My family and I just got back home from a 6 hour defensive driving course. And I surviiiiiiived.

I’m so overdramatic. Actually, it wasn’t terrible at all, and the instructor was informative, funny, and engaging. The lecture was basically a more fast-paced version of the drivers’ education classes I took just earlier this year. But, uh…why were we doing this on a Saturday morning? I was asking (more like groaning) the same question this morning.

My parents have been taking the course every two or three years because it gives them 10% off their auto insurance premiums for each car. Ben and I don’t own a car, so the insurance reduction doesn’t apply to us, but it was still a good refresher for how to drive safely (especially after our mini catastrophe last week).

What is defensive driving? 

According to the handy dandy booklet we received:

“Defensive driving is driving to save lives, time, and money in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. Defensive driving protects us from what is happening around us.”

I took the little “How Do You Drive?” quiz in the booklet and my results told me that I am an average driver. Merp. There are two levels above that— safe driver and defensive driver— so I guess I need to get my stuff together! There were also some surprising and scary facts that I learned from the course that I think you guys might find interesting as well:

• Collision is 23 times more likely when the driver is texting
• Taking your eyes off the road for 1 out of 3 seconds doubles collision risk
• Eating is the #1 distraction when driving (….we can vouch for that)
• Peripheral vision minimizes when you’re talking on the phone, handheld OR hands-free
• The most dangerous place to speed is a parking lots
• The highest death rates while driving are in young people ages 16-25
• 25% of drivers have fallen asleep at least once while driving (<— This one is scary! Apparently the common times include around 3-4 PM, which is siesta time in other countries. I think Americans should have siestas. Who’s with me?!)
• Leaving early can decrease aggressive driving behavior (and stress)

Despite my butt being numb from sitting down for such a long time, the course was definitely eye-opening and ultimately beneficial as I now have some defensive driving skills up my sleeve!

Breakfast

Before heading off to the course this morning, I ate a quick and simple breakfast:

Finished off a tub of plain Chobani with a small banana and salted almond butter

Along with a nut and fruit bar

It did a good job of keeping me focused during the first couple hours of the lecture!

Lunch

We had our first break during the course at around 11:30, and I was already hungry by then, so I had half of a panini that my mom packed. It was grilled chicken, cheese, whole grain mustard, and spinach between potato rosemary bread (from our new favorite bakery).

Mom is the bomb. That sandwich was delicious. I’m sure it beats all of the food court options that were right outside (the course was in some tiny back room of a mall).

I’ve also been snacking on a huge orange, peanuts, and edamame to hold me over until dinner, which will be at a new burger place in town! It serves more exotic meats (think elk, ostrich, and bison), as well as vegan burgers! This will be our first time trying it out, so I’m pretty excited.

Off to Mass first! Hope you all have a lovely evening 🙂

So tell me:

Do you think you practice defensive driving?

What do you think of America adopting the siesta tradition?

How else have you been moving and grooving today?