Defensive driving can reduce your risk of a car accident

Learning to drive defensively can reduce your chances of getting in accidents.

Car accidents are dangerous and happen often. In fact, you are bound to pass an accident just while driving down the highway. Statistics show nearly 37,000 people die each year in car accidents.

While car accident injuries are not pleasant to think about, they are preventable in certain situations.

Prevention is the most important step to take to guarantee the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.

But it’s still easy to assume that just because you are a cautious and careful driver, the other drivers around you on the road will be also.

Assuming that the other drivers will stay in their lane, safely react to road hazards, or wait to safely pull out onto a major roadway can often be a dangerous mistake.

Other drivers on the road are often distracted, rushed, or just drive aggressively for no good reason. Looking ahead and keeping your eyes moving can help you anticipate the actions of other drivers and stay safe.

With a focused mind and a little precaution, the following tips can keep you and others safer while driving on the road.

What’s Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving refers to a set of driving skills or a style of driving that allows you to avoid accidents and defend yourself against irresponsible drivers, drunk drivers, bad weather conditions, and the unexpected in general. Get the best results at IMPROV traffic school.

As a defense driver, you assume other drivers might make mistakes.

You are on guard in the event that other drivers make errors and watch ahead for advance warning of any hazards on the road. By watching ahead, you have enough time to avoid potential accidents.

Defensive driving will reduce the chance of you being caught off guard by an unexpected hazard as well as increase your chance of reacting appropriately and avoiding accidents.

However, defensive driving cannot guarantee that you will make it from point A to point B without incidence. It just increases the odds in your favor.

The Department of Motor Vehicles even offers courses on how to be a defensive driver.

No matter how good you are at driving, you can’t control what happens around you. Extreme weather, aggressive drivers, mechanical malfunctions, and roadway obstacles can all jeopardize the safety of you and your passengers.

This is where a defensive driving course comes in. These courses teach you safe driving techniques that help you gain better control over your vehicle in emergency situations.

These courses also teach you tactics for dealing with emotional stress, road rage, and fatigue.

Georgia defensive driving courses can also help you financially by reducing your fine should you receive a traffic violation as well as reducing your auto insurance payments.

 

Defensive Driving Tips

When you are driving on the road, it is crucial to be observant of your surroundings.

Knowing what’s happening around you and being aware of all drivers and pedestrians on the road nearby is the first step to decreasing your chances of an accident.

In order to become a defensive driver, all of your attention must be focused on driving, which means you need to put away the snacks, don’t try to apply makeup, don’t text, or adjust the radio while you drive.

This allows you to stay alert at all times while behind the wheel.

As a defensive driver, you should also understand the importance of making yourself seen.

Many drivers assume that if they can see another vehicle, that vehicle’s driver can see them as well.

But, that’s not a smart assumption to make.

To make yourself more visible, make sure that you always drive with your lights on while it is raining or dark outside.

You should always use your turning signals when changing lanes so the other drivers on the road will know what you are doing.

Always avoid lingering in another driver’s blind spot for longer than absolutely necessary.

If you do get stuck in a blind spot, you should either speed up or slow down so you can be sure to make yourself visible to the other driver.

Defensive drivers typically assume the worst in other drivers. It’s a hope for the best but expect the worst kind of deal.

That means you should never assume that another driver will remember to use his turning signal, check their blind spot before changing lanes, or stop soon enough at a stoplight.

Assuming the worst in other drivers allows you to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

For instance, let’s say you are approaching a four-way stop at the same time as another vehicle.

Even if you know you have the right-of-way, you should never assume that the izes this.

To avoid an accident in this situation, pause for a moment to make eye contact with the other driver or drivers.

You have to be sure that the other drivers do not plan on going through the intersection first.

Being a defensive driver doesn’t automatically guarantee your safety, but it will help you do a better job of protecting yourself on the road.