Tips for Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is about protecting yourself from other drivers. You may consider yourself a good driver, but you can’t assume everyone else is. Other drivers are unpredictable. If you accept that everyone makes driving errors, the next step is to drive with a wary attitude. Be alert to the possible dangers and have a strategy in mind for dealing with them. Here are some good defensive driving tips:
Attention: The most important thing is to pay attention to what is going on around you. Keep an eye on pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets along the road. Check your mirrors frequently and scan the conditions ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of reckless driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it.
Visibility: You want to make sure that other drivers see you. Use your lights and horn when necessary to let others know you are there. If you make eye contact with another driver, there is less of a chance they will pull out in front of you or infringe on your space. Also make sure that you send clear information when you signal. That means not signaling too early or too late.
Right of way: If you are in doubt about who has the right of way, give it to the other vehicle. Right of way rules are often misunderstood, and there are situations where the rules may not be clear to everyone. If there is uncertainty about which vehicle should have the right of way, give it to the other driver.
The 3 second rule: Since the greatest chance of a collision is in front of you, using the 3 second rule will help you establish and maintain a safe following distance and provide adequate time for you to brake to a stop if necessary in normal traffic under good weather conditions.
Speeding: Speeding cuts your reaction time and results in more stored energy that must be dissipated. Each incremental increase in speed reduces your ability to react in time to hazards, because you may be covering distance in less time than it takes to react. This is extra important at night, when darkness restricts your visibility. A defensive driver chooses a speed matching traffic as closely as possible without exceeding speed limits. If traffic is moving at a higher speed than you, keep to the right and out of the way.
Distractions: Avoid distractions. A distraction is any activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving, such as eating or talking on the phone. Driving deserves your full attention.
Blind spots: A car typically has blind spots at the sides near the rear of the vehicle, meaning you cannot see anything in these areas by looking in your correctly-adjusted mirrors. Other vehicles may be blind to anything that is directly behind them. Vehicles in which the driver sits very high may have forward-quarter blind spots. They may not be able to see anything low to the ground in front or to the sides near the front.
Intersections: You can minimize the danger of collision at intersections by learning to stop defensively. First, make sure your deceleration to the stop doesn’t surprise the guy behind you. Plan ahead by starting to slow down early, this keeps you from making sudden stops and gives the guy behind you ample warning that you are stopping. Also, pay attention to where you stop. Leave space in front of your vehicle.
If you would like to take a defensive driving course to help sharpen your driving skills, contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. All states keep a list of defensive driving courses that are approved by that state. There are a number of courses that are available online for a small fee.
