Push-Pull aka Pull-Push SteeringIt's proactive:Hands are always in a position to make an immediate counter manoeuvre. … [Read more...]
Use Dipped Headlights as a Proactive Driving Technique
Being SeenMost organisations I work with have older /African spec vehicles that don't have daytime running lights (DRL) fitted. Therefore, I recommend using dipped headlights as a proactive defensive driving technique. … [Read more...]
Wearing Your Seatbelt Correctly Matters
This post is to address a few points which come up regularly in training. Wearing your seatbelt and wearing it correctly will have a significant influence on whether you survive a motor vehicle collision or not. … [Read more...]
At the Sharp End
The capacity of any fleet to effectively do the tasks intended is the responsibility of everyone working in that organisation. Everyone from the top down has to be involved otherwise standard operating procedures are never followed. Consider it as a wedge if you like. At the sharp end of the wedge there’s the vehicle. … [Read more...]
Can You Spot 6 Hazards?
This road scene may look safe; and it can be fairly safe as long as the conditions have been identified correctly … [Read more...]
Driving Murram Roads
Some say that Murram roads can be as good as Tarmac.Never.Always dangerous; however good they look. … [Read more...]
Question Page: About Convoy Procedures
Here is a short reply to a question I received from a reader which I thought may be of general interest.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi,Thanks for the contact and I hope that we can be of some help.A lot of what the military do in their convoy procedures makes sense. They are primarily addressing the most likely threat and that is of a motor vehicle collision. As with the same for any security driving. These procedures also help … [Read more...]
Defensive Driving: Knowing Your Vehicle Bubble
To drive in such a way as to avoid being involved in an accident regardless of the action of other drivers or adverse driving conditions. … [Read more...]
Understanding Target Fixation: Something Worth Looking At!
Recently, I had a training experience, where I ended up with a couple of damaged ribs and an arm twice it's normal size. The objective of the training exercise was to learn to deal with looking at where you want to go in a high stress situation and not at the distraction.Unfortunately, the student who was driving at the time, didn't handle stress very well and drove the vehicle off the track and hit me with it. I was being the distracter at the time! When questioned afterwards all he remember … [Read more...]
Preventing a 4wd Rollover on an Unsealed Road
A recent event has prompted me to revisit this subject. Fortunately, all involved were not seriously hurt but so easily could have been. Therefore, I believe it is important to address why this type of MVC occurs frequently and to seemingly "experienced" national drivers, the "old Africa hands" and newcomers alike? … [Read more...]
Applying Awareness Levels to Driving in Kenya
Preparing for my recent driving trips to Kenya, I found that road security getting worse.Everyone I spoke to, has either suffered from an incident or knows personally, of someone who has. In Nairobi alone, there are on average 64 car-jackings per week - this equates to roughly one every three hours! There are many theories as to why the situation is so bad ... and deteriorating ... but as a visitor to the city, I am more interested in how to stay out of trouble.First Line of DefenseThe … [Read more...]