Defensive driving

There are over a million road accidents each year in the UK, with 290,000 people sustaining injuries as a result. As Duck2water provides car insurance and is therefore part of the motor industry, we also provide useful advice to help people stay safe on the roads.

Defensive driving
Defensive driving is an advanced driving technique that promotes being able to identify and react to possible hazards well in advance, therefore reducing the chances of being involved in a road accident.

Here are some of the main points that make up defensive driving:

• Spot hazardous road situations early

• Maintain an escape route

• Very good driving skills

Spot hazardous road situations early
A hazardous situation can develop in a matter of seconds, through a wide range of possible causes, but most car accidents are caused by human error combined with a hazard.

Some common road hazards include:

• Bad weather conditions. Ice and rain make the road slippery, and bright sunshine and fog cause visibility problems. If you are travelling in bad weather conditions, the “four second rule” should be observed – you should be travelling four seconds behind the car in front of you.

• Aggressive or poor driving by another road user. Nearly all drivers regularly come across other people who they believe are driving badly. Defensive drivers show patience and tolerance to other road users, even if the bad driver is driving irresponsibly.

Maintain an escape route
It is important to be aware of an escape route at all times because even if you are the safest driver on the roads, the people around you may not be quite as adept. For example, if the person next to you on a dual carriageway does not see you and starts to pull into your lane, having an extra space in front or behind could prevent a road accident.

Very good driving skills
Having good driving skills is made up of two aspects; firstly, having good control over the vehicle and secondly, having an understanding on the rules and regulations that govern the roads.

Having control over the vehicle is something which most drivers believe that they have, but nearly everyone is able to improve upon their current driving skills. Whether it be holding the steering wheel correctly or learning about how cadence braking works, there are tips that most people would benefit from knowing.

Unless you have passed your theory test very recently, it is likely that some of the rules of the road and advised driving practices will have changed since you took your test. An easy and cheap way to out more about the rules and laws that govern our highway is to buy a theory test book, or perhaps go on a driving lesson if you want to put them into practice.

Defensive driving courses
Going on a defensive driving course would benefit most drivers and, if defensive driving courses were widely attended, would reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the UK ’s roads dramatically. If you attend a defensive driving course, you could help prevent a road accident as well as possibly qualifying for cheaper car insurance as a safer driver. If you are interested in attending a defensive driving course, you can find more information at www.rospa.com.

Cheaper car insurance
If you are looking for cheaper car insurance, look no further. We provide thousands of UK drivers with the up to 25% cheaper car insurance as well as half price legal expenses insurance, which can cost up to £50 with other motor insurance companies. Read about our half price legal expenses insurance.

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For more information, please see:

• Advanced driver courses
  
  
• Avoiding stress on the road
  
  
• About Duck2water
  
  
• Breakdown cover
  
  
• Types of insurance cover

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