The 3 Keys to Defensive Driving

According to BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving, a defensive driver is someone who recognizes hazards, understands defensive moves, and acts in time to avoid motor vehicle accidents.

How many of your employees are defensive drivers? Probably not nearly enough.

This means that every time they get behind the wheel, some of your people could be at risk, especially when they confront common driving hazards such as:
 
•     Heavy traffic
•     Bad road conditions
•     Construction
•     Vehicles in less than safe operating condition
•     Adverse weather conditions
•     Poor lighting conditions
•     Driver fatigue
•     People driving under the influence
•     Angry or distracted drivers

And then you have to worry about those workers who, frankly, are reckless. Whether it’s caused by anger, impatience, distractions, or careless attitude, reckless driving involves risk-taking behavior such as:

•   Speeding
•   Tailgating
•   Weaving through traffic
•   Ignoring traffic laws, signs, and signals

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Don’t let your people kill themselves or somebody else on the road. Have your workers teach themselves defensive driving with BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving. It’s completely self-contained and usable anywhere. Try it at no cost or risk. Find out more.

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3 Basic Techniques

BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving highlights three basic defensive techniques that can help employees avoid the majority of traffic accidents.

1.  Two-second rule. Stay at least two seconds behind the driver in front. To gauge distance, start counting 1,001, 1,002 when the car in front passes a utility pole or other roadside landmark. If you reach the utility pole before counting 1,002, you are following too closely. In bad weather, add more time.

2.  Pass to stay alive. If you want to pass, look for broken yellow lines and check to see if any traffic is coming toward you. Then look to see if anyone behind you is moving out to pass. Speed up to get around the other vehicle. Get back into the right lane as quickly as possible. Do not pass unless you can see far enough ahead. And if you are being passed, slow down if the other vehicle needs extra room to pass you safely.

3.  Keep cool and alert in traffic. Navigating through heavy traffic is both hazardous and stressful. Be ready to react quickly and be prepared for: 
•   Sudden stops
•   Disabled cars 
•   Cars moving in and out of lanes
•   Cars crossing lanes to get to an exit
•   Cars passing from any side
•   Potholes, debris on the road, or construction

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Make sure your vehicle drivers are safe, defensive drivers. Try BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving at no cost or risk. Get the details.

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A solid, defensive driving training program is essential for your vehicle drivers. But all your employees can benefit from defensive driving training. Employees may be surprised by how much they have yet to learn about safe driving—likely one reason safety-conscious employers rely on repeated training, supplemented by constant reminders.
 
Hands Off

To do this training both quickly and effectively, we’d like to bring to your attention BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving. It’s a no-supervision-required, 50-slide audio presentation that:

•   Defines defensive driving
•   Demonstrates the characteristics of driving defensively, such as the   “2-second rule”
•   Focuses on handling dangerous conditions such as winter driving, poor lighting, and heavy rush-hour traffic
•   Warns against engaging with aggressive drivers in incidents of road rage
•   Explains the effects of alcohol and sleep deprivation on driving
•   Emphasizes importance of following company safe driving policy

Because your drivers are likely in and out on varied schedules, the program is completely self-directed. It can be used anywhere there’s a computer and whether or not you are present.

Motivation is built-in through a wide variety of interactive features that have your drivers doing “hands-on” tasks that make learning interesting. Built-in quick quizzes block progress until the material is learned. When it is, the program prints out a completion certificate. We’ve seen very few safe-driver training programs as engaging and effective as this one.

You can see for yourself how well BLR’s Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving works as we’ve arranged for Advisor readers to evaluate the program at no cost or risk for up to 30 days so you can try it with some of your own “road warriors.” Please let us know and we’ll be happy to set things up.

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