We’ve all probably heard of defensive driving and how it is one of the best ways to prevent an accident and keep you safe, but what is it exactly? Understanding the concept of defensive driving is easy enough, but putting it into practice is a whole other situation entirely. If you`ve never had a class on defensive driving techniques before and you`re looking to master the skill of defensive driving yourself, then we`re here to help. In this post we`re going to explain a bit about defensive driving and then give you some of the tips to help you best master the technique.
How Does Defensive Driving Work?
Defensive driving is defined as a set of safe practices that can be used to respond to potential hazards while behind the wheel to avoid accidents that could potentially change your life. While this sounds fairly simple, it takes time and effort to master these techniques.
Step 1: Always Be Prepared
You can`t always predict what will happen on the road and even if your last 10 trips have gone fine, this one can be different. That`s why it pays to never get complacent and always be prepared to react.
Defensive driving is primarily about reacting to other drivers and hazardous conditions on the road and ensuring that you stay safe even if other people are behaving erratically on the road or unforeseen events happen. The first step to mastering defensive driving is vigilance.
Step 2: Eliminate Distractions
Distracted driving is the enemy of safe driving and to be a truly defensive driver you need to have your eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings at all times. This can be hard under the most ideal circumstances, so one of the first things you need to do is learn to put away unnecessary distractions like cell phones, purses, makeup, or other items.
If you must use your phone, make sure it is set up through a hands free device so you can still pay attention to the road while holding a conversation.
Step 3: Look Out For Erratic Drivers, and Keep Your Distance if You Spot One
It`s not always possible to tell when a person may start driving erratically, but there are usually signs that a person behind the wheel may have a problem such as intoxication or road rage. If you see a person unable to stay in their lane and swerving a great deal, those are signs of intoxication.
Aggressive driving, cutting people off, speeding up, and overtaking are signs that someone may have road rage. It`s best to change lanes and get at least a few car lengths back from these people.
Step 4: Keep Space Between You and Other Vehicles and Don`t Drive Into Someone`s Blindspot
Distance can save your life or prevent an accident while driving, particularly on a busy road or highway. While it can be hard sometimes to maintain space between your vehicle and another person, when you have the opportunity to leave a few car lengths between the next vehicle this gives you more space and time in the event that something happens to make corrections or get outta the way.
It`s also a good idea to try and judge where other vehicle’s blindspots are so that you don’t drive into one and then have an accident happen. Stay far enough back that they can see you from any angle.
Step 5: Don`t Expect Other Drivers to Be Defensive
One mistake that drivers make is that they assume everyone on the road is going to drive carefully and look out for them. A defensive driver knows this isn`t the case and always looks and plans ahead in case another driver chooses not to obey the rules of the road and cause an accident.
To Sum Up
There you have it, some basic tips to help you master defensive driving. This way you’re less likely to be involved in an accident and know what to do if someone is not behaving properly behind the wheel or if you sense danger.
