Road Safety and Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means anticipating hazards before they become emergencies. The core habits are observation, anticipation, and space cushion. Scan far ahead, check mirrors regularly, and maintain a gap you can stop within.
The two-second rule is the baseline following distance in dry conditions. In rain, at night, or when following a heavy vehicle, double it. Speed should always be adjusted to conditions, not just the posted limit - a limit is a maximum for ideal conditions, not a target.
Hazards to recognise:
- Blind spots - always shoulder-check before changing lanes.
- Vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and children near schools; give them extra room.
- Fatigue and distraction - mobile phone use while driving is dangerous and illegal.
- Wet roads and potholes - reduce speed, avoid sudden braking, and increase following distance.
Traps in questions:
- Treating the speed limit as a safe speed in rain or fog - it is not.
- Believing a horn or headlights give you priority - they only warn.
- Forgetting that defensive driving means assuming other drivers may make mistakes.
Rule of thumb: "See and be seen." If you cannot see far enough to stop safely, slow down. Use dipped headlights in rain and at dusk so others see you.
Worked example: Following a truck on a wet road at 60 km/h. The safe gap is not two seconds but at least four seconds, because stopping distance increases on wet tarmac and the truck blocks your view ahead.