You might have heard people talk about how you should be defensive when driving. You might also have heard people talk about the importance of being confident when driving. You may wonder how these two things can co-exist. After all, people often view those who walk into a meeting room or onto a sports field defensively as being weak and the very opposite of confident.
The two are not mutually exclusive. Here is why:
You must be confident you can cope with the task you engage in
You must have the confidence to drive the vehicle you are in, on the road you are on, and in the conditions you might face. For instance, if you are recently qualified with a commercial license and asked to take a trailer out down a narrow windy street, or on a snowy day, you should only say yes if you know you can do so safely, without endangering yourself or others.
You should also be confident about the decisions you make. If you are going to overtake, be sure you have enough time and space, give plenty of warning and then go for it to quickly get past and back into line. Dithering or failing to commit could make it difficult for others to judge your intentions and reduce the chance you make it safely.
You can’t afford to have confidence in other drivers
There is a car in front of you as a turn-off approaches. You cannot afford to assume that just because they have not indicated, they won’t be taking that turn. Better to be defensive and consider what would happen if they do turn off at the last minute with no warning. Have you left enough space to avoid hitting them as they slow, or would their sudden movement lead you to run straight into their rear?
Doing your best to stay safe may still not be enough due to someone else’s negligent actions. In that case, you may need to learn about your legal options.
