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Defensive driving is a critical element of road safety, as it can reduce your risk of being involved in a car crash. If you’ve been driving for a while, you likely know that not all people on the road drive carefully. There are different drivers – those who speed aggressively, those who follow too closely, and those who get into another lane because they don’t pay attention.
Aggressive drivers are road hazards because they cause many traffic crashes. But distracted driving is also an alarming issue – rather than focusing only on the road, people often multitask by texting, talking on the phone or eating while driving. This is another common factor that leads to vehicle collisions. All these things clearly suggest that it is possible to reduce the number of car crashes by paying more attention to the road – when you’re driving, that’s the only thing you should focus on. Anything else can wait, as there’s nothing more important than prioritising your safety and that of your fellow road travellers.
While controlling other drivers’ actions is impossible, you can avoid dangers by becoming a defensive driver.
Why is defensive driving crucial?
Learning to drive defensively is critical because it helps you become a proactive driver rather than a reactionary one. Effective techniques can reduce injury risks and enhance driving safety for all people on the road. This is the primary reason why defensive driving is so important – even a minor accident that doesn’t cause any injury can lead to negative and lasting consequences. Some of these effects include financial losses, road disruptions and the psychological impact. Moreover, defensive driving is also beneficial for the environment. Taking care of the planet is more critical than ever nowadays, and paying attention to pollution should be everyone’s responsibility.
Driving safely decreases the carbon footprint – when you make maximum use of your car’s momentum, you reduce the harmful impact on the environment.
On the contrary, driving aggressively wastes gas and leads to more environmental emissions. Steady drive saves fuel and allows a constant speed. Plus, it helps you stay more relaxed while on the road, thus improving your comfort and decreasing your stress levels.
Tips to increase road safety through defensive driving
Plan ahead
Did you know that defensive driving starts before leaving your home? As surprisingly as it may seem, planning ahead is a critical part of staying safe on the road. This means checking weather conditions to figure out whether it will be an icy or wet commute. Supposing that is the case, it’s better to leave your home earlier. That way, you ensure you get on time to your destination rather than feeling rushed and driving faster in such dire conditions.
You should take additional precautions when making tight turns, such as when merging on and off the highway ramps. You should make the turns slow and, if possible, stay on a lane with an adjoining shoulder so that you can move somewhere if there’s an emergency.
Focus on the road
Staying focused while on the road is a crucial defensive driving strategy. This means not using any electronic device as you drive. Avoid multitasking, such as eating, drinking or putting on makeup while driving. Also, if you feel tired, it’s imperative to pull over and rest, as driving while feeling sleepy can also have devastating consequences.
You should avoid daydreaming or spacing out while you’re behind the wheel, as well as getting distracted by anything that’s going on inside the car. You can quickly become distracted by things that happen outside the vehicle, too, such as a funny road sign or an accident. But it’s imperative to stay focused as much as possible to ensure your own safety and other drivers’ safety. Unfortunately, accidents may still occur even if you are responsible on the road. If you suffer injuries due to another driver’s negligence, you’ll need to go through a complex legal process to get compensation for your damage. Getting support from legal experts like the ones from Review of Solicitors is paramount to ensure your claim is successful.
Scan your surroundings frequently
Becoming a defensive driver means learning to focus not only on the car in front of you but also on your general surroundings. You should look further ahead to notice any potential hazards.
Get in the habit of checking your mirrors and scanning intersections thoroughly before passing through them. That’s what defensive driving is about – keeping an eye out for potential dangers to avoid them before they occur. The goal is to anticipate where the other vehicles will be some seconds later so that you can react quickly.
Maintain an adequate distance from other vehicles
When learning to become a defensive driver, there is a rule that can help you measure the adequate distance you should keep from the vehicle in front of you. The three-second rule means that the driving time between you and the other driver should be at least three seconds.
However, you’ll need to leave more space in certain situations, such as in bad weather conditions or bad road conditions, or when you drive behind a large truck, a bus or a motorcycle. Also, it’s critical to ensure there is enough space between your vehicle and the vehicles behind you and to your side. You can keep a safe distance from the cars behind you by driving in the middle of your lane. Figuring out the blind spot of the other vehicles is also critical as it will help you avoid driving there.
Avoid road rage
Unlike road rage – or aggressive driving behaviour – defensive driving means playing it cool and safe. It means not letting other drivers’ aggressive tendencies influence your behaviour on the road. Generally, road rage starts with someone’s hostility and creates a ripple effect on other drivers.
Things often get heated because a driver gets cut off and then tries to get back at the individual. You should avoid engaging in aggressive behaviour to keep yourself and others safe. If a driver acts aggressively, avoid making eye contact and responding to them, and keep a safe distance from them by safely changing lanes.
