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The words and opinions expressed here are my own, and do not, in any way, represent the views of my employer (OnCourse).
You are here: Home / Archives for Driving

Anticipating Hazards from a Distance

Published February 4, 2019 By Mick Farmer

Anticipating road hazards

This is a photo I took a while back and highlights the importance of identifying /anticipating hazards from a distance. In this case, change in road, weather and light conditions. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Driving, Snapshots Tagged With: driving, hazards, snapshot

Key Benefits to Using Push-Pull Steering

Published July 1, 2015 By Mick Farmer

Push Pull Steering

Push-Pull aka Pull-Push Steering It's proactive: Hands are always in a position to make an immediate counter manoeuvre. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, road safety

Use Dipped Headlights as a Proactive Driving Technique

Published June 26, 2015 By Mick Farmer

Dipped Headlights Comparison - With and Without

Being Seen Most 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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, hazards, headlights

Wearing Your Seatbelt Correctly Matters

Published March 19, 2015 By Mick Farmer

seatbelt-worn-properly

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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: road safety, safety gear, seatbelts

At the Sharp End

Published June 30, 2014 By Mick Farmer

Bangladesh Training Photo

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...]

Filed Under: Driving, This and That Tagged With: driver training

Can You Spot 6 Hazards?

Published April 29, 2014 By Mick Farmer

Spot Hazards

This road scene may look safe; and it can be fairly safe as long as the conditions have been identified correctly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, road safety

Driving Murram Roads

Published April 15, 2014 By Mick Farmer

Murram Road

Some say that Murram roads can be as good as Tarmac. Never. Always dangerous; however good they look. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, road safety

Question Page: About Convoy Procedures

Published June 15, 2009 By Mick Farmer

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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: convoy, questions

Defensive Driving: Knowing Your Vehicle Bubble

Published September 26, 2008 By Mick Farmer

Vehicle Bubble Illustration

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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving

Understanding Target Fixation: Something Worth Looking At!

Published March 12, 2007 By Mick Farmer

cow crossing road - target fixation

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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, target fixation

Preventing a 4wd Rollover on an Unsealed Road

Published June 8, 2006 By Mick Farmer

4wd Rollover - Landcruiser

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...]

Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving, off-road driving

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