A good driver is more than just someone who holds a license. It is about having a combination of some mental characteristics that ensure safety for oneself and others on the road. A determination to concentrate on the job of driving, anticipation, etc form part of a good driver’s attributes. Below are some key characteristics of a good/defensive driver.
Knowledge: A good driver must have a good knowledge of the highway code, road traffic laws, rules and regulations and how the vehicle functions. He or she must know the capabilities and the limitations of the vehicle being driven, the limitation and allowances the law and highway code have established and the common sense of applying them. Not all lawful actions are safe or suitable, so the driver must be ready to compensate for the other road users’ errors as well as other factors that may cause an accident.
Skill: The vehicle as a machine is an engineering piece. Therefore, anyone driving or operating it must understand how it functions and how laws of physics affects its usage and operation. This is where skill comes in. A good driver must master the interactions and relativities of issues like speed/velocity, vehicle height or size and how they affect stability, traction, cornering etc, skill is very important if the driver must prevent an accident.
Attitude: A driver can have all the skill and knowledge and still abuse the skill as well as break rules deliberately. He may violate traffic light rule because he thinks he is in a hurry. That is impatience and unacceptable. Drivers have allowed anger to influence their driving, resulting in road rage, abusive or offensive words and confrontations. Some detest being overtaken by other vehicles and so would increase their speed to prevent the overtaking. Such are bad attitudes that should not be found in good drivers. Rather, a good must have a positive approach to issues. He must have a good attitude.
A good attitude helps avoid road rage
Observation: A good driver does not just look but sees, analyzes, devices the best approach and acts proactively. What the driver sees when scanning the road, vehicle cluster and the environment, should determine his next line of action. An observant driver considers the speed of other drivers or road users, their behavior and possible intention.
Anticipation: Beyond reacting to the unexpected, being proactive is very important. It is not enough to think that the other road user may take an action that can cause an accident but you must take necessary actions that are capable of reducing risk and compensating for the unsafe acts of others. That is what defensive driving is about, expect the unexpected and take proactive measures to prevent an accident not just reacting to such actions.
Concentration: A good driver does not allow anything divide his attention. When a driver’s attention is divided, anything can happen because at that point, he is not in charge and will act when his attention is brought back and at which time it might be too late. He can not be proactive when he is not concentrating and before you know it, it is already bad news. A good driver just drives.
A good driver just drives
Planning: When a driver takes actions on the road as the situation presents itself without sufficient scanning and analysis of the road conditions, the outcome can be unpleasant. There must first be a plan for the journey and a constantly reviewed set of actions to ensure safe driving on the road by the driver.
Awareness: A driver should be able to connect cause and effect, a set of actions practices or habit with possible outcomes; and know where the risk lies or how they eventually put his driving at risk. For example, what is the connection between rest and driving safely or alcohol and accident prevention etc?
Health: Health is everything in safe driving. A sick driver can become dizzy or fall asleep. Slow reaction can result. A driver must be fit to drive a vehicle or the vehicle can become a very deadly machine.
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