If you’ve been out on the roads, you know that not everyone drives well - but most people think they do.  The trouble is most drivers drive by their own set of rules and are not aware of it. Unfortunately the bad drivers on our roads think we all driving by the same rule. 
 Some bullying drivers speed aggressively, while tailgating and flash their lights behind you in the lane closest to the median not aware that the left most lane in the city is for both vehicles planning to turn left at the intersection and those travelling straight. 
Others wander into another lane because they aren’t paying attention. Drivers may follow too closely, make sudden turns without signalling, or weave in and out of traffic.  Defensive drivers are able to avoid dangers on the road by using their safe driving practices.  
As a defensive driver, you can avoid crashes and help lower your risk behind the wheel.  What is defensive driving you may ask? It is a set of driving skills that allows you to defend yourself against possible collisions caused by bad drivers, distracted drivers, road conditions and poor weather.  If you look ahead and keep your eyes moving, you will spot potential hazards more easily.  Once you have identified a potential hazard and decide what to do, act immediately.
Tips for defensive driving
* Leave home for work early to avoid rushing to your destination
* Identify two or three alternative routes to your destination in advance
* Plan ahead for the unexpected
* Be able to control your speed
* Posted speed limit is the maximum for the road not the minimum
* Be prepared to react to other drivers
* Do not expect the other driver to do what you think he or she should do
* Respect other users of the roadway
* Be aware of driving in construction zones and different weather conditions
* Be alert and avoid distractions, e.g., mobile phone use, eating* lIn the city if you can’t see where the tyre of the vehicle in front of you touches the road, that means you are driving too close to the vehicle ahead of you. In case of an emergency you don’t have enough gap to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front.
Aggressive drivers are known road hazards, causing one third of all traffic crashes. But inattentive or distracted driving is becoming more of a problem as people “multitask” by talking on the phone, texting or checking messages, eating, or even watching TV, “Youtube” as they drive.
You can’t control the actions of other drivers. But updating your defensive driving skills can help you avoid the dangers caused by other people’s bad driving.
Accidents do happen but we call all avoid sustaining injuries and fatalities by wearing seatbelts provided in all vehicles.  
Don’t forget to have all occupants in the vehicle wear their seatbelt including restraining children at the back of the vehicles via child seat.  
Lastly do you know what happens to vehicle occupants after an accident?  There are three types of collisions in every crash: the vehicle collision, the human collision and the internal (organ) collision.   The vehicle collision is where the vehicle collides with another object and the vehicle frame is crushed.   As most of the energy is used up during the vehicle crash and the vehicle itself starts to decelerate to a stop, the second collision occurs, and this one involves the movement of the human occupants within the inside of the vehicle.  
Once the occupant’s body has stopped moving the internal organs of the body still remain in motion in the original forward direction until another organ or body part exerts enough energy to cause it to stop. 
Any of the above three collision can cause serious injuries and fatalities.  Drive safe and wear your seatbelt always even on short trips because your safety depends on it.

*Ademola Gideon Ilori is adviser, National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC).