There are people who drive aggressively and other people who drive defensively. As a defensive driver, you’re more likely to avoid trouble on the road. And for that reason, you’ll also have greater peace of mind every time you get behind the wheel.
Here are some basic defensive driving tips that will keep you safe:
- Safety first: Everything you do should be guided by the thinking that your safety always comes first. This protects against you taking unnecessary risks that increase the chance of an accident.
- Have an escape route: No matter what position you’re in, have an escape route in mind so that you can take quick action in the event of an unforeseen incident, such as someone cutting you off.
- Leave more space: As a general rule of thumb, leave three to four seconds of stopping distance between your vehicle and the one in front of yours. Anything less than this may not give you enough time to stop in an emergency situation.
- Follow the speed limit: This is a simple one. There are speed limit signs everywhere. Know the speed limit and obey it.
As you drive defensively, you’ll spot many people who aren’t taking the same approach. Instead, they’re tailgating, driving extremely fast and not taking the well-being of others into consideration.
If an aggressive driver causes an accident, you should pull to safety, call 911 and assess your injuries. There is nothing more important than your health, but once you receive any necessary treatment you should file an insurance claim and look into all the steps you can take to hold the driver responsible for the crash.
