Paul Messam, Gleaner Writer

"Defensive driving is driving to save lives, time and money." That's the message from the Advanced Driver Training Centre (ADTC), an accredited driving school located in St. Catherine. In order to cut the recklessness and carnage on the roads, a multifaceted approach is necessary.

"A driver needs to develop a system for seeing, thinking and responding to traffic situations," says Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mervin McNab, Safe-School coordinator. According to DSP McNab, the more complex a traffic situation is, the more difficult it is to predict the outcome. "One's ability to predict improves as a driver gains knowledge and experience in making judgements," he says.

In order to carry out a decision to avoid conflict in a traffic situation, a defensive driver needs to take one or more of the following specific actions:

1. Accelerate 2. Brake

3. Communicate 4. Steer

Accelerate

A driver can change speed by removing his foot from the accelerator and slowing down. Sometimes a driver will decide to execute the decision to change speeds by accelerating to get out of another driver's way or to go speedily around an obstruction in the roadway.

Brake

The amount of braking needed will vary with the situation, speed, traction, and condition of the brake. Therefore, when a driver makes a decision to change speed by braking, he needs to check the traction available on the road surface. He should avoid locking the brakes in an emergency to stop. Locked brakes make the car impossible to steer. The front wheels must be turning to provide traction for steering. So, when braking suddenly, check for vehicles to the rear.

Communicate

When a driver communicates he should do so early enough so the other driver has time to accelerate, brake and steer in time to, and act defensively in time. Many times, drivers execute a combination of several actions to prevent a collision on the roads. In one instance, a driver may need to brake and steer out of a conflict situation. While on the other hand, he may need to communicate, steer and accelerate.

Steer

Whenever a driver decides to steer away from a potential traffic problem, he should execute just the right amount of steering necessary. Remember that steering too much can add problems, especially at high speeds. Also, oversteering can cause the drive to lose control of the car. For example, if he is travelling on any of the roads in Patrick City, Duhaney Park or any road for that matter and he sees a large pothole immediately ahead of his car, if he oversteers to the right in avoiding the pothole, he may enter the oncoming traffic space. It is also vital to maintain one's good following distance.