Defensive Driving Principles Module 1 The standard Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operation, , defines defensive driving skills as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of other drivers”.
 
 
 
Intended Learning Outcomes
 
One of the things we often hear when we learn to drive is that we have to drive defensively. This does not mean that we have to be tense and wait for something unpleasant to happen at any moment. Beyond our driving skills, we need to pay attention to the drivers around us and try to anticipate what they will do. If we learn to do this we will have the ability to avoid many unpleasant events. 
Obtaining a driver’s license is a great thing and it is a proof of maturity. But remember, with the driver’s license you will have a new set of responsibilities. You are responsible not only for the safety of yourself and those in the car with you, but you are also responsible for other road users.
In today’s article we will address some defensive driving techniques  tips for novice drivers. These concern our relationship with other road users.
How to drive defensively in relation to other drivers
1. Never use a mobile phone while driving
If you talk on your mobile phone or send / receive text messages, you will not be able to pay full attention to driving and you will not notice the intentions of the drivers around you. Using a mobile phone is extremely harmful and you should only do this when the car is switched off.
Studies have shown that using a hands-free does not improve the situation at all, it has even been shown that hands-free users are just as careless but drive faster. A dramatic statistic reveals that activities such as writing or reading messages are even 20 times more risky than a conversation.
Try not to use your phone while driving, and if it is necessary to do so, pull to the right.
2. Pay attention to all road signs
This is a habit that many drivers forget over time. If you pay attention to all road signs, you will know what the speed limit is on a road section, you will be able to respect the legal speed, which is one of the key points of defensive driving. Do not imitate what the driver in front of you is doing. After all, it can break traffic rules, which can lead to an accident. 
Also, pay attention to traffic light intersections. The red light entering the traffic light can be the equivalent of a dramatic accident.
3. Never drive too close to the car in front of you
You need to make sure that there is enough space between your car and the front ones in case an emergency brake is needed. If you do not keep your distance, there is a chance that you will hit this vehicle in front of you and regardless of the reason for the accident, it is your fault.
4. Learn to drive at any time
Weather conditions can cause many accidents so it is very important to learn to drive in bad weather, or in the dark, until you have confidence in your abilities.
By the way, did you know that the braking distance on ice or snow can increase up to 12 times compared to scat asphalt?
More advice on driving in bad weather will follow in the coming months as we approach winter. Of course, you can get the best advice in the defensive driving course organized by Napoca Rally Academy.
In the article How to drive defensively in the fall , we discuss some aspects of preventive driving during the cold season.
5. Get used to the car you will drive
Defensive driving tips for novice drivers always apply. But there is a variable when we get behind the wheel. The car. Every car brand is different and you should get used to it and learn the controls of each of the cars you drive. This includes seat adjustment, radio, air conditioning, defrosting, window heating, how to clean the windshield, etc. The last thing you need while driving as a young driver is to look for the Monday switch.
6. Don’t become too confident too soon
Learning to drive is a little scary at first, but after a while you will gain the necessary skills and get used to this activity. You will be able to drive at different times of the day, in any weather, with heavy traffic, or on the highway and even make a side parking. Being a confident driver is a good thing, but don’t let that confidence change you. Driving is a dangerous activity but you can make it safer by the way you drive. That is why these defensive driving tips are useful for novice drivers.
7. Look as far ahead as possible
Man is built to travel at much lower speeds than he can with a car. When we drive fast, there is a constant struggle within us with our instincts. Normally people tend to look right in front of the car they are driving or in the car in front of us. This is a big mistake and an unhealthy driving habit. You should look as far as possible on the road and analyze as many details as possible about other road users.
8. Observe the legal speed
Failure to do so is the biggest killer of young drivers. You must keep in mind that it is not an obligation to keep pace with other vehicles in traffic. Complying with speed limits will not only reduce the risk of accidents but will also help you avoid costly fines.
9. Check the blind spot each time
The side and rearview mirrors help us see what’s going on behind the car. However, the mirrors leave a fairly large area uncovered, the so-called blind spot. Drivers must periodically check the rear-view mirrors, so as not to catch cyclists or people traveling in the blind spot of the vehicle. Drivers should check the blind spot when parking or leaving a parking space or when changing lanes.
10. Drive with the headlights on
Today, all new vehicles are equipped with daytime running lights. However, there are still a large number of vehicles without this facility. In this case it is mandatory to drive with the taillights on. Beyond the legal obligation this makes you visible in traffic.
When driving defensively you can be sure that you are always in control at the wheel. By driving defensively you are able to anticipate what other road users will do. This way you are able to avoid accidents.

“Students, what do you think should be done to solve India-Pakistan problem?”

As soon as Harsh Sir, the ninth standard History teacher asked this question he grinned. He used to grin whenever he posed witty questions to the students.

“Think and answer.” Harsh Sir was not in a hurry. That was the only day after half-yearly examination and before the winter vacation. So, the class teachers were asked to keep the students engaged in their own way in this extra session. Harsh Sir’s question was provocative enough to draw the attention of the class.

“The solution is that Pakistan must forget about Kashmir. They have enough problems of their own. Look at their cricket team. It’s all in mess.” Sandeep, the most talkative boy of the class and a cricket freak said. The class chuckled at this remark.

“Sir, we have enough power to finish off Pakistan. A war will solve this problem permanently.” Ruchi, the class topper said. The whole class nodded in agreement barring Sumit, who was known for his offbeat views.

“Sumit, don’t you agree?” Harsh Sir probed.

“According to me, India and Pakistan should become one country. Because…”

The class started booing loudly.

“When India had good batsmen only and Pakistan had good bowlers, merger could have been good idea to make the best team of the world. But now, no way.” Sandeep had all cricket reasons.

“How can you think this crazy? Pakistan is bleeding us with thousand cuts through terrorism.” Antara, who is good at history, retorted.

“Calm down class. If West Germany and East Germany can unite why not India and Pakistan! Let’s hear him out.” Harsh Sir signaled Sumit to continue.

“A merger will save a lot of money from spending on arms.”

“Wow! That’s an awesome Idea. Indeed India and Pakistan spend a lot of their precious resources in arms.” Harsh Sir gave thumbs-up to Sumit.

“But Sir, USA spends the most on arms and India and Pakistan are nowhere close.” Pallavi, who was good at dates and numbers opined.

“True. USA also exports lot of arms to countries like India and Pakistan. All countries are in arms- race. In this race, it does not matter how much arms you have, it matters how much extra you have than your competitor. Therefore, though the world has arms to destroy the whole earth multiple times, we keep piling up more arms.”

“Sir, don’t we need our borders to be protected?” Ruchi rhetorically asked.

“We don’t choose our neighbours. If these countries are hostile, do we have any choice?” Antara too followed.

“Valid questions.” Harsh Sir thought for a while.

Pointing at Pawan, who was a transfer student from an adjacent state, he asked the class, “Tell me children, why we need defense forces to protect our borders from neigbouring countries, whereas we don’t have similar arrangement to protect our state border from Pawan’s state?”

Harsh Sir ginned again.

“This is simply because both of our states were under the same national government.” Atul, who is fond of civics, responded.

“That’s correct. A common government gives us that confidence. Not only among provincial states, but also among citizens. None of us move with knives and guns to protect ourselves from others. Because we know government will take care and punish those who will harm us. Government is a necessity for all challenges like security, roads and rails, infrastructure, law and order, and many more issues which is beyond the individual capacity to tackle. Am I right?”

The class affirmed, “Yes Sir.”

“In that case, how about having a world government a borderless world?” Harsh Sir’s eyes sparkled.

“But Sir, all the responsibilities have been undertaken by national governments. What would be role of global government?” Atul asked.

“Good question Atul. So, can all of you identify problems, which is beyond an individual country’s capacity?”

“Climate change”, Ruchi said.

“Global pandemic”, Sandeep said.

“Terrorism”, Antara said.

“Great. All these problems are better solved with a world government. Also, any international disputes between countries can be handled by the global government, instead of lingering for generations.” Harsh Sir asserted.

“This will also prevent criminals from committing a crime in one country and escaping to another.” Pawan reasoned.

“True. And most importantly, it would relieve countries on spending billions on military as inter-country disputes could be solved in court of law nonviolently like we do solve inter-state disputes in the Supreme Court. Isn’t it?”

“Sir, isn’t World Government impractical? How this will be formed? Who will do it?” Ruchi had all doubts.

“See children, in India democracy looked impractical in the pre-colonial and colonial years. How many common men had dreamt of a system in which they would be equaled with kings? Or how many kings would have thought in their wildest imagination that they would be equaled to their subjects? But under the political structure everything fell into line. But yes we needed English, as a common enemy to unite. Now as you all have said, climate change, corona virus, terrorism are good enough reasons for us to unite.”

Harsh Sir continued, “But for this, we need to put our belongingness or loyalty in correct order. We need to think ourselves to be a world citizen first, then an Indian or an American, or an English, or a Pakistani and so on. This is a step forward from the current thought process, where one is appealed to think to be an Indian first, then a Bengali or a Punjabi or Tamilian or so on. For this, we of course need ‘globe in mind’ attitude, which will pave the way towards borderless world.”

Harsh Sir took a pause and said, “Please remember the historic UNESCO Preamble, which states ‘Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.’”

Harsh Sir closed the session while the class thumped the desk in appreciation.

The warm ocean waters tempted Hemadri to dip herself into its depth and luxuriate in its abyss. Often, Hemadri and her boyfriend, Rauf had swum in the sea. A wistful sigh escaped her as she wished that Rauf was by her side. At once, she censured herself for the self-indulgent yearning. How wicked could she get?

Turning her face away from the ocean, her gaze fell on the flock of birds that were taking off to another place. These birds followed the coastline to migrate. They had no borders or boundaries to cross. They moved freely and nested in a place they could survive. Hemadri wished humans too had similar freedom. With an indulgent smile, she watched the flock till she lost sight of them.

She crossed the verdant stretch of land that was home to the rarest flora and fauna and came across River Ichamati, the river that formed a natural border between India and Bangladesh. The trans-boundary watercourse meandered its way through parts of India and Bangladesh forming a natural boundary between the two countries. Hemadri did not have to worry about crossing the border because the boundary did not exist for her. She was happy to wander in a borderless world where one did not have to fill endless forms or count on the officials guarding the boundary, for permission.

As an immigrant in the UK, she had faced innumerable difficulties. Like they say, adversities impel humans to migrate and seek shelter elsewhere. Similarly, around the time when the Windrush generation fled the Caribbean countries to the United Kingdom, Hemadri’s grandparents too sought refuge, escaping the terrible aftermath of a newly partitioned India. United Kingdom had then formed a new act which gave right of settlement to any native migrating from a British colony. Hence, Hemadri had grown up in an environment where she was not certain if she was a Brit, a British Indian, an Indian or an Indian Briton. She had spent her school years trying to fathom her identity. Consequently, she began to dislike questions on her ethnicity despite having friends from all races.

Hemadri’s social network profiles showed her location as Planet Earth. In one forum, she wrote her current place of location as somewhere in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and in the column where she had to write her home-town, she wrote “hailing from the youngest ranges of mountains on the earth.” Her parents had named her after the mountains. Her profile described her as homosapien, for she believed in the human species rather than the nationality.

Hemadri’s radical beliefs often sent her on a warpath with her peers, colleagues, and sometimes even her mother. Hemadri wished that instead of creating more boundaries, the world would unite as one to save the planet.

Rauf hailed from Bangladesh. He was an illegal immigrant in the UK and struggled to get a proper job. His family lived in Bangladesh. Often, when Hemadri and Rauf met, he would describe his homeland with nostalgia. His village was located on the banks of the river Ichamati and he would lovingly draw a picture of the river for Hemadri. His parents longed to cross the boundary and move to India so that they could earn a better life. Many a time, Rauf had voiced his frustration at the boundaries created by the prevailing politics. With boundaries arose conflicting needs to gain access to natural and mineral wealth. When borders were formed, some were stranded in nations left with nothing and others were nurtured by the fortunes that rose to abundance in their part of the region. Ultimately, it resulted in one being in the right place at the right time.

A year ago, Rauf’s parents died as their boat capsized in Ichamati river while trying to enter India. Rauf was detained at Heathrow airport immediately upon trying to leave the country for his parents’ funeral. He was taken to a detention centre and Hemadri hadn’t met him since then.

Now, as she sat on the banks of the river, she remembered the terrible year with forlorn agony. Unable to watch her parents’ depression, she had travelled to this part of the world. Thoughts of her family directed her to her mother’s explanation about borders. Hemadri had been an excellent artist and she used to make rangolis with admirable skill. Her mother had initiated her into the art of making rangolis. And whenever she had made them, her mother would insist that she draw a border around the rangoli. Hemadri and her mother used to argue about the border. Hemadri would claim that borders take away the beauty of the art and her mother would snap back that borders ensured that the drawing was not marred by any external disruption.

Each time they debated about it, Hemadri would end up losing the argument. Hemadri could never discern her mother’s logic. So, to prove her point, Hemadri would take part in rangoli competitions conducted by the Indian diaspora and draw designs without borders. Ironically, the only time she won the contest was when she had made a border.

That day, her mother had explained, “Beta, we draw borders to discourage aggression. It would not give others freedom to walk over our space.”

Hemadri had not been convinced. Her mother had been naïve enough to rely on the notion that borders kept one safe but Hemadri believed that one’s safety was violated by one’s own homegrown reign of terror. And she had not been wrong.

Hemadri’s dream to travel in a borderless world was fulfilled soon. No margin stopped her now. She looked at the Earth as one country; the countless borders and boundaries were not visible to her.

She wished even Rauf and her parents lived in a borderless world like her.

Six months ago, in a terrorist attack in London, Hemadri’s young life had ended, liberating her soul to enjoy a borderless world.

-Viji
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