A driver’s licence is a privilege – but no guarantee that the motorist will be a safe driver. Almost 90% of all road traffic accidents in South Africa can be attributed to driver error. While some of these accidents might be caused by a loss of concentration or mistakes made by drivers, many are a result of reckless or unlawful driving.

Defensive driving techniques that could save your life

In order to protect yourself from the dangerous or reckless drivers you encounter on the road, it is necessary for you to work on your driving, improve your skills and techniques, thereby reducing your risk on the road – this is the essence of defensive driving.

The Automobile Association (AA) has provided valuable advice on defensive driving:

  • A motorist is not justified in keeping to the right-hand lane and obliging traffic to overtake him on his left simply because he is driving at the legally-allowed maximum speed. Another motorist may have a valid reason for exceeding the limit, and to obstruct him unreasonable may lead to the building up of a dangerous situation in which bad temper may overcome good judgment.
  • In an emergency, switch on your emergency hazard lights as well as your headlights and drive at a safe speed. Obey the rules of the road and don’t drive recklessly.
  • Although driving in the emergency lane during daylight hours is permitted under certain provisos, following traffic has no right to force traffic ahead to move across the yellow line to allow overtaking – it may be courteous to move over but it places the onus on you to ensure that it is safe to do so.
  • The AA urges motorists to be more tolerant and patient on our roads by driving defensively, rather than aggressively.

Defensive driving is defined as ‘driving to save lives, time and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.’ However, mistakes happen and it’s very difficult to anticipate the action of every driver around you. It’s for this reason that Matrix developed Crash Alert. If you are involved in a collision, all MX3 units are fitted with an impact sensor that will send a signal to the control room. After assessing the situation, help will be dispatched to the exact location of the vehicle using the GPS co-ordinates from your Matrix unit.

Should you require additional information, or to enquire about additional value-added services, please contact our Customer Care Department on 011 654 8090 or at customercare@mixtelematics.co.za.

Source: Arrive Alive