Defensive Driving Techniques

The road can be a dangerous place. Keeping safe and avoiding accidents depends not only on your own safe driving habits, but dodging the questionable habits of those around you. Defensive driving is therefore an important technique, preventing poor drivers from compromising your safety and sending you to the emergency room. To minimize the threat of other motorists on the road alongside you, there are a few important principles to keep in mind.

Always be mindful of your surroundings, what is ahead of you on the road, behind, and in neighboring lanes. Make certain that you have a full picture of what is happening around you at all time, preventing the possibility of another vehicle appearing suddenly where you did not expect it, or where it legally should not be. Dangerous drivers will often weave through traffic, even driving in restricted zones where cars should never otherwise be; only by keeping an eye on what is around you can you identify these dangers.

Be communicative while driving; signal early, and make sure that you avoid blind spots. Make yourself as visible as possible to ensure that you are seen by other drivers. When approaching a stop light or traffic congestion, brake gradually and early to give those behind you ample time to come to a safe stop as well. Always use your indicator lights well before changing lanes and when turning in either direction through an intersection. Never assume that other motorists are always aware of your presence and of your intentions while driving.

When dealing with reckless drivers, always yield the right of way when refusing it would otherwise create a potential accident. Even in circumstances where vehicles illegally pass into your lane, turn at a stop light out of turn, or cut you off, insisting on enforcing the rules of the road will only increase the danger of the situation. Instead, simply let them pass by. Allowing your emotions to get the best of you and driving to prove a point on the road will never solve the issue, and only make you as guilty of reckless driving as the driver who angered you.

When tailgaters are following too closely behind you, allow them to pass by, and do not let them influence you into speeding or driving erratically to teach them a lesson. In emergency situations where quick braking is needed, tailgaters will often slam into the back of those in front of them. Again keep your emotions in check, not attempting to solve the situation on your own.

Most importantly, never assume that another driver will make the correct decision, and always know what to do if and when they do make the wrong move. Do not leave your safety up to the attentiveness of someone piloting another vehicle, be mindful of the possibility of them making a mistake, and be ready to avoid it. When an emergency situation develops, it is often too late to think through the proper response. By accounting for the worst possibilities, you will prevent yourself from being caught off guard, coming to rest in a ditch after a harrowing accident.

By driving defensively, and never letting your emotions overcome your safe driving habits, you can eliminate much of the danger caused by poor drivers. Though accidents may still result from the unavoidable recklessness of others, many of the most common circumstances leading to crashes can be identified and evaded, allowing you to reach your destinations safely.