Defensive Driving Techniques

When you are a driver, you should always note in mind is the safety of your passengers and you. Most of us appreciate the sound of the engine revving as we drove to our destination; however, as the driver, we need to understand that when our wheels meet the road, we’re accountable for not just our personal lives, but others as well.

Aggressive drivers are identified as road accidents, causing one-third of all traffic crackups. You can’t measure the effects of other drivers. But modernising your protective driving skills can help you avoid the risks caused by other people’s poor driving. Read more on our top 5 tips.

Check out the following twelve defensive driving techniques:

 Slow down 

To perform a safe driving environment, conform to the indicated speed limit, and have at least two seconds driving distance between you and the car ahead. Keep in thought that posted speed limits implement to perfect circumstances. It’s your accountability to assure that your speed meets qualifications. Also, higher speeds make managing your vehicle that much more complicated if things go improper. To keep control of your vehicle, you must maintain your speed. Posted speed limits apply to typical provisions. 

Stay alert

Being alert (not tired or under control) enables you to respond immediately to possible problems, like when the driver in the car ahead crashes on the brakes at the last minute. Liquor or drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter medications) influence a driver’s response time and judgment. Driving while drowsy has the same result and is one of the leading causes of accidents. So rest up before your road trip.

Think safety first

Avoiding destructive and distracted driving tendencies yourself will put you in a tougher situation to deal with other people’s poor driving. Leave lots of space within you and the car in front. Always secure your doors and fasten your seatbelt to protect you from being tossed from the car in an accident.

Take the edge of safety tools.

Get a car with a high safety class and a large number of airbags. Spend in the appropriate child controls and seat belt adjusters for your family, and don’t skip to practice in using them. According to the CDC, “Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half.”

When in uncertainty, yield.

If you aren’t sure who has the right of access, err on the side of warning. If you know, you own the right of way, but another driver seems to oppose, settle in. Better to waste a little of time than to get trapped in a disaster. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, guys have a more difficult time yielding the right of action.

Have an escape plan

In all driving conditions, the best approach to avoid possible dangers is to place your vehicle where you possess the best chance of viewing and being seen. Having an alternative path of travel also is necessary, so always give you an out. A place to go your vehicle if your direct path of travel is abruptly obstructed.

Follow the traffic lights, stop on red

The leading reason for crossing collisions is going the red light. Sometimes it’s a shortage of attention to the road. Sometimes it’s dazzle from the setting sun. Frequently, it’s just impolite to hurry. The best habit is to slow down before any intersection and estimate the situation. Nevermore rush the yellow light.

Let it go.

Road wrath is not just an inner-city myth. As you don’t know who might be following the wheel of that vehicle that just skipped you off, it’s tended to back off and ignore the offense. Road rage has led to murder over petty crimes in all states. Going even could get you killed, not to discuss the innocent drivers in your environment. If you presume that another driver may be high, stay away, and alert one authority as soon as it is safe to do so.

Observe your blind points and stay out of others’ blind spots.

This is particularly accurate of large vehicles, such as tractor-trailers. The rule of thumb is that if you can’t view the driver in the truck mirror, he can’t see you both. Accidents concerning semi-trucks often show deadly for the driver of a car.

Don’t drive drunk, buzzed, intoxicated, or low.

Even though an over-the-counter chilly medication can change your reaction times, so evaluate yourself fairly before determining to drive. The typical drinker can only metabolize one drink per hour. One drink equalizes to 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of infused drinks. If you are under the spell of any mind-altering thing, stay away from the wheel, don’t drive. 

Adjust for the weather condition

When the streets are slippery and wet, particularly in torrential rain or the first thirty minutes of a storm, your braking times double. Turn off cruise button. Add additional space in your vehicle and other vehicles. Slow down as enormously as is possible. Learn to distinguish and react appropriately to hydroplaning. When on snowy weather, slow down, and practice using snow chains if you see snow piling on the highway, but do not use strings on ice. If you reside in an area where snow and ice are frequent, spend in winter snow tires. Regularly switch off your cruise control if you presume ice may exist. 

Regularly maintain your vehicle’s condition

Frequent oil changes and fluid checks can save you from blow collapses on the road. If your car grows helpless on a busy road or interstate, the National Safety Council suggests that you try to pick over in the disruption lane, if feasible. Remember to manage your turn signals, and see for fast-moving cars. If you have parked a convenient reach from traffic, secure the doors, and wait for assistance. If you are confined to traffic, exit the vehicle, and find a safe area to stand, away from the side and rear of the car. If you cannot transfer the breakdown lane, and your vehicle is left in traffic, vacate the vehicle as soon as it is harmless to do so, and wait for help in a safe place on the side of the street.
If you’re interested in getting a defensive driving class to help improve your driving experience and skills, contact or visit Pro Driving School Rockingham. Driving lessons don’t have to be a costly affair, read our blog to learn more!