• Collisions do not occur at a fixed time or place.

Road accidents cannot be predicted with certainty.

They happen suddenly and often when a driver least expects it.

This is why constant alertness is essential while driving.

• Accidents usually occur when one least expects them.

A momentary lapse in concentration or a sudden change in road conditions can lead to a collision.

Even if a driver has been careful for hours, danger can arise in an instant.

• Very few collisions are caused by vehicle failure.

While mechanical breakdowns such as brake failure or tyre bursts can contribute to accidents, they account for only a small percentage.

Regular vehicle maintenance further reduces this risk.

• Driver error accounts for the majority of accidents.

Statistics show that 90% of all collisions are caused by driver neglect such as speeding, distracted driving, ignoring traffic rules, or failing to keep a safe following distance.

• A vehicle is a powerful machine and must be treated with respect

In the wrong hands, a motor vehicle can become a lethal weapon.

Careless driving can cause injury, death, or lifelong consequences for both the driver and others on the road.

• Drivers face hazards daily.

Every journey presents potential dangers, whether from pedestrians, other vehicles, changing weather, or unexpected road conditions.

• Understanding what a hazard is.

A hazard can be defined as anything that forces a driver to change speed or direction.

This includes sudden stops, sharp corners, reckless drivers, or even animals crossing the road.

Young drivers are more at risk.

Research shows that drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 are involved in more accidents than any other group.

This is often due to inexperience, overconfidence, peer pressure, or risk-taking behaviour.

The importance of patience and tolerance.

Safe driving requires a calm attitude.

Always remember: accidents can happen to anyone, including you.

Patience and tolerance towards other road users can prevent unnecessary collisions.

Rules make driving easier and safer.

To reduce risks and make driving more manageable, drivers must follow established rules of the road.

These rules are designed to protect both the driver and other road users.

THE DEFENSIVE DRIVING SYSTEM
• Search (for hazards)

• Identify (the type of hazard)

• Predict (how one will be influenced by it)

• Decide (what action to take)

SEARCH
When driving, we should continually scan the environment for anything that may cause us to change our speed or direction.

This means keeping an active lookout for possible hazards at all times—not just reacting when something is directly in front of us. The search process should not be limited to forward vision only.
Forward scanning allows you to anticipate changes in traffic flow, obstacles, or signals ahead.

Side vision helps detect pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles entering from side roads or hidden driveways.

Rear observation through mirrors and shoulder checks—alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind or preparing to overtake.

By combining forward, side, and rear checks, drivers build a 360-degree awareness of their surroundings.

This constant observation provides enough time to anticipate hazards and make safe decisions, reducing the need for sudden or dangerous manoeuvres.

IDENTIFY
• When a hazard has been identified during the search process the question should be asked:

Is it a stationary or a moving hazard and how will it affect my speed or direction.

PREDICT
• Once the hazard has been identified, it is necessary to predict how it could affect you.

• If the hazard can move, what are all the possible ways in which it can affect you?

• Is the hazard moving away or towards or away from you, at what speed and where can a collision occur?

• What is the potential of the hazard for causing a  collision?

• How can you avoid the collision and influence other road users?

DECIDE
• Depending on your prediction, you must decide how to react to the situation.

• Are you going to make your presence known by simply hooting or flicking the lights, should you increase or decrease your speed?

• Are you going to change direction only, or combine some of the above actions?

• Your decision will be influenced by the amount of clear space you need to create between your vehicle and the hazard

. • Always create as much clear space for yourself as possible.

• The importance of the SIPD (Search, Identify, Predict, Decide) process as part of the System of Vehicle Control cannot be over emphasized.

• Pedestrians bump into each other and apologise for not seeing each other. At the scene of a collision, one frequently hears one of the drivers say:

          'I did not see you'.

• Many collisions could be avoided if drivers would only search for hazards, identify ;them, predict the worst case scenario and then make the correct decision.

• Many drivers approach a green light presuming that the red light for cross traffic will stop them. Frequently, drivers do not obey the red robot!

• Continually strive to create as much clear space as possible by adjusting speed or direction so that you have more time and space in which to react to any hazard, especially at night.