What Defensive Driving Means
The defensive mindset, the main causes of collisions, and how the course fits together.
8 min
Activities: 0 of 2
Driving to avoid collisions, whoever is at fault
Defensive driving means driving in a way that avoids collisions, whatever other road users do and whatever the conditions are. A defensive driver does not ask, "Who has priority?" first. They ask, "What could go wrong here, and how do I stay out of it?"
This matters because being right does not protect you. If another driver runs a red light and hits you, the law may say they are at fault. But you are still injured, your vehicle is still damaged, and your working day is still lost. A defensive driver saw the risk early and left room to avoid it.
Most road collisions involve some human error: a late look, a short gap, too much speed, or attention on something else. That is good news. Errors in your own driving are things you can control and improve.
Three groups of collision factors
Observation, speed choice, following distance, distraction, fatigue, attitude and health. This is the largest group and the one you control most directly.
How the course fits together
- 1
Module 1
Foundations
The mindset, vehicle checks, driving position and fitness to drive.
- 2
Module 2
Seeing and anticipating
Observation, hazard perception, blind spots and junctions.
- 3
Module 3
Space and speed
Following distance, stopping distance, bends, overtaking and reversing.
- 4
Module 4
Conditions and distraction
Weather, night, dust and heat, phones and attitude.
- 5
Module 5
Journeys and emergencies
Journey planning, fatigue, skids, breakdowns and collisions.
- 6
Module 6
Practice
Realistic cases, learning from near misses and your own plan.
Three common beliefs that cause collisions
Sort the factor
Match each example to the group it belongs to.
- A driver reading a message at a red light
- A tyre with very little tread left
- Heavy rain on a road with poor drainage
Which statement best describes defensive driving?