I remember my very first driving lesson…totally exhilarating for me…not so much for my teacher a.k.a. Dad.
We were in the “Green Machine”, Dad's huge hunter green Cadillac with plush velour seats, an 8 track and some serious power. Woot! I was ready!
Sitting in a huge open empty parking lot, on a weekend where no one was around (for their safety, not mine I now realize) my mind was already on a Friday night cruising down the Waikiki Strip with my friends in the car and blasting some great music and feeling cool.
My father was probably feeling anything but cool but he didn't show it. A great teacher, he had the patience and calm voice that masked any apprehension he might have had thinking about his teenage daughter actually driving. Especially in his prized Green Machine.
The one thing I recall every time I get behind the wheel that he said to me during our first driving lesson and every lesson after was “You have to be a defensive driver.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“No matter how good of a driver you may think you are and whether or not you have the right of way, you have to be ready to react and defend against another driver's mistake or any given situation including accidents or bad weather. You have to be defensive and watch out for everything going on at all times.”
Well, that statement sure did hit the brakes of my fantasy of cruising obliviously down the road in my own little bubble.
That's right…there are other cars out there… hmm
People driving, people walking on the side walk, drivers changing lanes, entering the roads, people with kids in the car…. and not all of them are going to be aware or paying attention. In fact many of them will be in their own little bubble.
So it was my job, as my father pointed out, to be responsible for my personal safety and be a safe driver and be aware and ready to adapt to anything that might happen.
Years later when I moved to Vegas and did a stint in executive protection work, I took a defensive driving course and realized just how helpful dad's first driving lessons were.
The EP driving course was based on how to drive with a ‘principle' in your vehicle who you and the other agents were responsible to keep safe and protect. EP work sometimes utilized a lead and follow car, which made things easier…but this wasn't always the case. Sometimes you were solo with your client.
Many of the EP defensive driving points can be applied to daily driving for civilians and if you are transporting your family then they are your ‘principles' you are responsible to keep safe. And if you are alone, you are your own principle.
Not all of the defensive driving points can be covered in just one blog, but I will share a few basic points and in an upcoming segment that will air, we will show these points and more in action.
- BE AWARE
It is easy to be distracted or to zone out behind the wheel.
Many of us might think we could use the drive time to catch up on voice mails or think about dinner plans or think about anything else other than the actual drive that is happening in real time.
Keep in mind that we are sharing the road with other 10 ton pieces of metal being driven by other people who also might have their mind on everything but the drive…so we need to make sure we are the ones who are aware, in the moment and alert.
-CHECK YOUR 6, AND EVERY OTHER DIRECTION AROUND AND CHECK THEM OFTEN
Know what's behind you not just in the lane behind you but also what cars are behind that car as well as in any other lanes and off the roads, along side you and in front of you. Check your rear view mirrors and your side mirrors often. Situations will change often and quickly and if for some reason you have to brake or move forward or to the sides suddenly you want to know what's around so you can react and adapt accordingly.
-HAVE YOUR OWN DANCE SPACE AND KEEP IT A NICE BIG WIDE ONE
We all know that tail gate driver who wants to cram up on to the car in front of them as if somehow that action is going to make traffic move faster. Don't be ‘that guy'.
We want to keep a nice roomy bubble of space in front of us, behind us and to the sides of us in case we need that space and time to move out of the way if something happens and we need to get off the road.
We need to keep room to maneuver.
- DO NOT STOP RIGHT AT THE LINE AT RED LIGHTS AND DO NOT BE ALIGNED WINDOW TO WINDOW WITH THE CARS ALONGSIDE YOU
Why? In the EP world one of the reasons is because we don't want our principle to be in the line of fire for anything. Weird looks, gun fire, items thrown into our cars, photos taken, you name it.
Well, you are your own principle and your family is too. Keep out of the line of fire and stop where you aren't aligned with the ‘Creepy McCreeperson' next to you.
And why not stop right at the line at an intersection?
Because if some yahoo is busy texting and strikes the car behind your or your car and you are right at the line, you can be pushed into the intersection…exactly where we do not want to be. Leave some safety space.
-DON'T ADVERTISE YOUR VALUABLES ON THE SEATS AND LOCK YOUR DOORS
Keep the purses, gym bags, latest purchase from Best Buy and all valuables on the floor in the back behind the passenger seat rather than on the passenger seats. If we stop at an intersection and we are advertising valuables out in the open, it's easy for a criminal to smash and grab or simply open the door if you forgot to lock them and grab,especially for distracted drivers who use red lights to ‘catch up on their texts'.
Lock the doors, put the valuables out of sight, be even more aware when you have to stop.
And especially for parents with kids in the back seat or babies in car seats – make sure the doors are locked and engage the child lock so the kids can't unlock their own doors or roll down their windows.
-UNLESS YOU ARE TURNING OR EXITING, USE THE MIDDLE LANE
The side lanes are for cars that are turning. Along with being slower moving due to the turners, these side lanes are not the safest spots. If we have to stop, we are right along side where potential smash and grabbers, carjackers and problems may be as well as pedestrians who might not be paying attention and hanging over the curb half way on to the road.
-IT'S A CHESS GAME
We have to be defensive and yet offensive at the same time. Driving is all about strategy and being ready for the thing that might happen so that you can react to it, then be able to act to move away from any danger.
My dad used to play the ‘what ifs' scenarios while we were driving
“So what if that car in front of us had to slam their brakes, where would you go?”
“What if you had to hit your brakes? Who is behind you right now?”
“What about if the car to your left suddenly veered towards you? Are you clear to move?”
“What if someone jumped at your car at the light and tried to get inside? Is your door locked?”
Yes, it some of these defensive actions may seem extreme but we have to keep in mind that not everyone is nice out there and ultimately we are the ones responsible for our personal safety.
Be aware, be safe and remember, defense!
For other great tips on Defensive Driving check out the link below and stay tuned for the segment covering this topic and expanding on street safety.
We were in the “Green Machine”, Dad's huge hunter green Cadillac with plush velour seats, an 8 track and some serious power. Woot! I was ready!
Sitting in a huge open empty parking lot, on a weekend where no one was around (for their safety, not mine I now realize) my mind was already on a Friday night cruising down the Waikiki Strip with my friends in the car and blasting some great music and feeling cool.
My father was probably feeling anything but cool but he didn't show it. A great teacher, he had the patience and calm voice that masked any apprehension he might have had thinking about his teenage daughter actually driving. Especially in his prized Green Machine.
The one thing I recall every time I get behind the wheel that he said to me during our first driving lesson and every lesson after was “You have to be a defensive driver.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“No matter how good of a driver you may think you are and whether or not you have the right of way, you have to be ready to react and defend against another driver's mistake or any given situation including accidents or bad weather. You have to be defensive and watch out for everything going on at all times.”
Well, that statement sure did hit the brakes of my fantasy of cruising obliviously down the road in my own little bubble.
That's right…there are other cars out there… hmm
People driving, people walking on the side walk, drivers changing lanes, entering the roads, people with kids in the car…. and not all of them are going to be aware or paying attention. In fact many of them will be in their own little bubble.
So it was my job, as my father pointed out, to be responsible for my personal safety and be a safe driver and be aware and ready to adapt to anything that might happen.
Years later when I moved to Vegas and did a stint in executive protection work, I took a defensive driving course and realized just how helpful dad's first driving lessons were.
The EP driving course was based on how to drive with a ‘principle' in your vehicle who you and the other agents were responsible to keep safe and protect. EP work sometimes utilized a lead and follow car, which made things easier…but this wasn't always the case. Sometimes you were solo with your client.
Many of the EP defensive driving points can be applied to daily driving for civilians and if you are transporting your family then they are your ‘principles' you are responsible to keep safe. And if you are alone, you are your own principle.
Not all of the defensive driving points can be covered in just one blog, but I will share a few basic points and in an upcoming segment that will air, we will show these points and more in action.
- BE AWARE
It is easy to be distracted or to zone out behind the wheel.
Many of us might think we could use the drive time to catch up on voice mails or think about dinner plans or think about anything else other than the actual drive that is happening in real time.
Keep in mind that we are sharing the road with other 10 ton pieces of metal being driven by other people who also might have their mind on everything but the drive…so we need to make sure we are the ones who are aware, in the moment and alert.
-CHECK YOUR 6, AND EVERY OTHER DIRECTION AROUND AND CHECK THEM OFTEN
Know what's behind you not just in the lane behind you but also what cars are behind that car as well as in any other lanes and off the roads, along side you and in front of you. Check your rear view mirrors and your side mirrors often. Situations will change often and quickly and if for some reason you have to brake or move forward or to the sides suddenly you want to know what's around so you can react and adapt accordingly.
-HAVE YOUR OWN DANCE SPACE AND KEEP IT A NICE BIG WIDE ONE
We all know that tail gate driver who wants to cram up on to the car in front of them as if somehow that action is going to make traffic move faster. Don't be ‘that guy'.
We want to keep a nice roomy bubble of space in front of us, behind us and to the sides of us in case we need that space and time to move out of the way if something happens and we need to get off the road.
We need to keep room to maneuver.
- DO NOT STOP RIGHT AT THE LINE AT RED LIGHTS AND DO NOT BE ALIGNED WINDOW TO WINDOW WITH THE CARS ALONGSIDE YOU
Why? In the EP world one of the reasons is because we don't want our principle to be in the line of fire for anything. Weird looks, gun fire, items thrown into our cars, photos taken, you name it.
Well, you are your own principle and your family is too. Keep out of the line of fire and stop where you aren't aligned with the ‘Creepy McCreeperson' next to you.
And why not stop right at the line at an intersection?
Because if some yahoo is busy texting and strikes the car behind your or your car and you are right at the line, you can be pushed into the intersection…exactly where we do not want to be. Leave some safety space.
-DON'T ADVERTISE YOUR VALUABLES ON THE SEATS AND LOCK YOUR DOORS
Keep the purses, gym bags, latest purchase from Best Buy and all valuables on the floor in the back behind the passenger seat rather than on the passenger seats. If we stop at an intersection and we are advertising valuables out in the open, it's easy for a criminal to smash and grab or simply open the door if you forgot to lock them and grab,especially for distracted drivers who use red lights to ‘catch up on their texts'.
Lock the doors, put the valuables out of sight, be even more aware when you have to stop.
And especially for parents with kids in the back seat or babies in car seats – make sure the doors are locked and engage the child lock so the kids can't unlock their own doors or roll down their windows.
-UNLESS YOU ARE TURNING OR EXITING, USE THE MIDDLE LANE
The side lanes are for cars that are turning. Along with being slower moving due to the turners, these side lanes are not the safest spots. If we have to stop, we are right along side where potential smash and grabbers, carjackers and problems may be as well as pedestrians who might not be paying attention and hanging over the curb half way on to the road.
-IT'S A CHESS GAME
We have to be defensive and yet offensive at the same time. Driving is all about strategy and being ready for the thing that might happen so that you can react to it, then be able to act to move away from any danger.
My dad used to play the ‘what ifs' scenarios while we were driving
“So what if that car in front of us had to slam their brakes, where would you go?”
“What if you had to hit your brakes? Who is behind you right now?”
“What about if the car to your left suddenly veered towards you? Are you clear to move?”
“What if someone jumped at your car at the light and tried to get inside? Is your door locked?”
Yes, it some of these defensive actions may seem extreme but we have to keep in mind that not everyone is nice out there and ultimately we are the ones responsible for our personal safety.
Be aware, be safe and remember, defense!
For other great tips on Defensive Driving check out the link below and stay tuned for the segment covering this topic and expanding on street safety.
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