The roads are constantly evolving, and so should the knowledge and skills of those navigating them. Recognizing this imperative, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has introduced the Drivers Reorientation Course, a comprehensive program to refresh drivers’ knowledge and skills while reinforcing the fundamentals of safe driving.
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This 100-item refresher course is taken by individuals who renew their driver’s licenses but commit traffic violations.
Basics of Defensive Driving
The course serves as a timely reminder of the critical role defensive driving plays in ensuring road safety. Defensive driving lies at the heart of the curriculum, emphasizing proactive strategies to anticipate and avoid potential hazards.
Participants undergo the basics of defensive driving, honing their ability to maintain a safe following distance, anticipate and respond to risks, and utilize defensive driving techniques such as scanning the road ahead and maintaining awareness of blind spots. By instilling these defensive driving principles, the course empowers drivers to navigate the roads with caution and vigilance, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring the safety of all road users.
Anticipating potential hazards is another key aspect of defensive driving covered in the course. Participants are encouraged to remain vigilant and proactive in scanning the road ahead, behind, and to the sides, utilizing mirrors effectively to monitor their surroundings.
Staying alert to potential risks such as erratic driving behaviors, pedestrians, or road obstacles, drivers can anticipate and respond to hazards swiftly and decisively, minimizesthe likelihood of accidents and ensuring the safety of all road users.
In addition to maintaining awareness of their surroundings, participants learn techniques for minimizing distractions while behind the wheel. Distraction-free driving is paramount to defensive driving, as even momentary lapses in attention can have catastrophic consequences. Through the course, drivers’s knowledge are evaluated on the dangers of distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, or adjusting music while driving.
Road Rules and Regulations Refresher
One of the course’s primary objectives is to refresh drivers’ knowledge on speed limits for various road types. Speed limits are not arbitrary; they are carefully set to ensure safety for all road users. Participants revisit the prescribed speed limits for highways, urban roads, and residential areas, gaining a renewed understanding of the importance of adhering to these limits to prevent accidents and promote smoother traffic flow.
The exam also revisits right-of-way rules at intersections and crosswalks, a critical aspect of safe and orderly road behavior. Participants are reminded of the rules governing who has the right to proceed in different traffic scenarios, whether at intersections with traffic lights or uncontrolled crossings. Reinforcing these right-of-way principles can help drivers navigate intersections confidently and responsibly, reducing the risk of collisions and ensuring pedestrian safety.
The course also covers Proper overtaking and lane changing procedures, emphasizing the importance of signaling, checking blind spots, and executing maneuvers safely and courteously. Participants learn techniques for judging safe passing distances and when to yield to oncoming traffic, fostering a culture of mutual respect and cooperation on the road.