Developing Defensive Drivers

Defensive drivers are made, not born. Over thousands of years, the human eye and brain have evolved to process information gathered at walking speed. Then Henry Ford invents the car, and soon we’re all cruising along at 60-plus trying to make sense of the world whizzing by at a blur.

You need to train your eyes to compensate for the increased speeds we operate at now, and it’s hard work to learn how to comprehend everything you see at high speeds, especially when you’re not internally wired for it. As a result, old driving habits die hard. Bad driving habits are even tougher to put to rest.

We all develop bad driving habits over time. Remember back to when you went for your road test to get your driver’s license? Remember when the driver examiner instructed you to change lanes? Here’s what he was looking for and grading you on: First, he wanted to see you indicate your intentions to change lanes by signaling your move early. He then looked to see if you checked your rear view mirror, your side mirror, and finally if you looked over your shoulder to check your blind spot prior to making the actual lane change. He watched closely to see if you followed a number of key processes that would allow you to accomplish this manoeuvre safely.

Now, fast-forward to today. From what you see happening around you in traffic, do you really think all drivers still use the safe-driving techniques they learned in school and used to pass the provincial driving exam? Why are there so few people driving defensively on the highways?

First, if we were routinely scrutinized, coached, and evaluated just like we were on the day we took our driving test, bad driving habits would not be allowed to develop.

Second, most of the time there are no direct consequences for driving aggressively or not paying attention while driving. Every time a driver is able to change lanes without using his signal and does not get himself involved in an accident, he gets what I call “positive reinforcement.” If this happens enough times, this bad practice with no negative outcome will become a driving habit, which the driver may even start to believe is OK. We as safety professionals know that, statistically, if this driver moves lanes enough times without using his turn signals, he’ll end up paying the price.

Modifying behavior and driving habits is best accomplished with a combination of classroom training with follow-up in-vehicle coaching. I personally like the Smith System Driver Improvement program. It combines classroom theory with actual in-vehicle hands on coaching.

Long overdue, there are some training materials that don’t require organizing a formal group meeting in order to deliver them. The logistics of holding a driver meeting and the costs incurred can make safety training both nearly impossible and cost prohibitive for many carriers. Consider using training programs available on CD-ROM, video, or audio cassette. These tools allow drivers to train on a timetable that better suits them, and are very cost-effective for the carrier on a cost per person basis.

But remember, while there are plenty of excellent defensive driving programs on the market that offer classroom education and in-vehicle coaching to help you, they’re only really effective in the long term if their message is reinforced and the training is ongoing. You’ll have to allocate and provide training dollars, time, and professional resources.

In the short term, this may mean some lost productivity and money spent, but the longterm payback is huge in driver loyalty, team-building, and true accident-cost reductions.

I have a few clean-up items before I finish. Hats off to New York for its ban on distractions like talking on a cell phone or shaving while driving. Nova Scotia has similar legislation pending, and others are bound to follow.

And finally, have you seen the hair replacement commercial where the guy says, “I’m not just the president of the company, I’m also a client”? Not long ago, I had a well-known Toronto-based cartage company’s truck pass me doing about 120 klicks. His actions and vehicle speed posed no threat to me or any one else, but the truck caught my eye because of the advertisement on its side. It read “X-Copper: We Fight Traffic Tickets.” Go figure?