What is Defensive Driving? And the Difference With Safety and Aggressive Driving

For many, the term “defensive driving” may still sound strange, especially compared to the term “safety driving,” which is more familiar since it was introduced earlier. Speaking of the definition, both terms literally refer to safe driving. Still, if we look further into it, this is not just about how people drive.

Do you want to know more about defensive driving? Let’s check some of the things below and understand them to make your trip more comfortable and safe.

Getting to Know Driving Techniques

Before we go deeper into defensive driving, understanding the several types of driving can be a great start. In automotive, there are three ways to drive: safety, defensive, and aggressive driving.

Safety Driving

Is a driving method that complies with the driving safety standards of certain countries. In Indonesia, driving rules are regulated by Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation. That way, safety driving is the minimum skill a person must have to drive on the highway.

Defensive Driving

Quoting from various sources, defensive driving means “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.

Furthermore, in defensive driving, the driver must be able to anticipate the possibilities that may interfere with safety on the road and how to mitigate them. If safety driving refers more to driving abilities (skills), then defensive driving is one step further because the driver is equipped with particular driving behavior and attitude as well as a problem-solving approach.

Aggressive Driving

As the name implies, aggressive drivers are those who tend to be aggressive and do not pay attention to their safety and others. This type of driver endangers themselves, their passengers, and others around them.

As an illustration, when you can overtake another vehicle, it means you already possess the ability of safety driving. However, when you overtake while provoking other vehicles, you’re in the aggressive driving category. Meanwhile, in defensive driving, you’re not only able to overtake but also aware of the risks that can occur when you overtake, including estimating the condition of the vehicle you’re overtaking.

4 Essential Points on Defensive Driving

There are at least four essential points that defensive drivers need to have, including alertness, awareness, attitude, and anticipation. 

Alertness

Anything can happen on the road when you’re driving. That’s why you must always be alert and sensitive to the surrounding environment, including being aware of mistakes made by other riders. For this reason, avoid excessive driving distractions, like using your phone or choosing songs.

Awareness

Awareness means being aware of your driving abilities and how healthy and fit you are. You should refrain from driving if you’re unfit. Awareness is also required to drive according to the applicable regulations.

Attitude

Attitude is also needed when you're driving. As a driver, you shouldn’t be selfish or provocative. Without having a good attitude and mentality, you’re doing aggressively. Remember that you’re sharing public infrastructure, so ensure you get in line and don’t harm others.

Anticipation 

Anticipation ability is required when you’re on the road. As we know, many things can happen while driving. For this reason, it’s necessary to have the problem-anticipating ability that could come from anywhere.

Defensive driving can be developed through habit, but this will be much better if you gain the ability from classes and training from experts, like the 3,400 TRAC drivers, who are equipped with defensive driving training to provide the best service for customers.

To experience the feeling of riding with defensive driving certified drivers when, make sure to book a ride with TRAC. TRAC provides car rental service for both your personal use and corporate use. Besides that, TRAC drivers are always on the forefront of providing excellent services along with other values, such as being on time, anticipative, neat and clean, warm in hospitality, safe and responsible when driving, expansive route knowledge, and respectful of customer’s privacy.

For more information on TRAC’s drivers service, you can stop by TRAC’s representative offices in your city. TRAC has an extensive network spread across cities in Indonesia, so, do not hesitate to use TRAC car rental service and get the defensive driving experience. You can also contact TRAC’s Customer Assistance Center at 1500009 or email rco.nasional@trac.astra.co.id.