Court Compliant Courses

Defensive Driving Saves Lives And Money

Driving is a complex set of behaviors which is passed on to us and influenced by parents and other adults, books, movies, TV and more. We are also affected by personal values that we have come to accept as normal and reasonable.

Unfortunately some of these values that we sometimes see as acceptable have a negative impact on us and other road users.

Examples of these types of values are

• Territoriality, dominance, and competition as an acceptable driving style
• Not accepting that other drivers may have different needs and skill levels
• Supporting the concept of getting even with other drivers either for revenge or to ‘modify’ their habits
• Seeing risk taking in driving as being desirable and acceptable
• Condoning aggressiveness, disrespect, and the expression of hostility

These affective norms are negative and anti-social. We as drivers must develop methods to reduce the attractiveness of these aggressive norms and to increase the attractiveness of positive and cooperative driver roles.

Inexperience is also an issue. Most inexperienced drivers have learned to drive in smaller cars, with relatively small engines. They have not yet developed good judgemental and perceptual skills. They generally do not have experience in larger, more powerful vehicles, yet their licence allows them to drive these vehicles and even tow a trailer or van. Their experience in differing driving conditions is limited.

When inexperienced drivers move to a larger vehicle, they generally receive no training in how to handle the vehicle’s size, power and braking ability, and how to use these safely and efficiently. Neither have they had the opportunity to develop their spatial awareness. While speeding infringements are common, this can reflect inexperience and lack of training rather than undesirable driving attitudes.

Our aim is to transform inexperience and aggressive traits into the more positive and cooperative traits of defensive and supportive driving. This cannot be done by the external application of enforcement alone. The desire to change our driving attitudes comes from within. We must take responsibility for safe outcomes. Self-improvement techniques must be taught so that drivers can better regulate their own emotional behavior.

When the court orders an Advanced Driving Course, then AD4WD can provide a balanced, compliant solution.