MANILA, Philippines – Getting behind the wheel entails responsibility: as a driver, you’re responsible not only for the safety of your passengers, but aso of other motorists sharing the road.
The Philippines has laws and regulations to keep road users safe, but it’s also up to motorists to exercise caution and responsible driving whenever they’re on the road.
One rule of thumb: practice defensive driving.
Defensive driving means having the right attitude and awareness to drive responsibly in order to prevent crashes before they occur.
Among other things, a defensive driver stays alert and scans his surroundings at all times, so he can look out for possible trouble spots. He or she is mentally fit to drive and has received proper training before getting behind the wheel.
A defensive driver also knows how to react if someone else commits mistakes.
You’re a defensive driver if you…
- Observe speed limit laws
- Remain alert and aware of your surroundings
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you
- Respects pedestrians and cyclists on their bike lanes
- Use your signal lights and headlamps properly
- Don’t drive when drunk or sleepy
Here’s an easy acronym to remember: SIPDE
Search – Search the road ahead and around the vehicles
Identify – Identify potential and immediate road hazards
Predict – Predict the actions of other road users
Decide – Decide what to do to avoid unsafe situations
Ready to test your knowledge? Answer the quiz below and see how you fare.
{source} <iframe id="quizWidget-407500" width="100%" height="700px" frameborder="0" border="none" src="https://www.qzzr.com/widget/quiz/fi9xdWl6emVzLzQwNzUwMA"></iframe>{/source}
– Research by Basmarie Marin and Kurt dela Peña/Rappler.com
Basmarie Marin and Kurt dela Peña are Rappler interns