A question of fault: Defensive driving focuses on avoiding crashes, regardless of fault

Over the years we have noticed distressing patterns of thinking and perspectives surrounding the idea of ‘fault.’ There is a preoccupation regarding who could be found at fault in various crash scenarios. Oddly enough, experienced drivers inquire about this more often than the beginners.

Defensive driving focuses on avoiding crashes, regardless of fault. The consequences of a crash range from the inconvenience of a fender bender to a tragic death. In almost half of fatal crashes, the casualty is found to be ‘not at fault’. This is a legal finding, which helps in the ensuing court cases and settlements, but it does very little to ease the damage to those who suffered a loss.

During our time with students, we challenge them to analyze common types of collisions from both drivers’ perspectives. This empowers them with the understanding that, regardless of fault, either driver could have done something differently to avoid the collision. There is no question that Driver A should not have run a red light, but Driver B could have taken control of the situation by scanning the intersection and realizing Driver A was not stopping.

Many students are told that simply following the rules of the road will protect them. That is only part of the truth. Laws and rules are updated or vary between locales, so many drivers may not be aware that they are doing anything wrong. There are those drivers who do not respect the rules of the road and break them. We need to be prepared to assertively handle all of these possibilities, instead of falling into the passive trap of relying on fault. By actively driving, and positively influencing the interaction amongst traffic, we can not only protect ourselves, but everyone else on the road.

The burden of ‘fault’ is a heavy one and by working together, we can compensate for a lack of knowledge, a brief moment of inattention, or the disrespect of our motoring laws.