Act 3, Scene 6: Master class in Defensive Driving

Ok. Lesson commencing.

I was driving along Yishun Ave 2 today after sending my mum to work, when I encountered a road bully. Now, those of you who know me personally will know that sometimes I am a road bully myself; but not in the manner normally associated with them. For one, I only use my skills to humiliate other drivers; not to hurt them. So all they leave with is a bruised pride and nothing else.

So anyway, in front of me was a maroon Toyota Corolla. We were driving in front of the sports complex, near where the speed camera is located. As you can tell, the speed limit in the area is 60 km/h. He was driving along at 40 km/h. At first I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just drove behind him. But after having to endure 1 full minute of his slow driving, I glanced into his car. Windows untinted, I could clearly see him bending over the dashboard as he tried to hide and use his cell phone. At this point, there was a clear 30m between him and the vehicle in front. To warn him that he was holding up traffic, I sounded my horn for about 3 seconds. The shock of it jolted him out of using his phone but he suddenly turned aggressive. He braked suddenly in front of me (how do I know? Because he had a clear 30 m from the vehicle in front, remember?). Seeing that he was turning malicious, I switched lanes to the right. This is the first step in defensive driving: take yourself out of the fight. As I was switching lanes, he tried to brake suddenly in front of me again, but I managed to avoid him. Second rule of defensive driving: Always protect yourself and your car first. Do whatever is necessary to avoid a collision. So when he did that, I instinctively put up my finger. You know which finger so don't ask.

So he got more agitated that I had just fingered off his manouvere and he caught up on my left. He then suddenly swerved into my lane. Again, I countered his manouvere by switching back to the left. Again, I fingered him for trying that manouvere. But this is where I made the mistake. Instead of permanently ending the fight, I moved back into his lane, forward of him. DO NOT FOLLOW MY LEAD. Once you get the first opportunity, take yourself out of the fight. Third rule of defensive driving: Always ensure that your opponent is ahead of you, AT ALL TIMES. Why? Because when the aggressor is ahead, you are in control. You make the rules and control the game. It's a bit like follow the leader. And if the leader is behind, the car in front is the loser.

So now I was in a position of less power. He had control. He could follow me wherever I went; for as long as he wanted. Now I had to make a decision. I was on my way to fetch someone. If I stuck to my route, I would be leading him straight to the place and the fight will take place outside of the car. So I made the decision to take him AWAY from my destination. Fourth rule of defensive driving: When being tailed, do not proceed to your destination. Look for places which can help you; a crowded place like a market or foodcourt or if you know the area well enough, a police post. So now, if I turned left to my destination, he would surely follow me. I was at the junction of the swimming pool in Yishun. I decided to turn right. If the fight turned ugly, I could head to the police post beside Nur's house for help. So I turned right with him on my tail. I knew I had to let him pass before I could make my move. Fifth rule of defensive driving: Always know your route and your next few moves. Think them through in your mind and prepare for them well. So we turned right and headed to SAFRA. I knew that if I sped, he could easily catch up due to the traffic lights. So I went slow. Sixth rule of defensive driving: Go slow. Usually they will give up. I knew that if I went slow enough, he will sooner or later come up next to me to overtake and try his braking manouvere or try and stare at me. So I just looked straight. I had a number of traffic lights I could make my move. My plan? Fool him into thinking I am going straight and at the last possible moment, turn right or make a U-turn. Seventh rule: Always ensure safety first; for yourself and other road users. Usually the defensive manouveres you are going to take are illegal but ensure safety. Why not turn left, you say? Because left turns are easier to make. That's why they teach that first in your driving lessons. When you turn left, there is usually no other vehicles turning with you and it can easily be followed. Turning right requires you to judge approaching vehicles and turning radii. Also, for the oppressor on the left to turn right, he will have to contend with vehicles behind me.

So I went slow. And true enough, he began to overtake me. He had pulled up alongside me but I was focused on only one thing - making my move. We came up to the junction of Yishun park. I saw the road ahead was clear. Oppressor to my left at speed. Last possible moment.. wait for it...wait for it... BRAKE! TURN STEERING WHEEL!

And he overshot. Boy was he shocked. He actually jammed on his brakes too but he was too far forward that he could not turn right safely. So there he was, stranded in the middle of the junction, not knowing what to do. So he drove off and I quickly drove off in the other direction. It's not really over once you have completed this manouvere. Sometimes, the aggressor will still chase after you at the next traffic light. Eighth rule: This is what you do: Make as many turns as you travel away from the point where you turned. Turn into carparks, turn right and left at junctions. So that even if he makes a U-turn ahead, he will not be able to trace you anymore.

So there you have it. Remember the rules of defensive driving:
1) Always take yourself out of the fight
2) Protect yourself and your vehicle first
3) Always ensure your opponent is ahead of you
4) When being tailed, do not proceed to your destination
5) Always know your route and plan your next few moves
6) Go slow
7) Safety first when making manouveres
8) Evade by making your escape route untraceable

Of course, we all have different styles of driving. If you must, do not EVER stop your vehicle when confronted. For lady drivers, if you are in trouble, call for help. If you have been forced to stop, lock all the doors and stay in the car. If he exits his car and comes at you, wait until he is out of his car and then speed off. Evade as soon as possible.

I guess we can't all expect people to be civil all the time. Maybe it was my fault that I fingered him too but he was definitely putting my life and safety at risk. I am glad and thankful I had gotten out of there unscathed. And I am proud that I handled it with a calculated mind and steady skill. =)

Who was I fetching, you ask? =)