What’s defensive driving?

Here at RoSPA, we often get asked “what is defensive driving?” as it’s a well-used phrase within driver training, but not always well understood.

Defensive driving is a particular style of road driving that utilises a variety of techniques and tactics to keep you and everybody else safe on the road.

By attending a defensive driving course, you will learn how to minimise the risk of being involved in a collision. Your organisation will also save money as you will reduce your fuel consumption and put less strain on
your vehicle.

What does a good defensive driver do?

All road users can be unpredictable, as it’s not just drivers who do things that may be unexpected, so by attending a defensive driving course and being a good defensive driver you will reduce the chance of other peoples’ mistakes affecting you and your vehicle.

Why is defensive driving important?

In 2023, 1,624 people died on Britain’s roads and 29,711 people seriously injured. Within the same year there was a total of 132,977 casualties of all severities in road traffic crashes. On average, every day in Great Britain, four people are killed.

Defensive driving allows you to keep yourself and everybody else safe on the road, allowing us all to return home to our families.

When should I do a defensive driving course?

You can do a defensive driving course at any time. It’s vital that your organisation keeps employees safe and does everything possible to ensure this, therefore it’s best practice to establish a proactive approach to safety.