty engine where here the driver is taught how to connect with the vehicle.



She also revealed that the charge for the intermediate driving course was Ksh 22,000 while that of intermediate driving basic mechanics was Ksh 29,000.



Anne further pointed out that other than defensive driving, drivers are also trained on various skills to use in their day-to-day lives.

"The key to any good defensive driving strategy is knowing how to avoid traffic crashes and recognize potential hazards before it's too late. That's why defensive driving courses tend to present a lot of information on crash prevention techniques and skills therein," she communicated.

1. Soft skills; These are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.



These are taught to drivers who work as chauffeurs for respectable people in society and are equipped with such skills in order to be on their best behaviour when called upon by their bosses.

Skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking sum up some of the skills required.

2. Emergency Response; Here drivers are trained on first aid and how to respond to an emergency. Their first steps to take when an accident happens and their way out from an accident.

3. Anticipate other drivers’ moves; While you can’t read other drivers’ minds, you can make an educated guess on how they are going to react. An example of this would be leaving a little extra distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you if they are a brake-happy driver.

4. Have an escape route; In all driving situations, the best way to avoid potential dangers is to position your vehicle where you have the best chance of seeing and being seen.



Having an alternate path of travel is also essential, always leave yourself an out space, a place to move your vehicle if your immediate path of travel is suddenly blocked.

5. Do not depend on other drivers; Be considerate of others but look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver is going to move out of the way or allow you to merge.

Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario.

6. Look down the road;  Instead of focusing on what’s right in front of you, make sure that you scan farther down the road.

This method is also called High Eyes driving. Here drivers focus on the horizon ahead of them instead of the car immediately in front of them.

Anne equally opined that defensive training is done under safe conditions and at no given time would a trainee be exposed to injury.



"All trainees are accompanied by a trainer in the vehicles they use. Safety measures like wearing a helmet and proper attire is ensured. We also use safe vehicles where the trainer is in full control of the situation," she noted.

On whether drivers are issued with a different driving licence after the training, Anne Maintained, "Once one is done with the training, they are issued with a certificate. Most companies and dignitaries would ask drivers to present their defensive driving certificates in case they need drivers. It is an important accolade."

Drivers in this course are taken through various environments and terrain in order to expose them and trigger their anticipation skills in case they get in such situations.

"We take them through their paces in environments with rough terrains to trigger their minds to anticipate such occurrences out there when they drive," she stated.

An elevated view of motorists along Mombasa Road on Thursday, October 14, 2019.
An elevated view of motorists along Mombasa Road on Thursday, October 14, 2019.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke
  • . .