Defensive Speeding

Defensive Speeding due for release Summer 2012

Introduction From the Book Defensive Speeding

Speed, in itself is a relative term and is never the cause of accidents. Driving too fast for conditions, be they car, road, driver ability or weather is usually what is to blame. There is no question, however, that at the ‘point of impact’ speed does play a major roll in determining the amount of damage done.  Therefore this book concentrates on avoiding impact.  It will make you a safer driver no matter what speed you drive and at the same time will help to reduce the odds of your getting a speeding ticket.

I speed every day!  (Oops, should I be putting that in print?)    
Can you honestly say you have never exceeded the speed limit?  One RCMP officer I spoke to said, “We all speed at one time or another!”    Technically speaking, you are speeding if you exceed the limit by one kilometer per hour.  Many drivers who speak out against speeders are themselves, speeders.  The only difference between us is; by how much we exceed the limit.   The term “speeder” is ambiguous.   Perhaps that is why the law differentiates between “Dangerous or unsafe driving” and “Speeding”. Therefore, exceeding the speed limit is not necessarily dangerous.

If you regularly drive at under the speed limit, this book may not be for you!   I hope I didn’t insult anyone with that remark.  Two men in Ontario, Canada were once ticketed for obstucting traffic when they drove two vehicles side by side at the speed limit, blocking both their lanes on a divided highway.  How could they be obstructing traffic if they were driving at the speed limit?

I often wonder why, when cars are safer and better designed than ever before, that speed limits have remained unchanged.  The only answer I can think of is that drivers have not changed.

A car is probably the most dangerous weapon invented by man.   More people have died in auto accidents in the last 50 years in North America than in armed conflict.   It is a pity (but not surprising) that the billion dollars spent on gun control in Canada had not been spent on advanced driver training.   The number of lives saved on the highways would have been staggering compared to firearm fatalities. 

There is nothing that can guarantee a safe and ticket-less journey on the highways.
Some compare driving on our highways with playing Russian roulette.  If you have to play, would you prefer one bullet and five empty chambers or five bullets and one empty chamber?   This book is about reducing the odds of mishap and injury by reducing risk.

Dave Hockey

A note from Dave Hockey, Author:

I have been involved in both competition and performance driving since 1976. I love cars and a simple drive to town in the right car can be a most pleasurable experience. I have no expensive boats, snowmobiles, planes or ATV's - Just my car - the best one I can afford.

For this reason, I value my license, perhaps more than most people. I want to ensure I keep it. When I started teaching Advanced Driving for BMW Clubs of Canada several years ago, I learned as much as I taught. The most important of which is "a well trained, competant driver with an understanding of and respect for speed", is the best saftey mechanism we can place on our highways.

I wrote this book not to encourage speeding, but to promote safer driving at any speed.

I hope it may someday save lives on our highways.

Dave Hockey