Emirates Driving Institute offers a completely new Defensive Driving Course

This new course builds on the EDI reputation of the previous Defensive Driving Course - the most sought-after post-license driver training course in the UAE.

The new Defensive Driving Course from EAD is entirely different to the previous method of a non interactive style of instruction and aims to develop each delegate's abilities through carefully delivered individual coaching techniques. EAD encourages delegates to take responsibility not only for their own safety but also for that of others around them.

Creation of the all-new EAD Defensive Driving Course has been authored by Mr. Robert Hodges, EDI's Development Manager. Mr. Hodges is an internationally acknowledged and qualified technical expert in the field of driver and instructor training; he utilizes his many years of experience in the driving sector coupled with his psychological expertise to create uniquely relevant training programmes.

"At EAD we treat delegates as adults with experience and we develop their skills accordingly. The Defensive Driving Course shows you how to think differently about driving and also to realise what other drivers might be thinking (or doing). EAD aims to have all delegates leave their training sessions with a positive mental driving attitude!"

says Mr. Hodges.

The combination of improved skills, plus new generation briefing and workbook materials coupled with a great deal of practical in-car work makes this course highly effective and results-orientated. The curriculum for the Defensive Driving Course is available in three formats, for either a single participant or for two (2delegate full day, 1delegate half day and super delegate full day). Each session is delivered by a team of fully-accredited and highly experienced advanced driving trainers.

The course starts off with an initial welcome and license-checks. The day then begins with a comprehensive and highly innovative interactive presentation and discussion covering the important theory elements. The delegates are guided through various key areas, including understanding the local driving environment and the local risks, a recap of the safety-orientated driving skills, and how to understand and lower the risk profile for driver and passengers alike.

Perhaps the most important element of the lecture is the section covering the psychology
of driving, where EAD encourages delegates to understand that greater safety for all will come from better thinking about the way they drive, because 'correct mental attitude' is a vital component of safer driving!

Towards the end of the theory session, delegates are given an insightful interactive briefing on vehicle safety and routine maintenance checks. An important factor in the EAD methodology is that it does not simply 'tell' delegates what they need to do to be safer drivers; but encourage delegates to understand who is responsible for their on-road safety and how it can be achieved. Also provided are simple, easily remembered routines for the delegate to apply to their daily driving; routines which are straightforward and the basis of safety awareness and improvement.

The lecture is followed by taking the attendees to their vehicles, where the trainers carry out an active on-road assessment of the delegates' skills and abilities behind the wheel. This session is then followed by development feedback and priority-setting from the trainers who codify any required training on a safety and risk-minimisation basis.

The 'instruction' is delivered in a coaching style; a style designed to improve the quality of communication in both directions between delegate and trainer; a process which ensures the delegate understands and takes responsibility for their positive safety progress on the road. At the end of the overall session, the trainers will engage in two-way feedback discussion and will set out a continuing Personal Development Plan to help each delegate remember the areas in which to continue to hone their safety skills.

Although it is largely about timely application of safety techniques, defensive driving is better described as a realization that driving is a privilege shared with many others. Good, safe, and responsible driving is an obligation for everyone on the road, but not always easy to practice. EAD's Defensive Driving Course offers a simple usable routine involving the basic skills of Observation, Anticipation, and Planning, which can be practiced at all times behind the wheel and which is bound to consciously encourage safer, smoother, and confident driving at all times.

The EAD division within the Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) is the leading provider of driver training and improvement programmes in the Greater Middle East, and has been at the forefront of safety improvement programmes for many years. EAD, the newly expanded division of EDI has recently created four new Driving training Programmes: the Defensive Driving Course, the Refresher (Returner's) Course, the Expatriate combined Defensive and Orientation Course, and the Desert Driving Course. Each course combines specific local requirements with international best practice in order to provide training at the highest standards.

EAD's advanced courses are fully accredited by respected major Western driving sector institutions, including the Institute of the Motor Industry, the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and the International Association for Driver Education. EDI's coaching and instructional methodology is also accredited and monitored by the AA Driving School. EDI is fully accredited to and compliant with ISO 9001 throughout all of its operations and also holds the respected OHSA 18001 Certification.

With 95% of all accidents owing to human error and unsafe driving practices, it has become essential that drivers constantly work on their driving, improve their skills, and seek to gain awareness on all those aspects that would improve their safety and the safety of others on the road. And this is exactly what EAD's Defensive Driving Course achieves.