A defensive driving course can reduce your chances of being a victim

In August 1896, the first pedestrian was killed by a car. Since then, many have perished on the roads the world over.

The road carnage and crime are what inspired this article. We often see horrific videos of car hijackings and accidents on social media.

I’m sure most of you would agree with me that South Africa is a country of many contradictions. Some aspects of South African life are marvelous while some aspects are terrible to bear, I need not remind you about Eskom, road carnage, and crime.

Back to the social media videos that often leave one grasping for air, the comments are also horrible as the videos themselves. Some users blame the victims for not having spotted the attackers or the dangerous cars that have rammed into them.

The victims only realise too late that they are under attack or facing an accident.

So how do you avoid getting into such sticky situations?

I will not say the answer is advanced driving or defensive driving course, but the answer is that an advance and defensive driving course could drastically reduce your chances of falling victim to car hijacking or getting involved in an accident. South Africa also has one of the highest pedestrian accidents in the world. It’s like we just want to be counted in these bad stats.

Attending a course could also assist in avoiding hitting a pedestrian.

I have done many such courses over the years, and it is amazing how one still remembers the information learned as way back as the first or second course. The programme equips you with many basics such as being alert while on the road, to handling the car to get out of sticky situations. One course could help raise your road awareness to unbelievable levels.

According to Eugene Herbert, MD of MasterDrive South Africa, by making driving skills standard driving behaviour, fewer accidents could occur.

Some car manufacturers offer their driver training courses (or advanced driving) both in Gauteng and even the Western Cape. For instance, BMWSA has a full-day Safety Course they offer at their BMW xDrive Park in Midrand. The Course covers practical and theoretical driving skills on defensive and road driving, collision avoidance, skidpan control, and hijack prevention for R3500. Worth it!