Did you know that 80% of all accidents that occur on our US highways are preventable? Think of all the lives and money that would save our economy if we could actually prevent that many collisions. So, what can we as drivers do to help avoid these costly and sometimes deadly crashes? The first thing you can do is never assume that your driving counterparts are going to do what you expect them to. You have to learn how to take a defensive posture, and predict that other drivers will make mistakes that directly affect us, each and every day that we drive. Here are “Three Defensive Driving Strategies” that will help you to avoid a collision and make you a safer driver:
Defensive Driving Strategy #1
Get a following distance! According to the AAA Traffic Safety Division it takes 260 feet to totally stop your car at speed of 60 miles an hour. This distance includes the time in which you first see a problem, up until your car skids to a stop. Your brakes in effect will stop the wheels, but they don’t stop the car! Imagine traveling at 60 mph when all of a sudden the car in front of you slams on their brakes because of an object or animal in the road. This driver’s problem has now become your problem. If you are following too closely behind this vehicle, colliding with them is inevitable!
So what is accepted following distance behind another car? Many experts agree that for speeds of 45 mph or less you should be at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you, and at speeds over 45 mph you should have a minimum of four seconds. The easiest way to calculate this distance is to pick a fixed object or a line on the road, and when the car in front of you passes this reference point, begin to count one thousand one, one thousand two, and then you should pass that same reference point. The counting only has to be done once in order to determine this necessary space. It should be noted that during bad weather and on slick roads you may have to increase your following distance even more. A following distance will also give you a little peace of mind when you check the speedometer or adjust the temperature controls.
Defensive Driving Strategy #2
Establish a visual lead time! The best way to avoid a dangerous situation is to identify it early. That is why your eyes need to be looking up and out, and constantly scanning the roads for any situations that could obstruct our driving path. We not only have to be scanning the road, but we also need to be scanning the sides of the roads for such things as pedestrians, animals, and parked cars to name a few. Scanning also means checking our rear view mirror often, so that we what is behind us as well.
OK, so what is accepted visual lead time? For speeds of 45 miles an hour or less you should be looking out, down the road, ahead of you about 12 seconds or more. For speeds over 45 miles per hour you need a minimum of 20 seconds of visual lead time. You can determine this in much the same way as you determined your following distance. Next time you are out driving, pick the farthest point you can see in your visual path. Then begin to count one thousand one, one thousand two, up until you reach that fixed point that you first identified. Again, you can use any sign or fixed object to help you determine this distance. Once you have that visual lead time established, you are set for the rest of your driving life . Just remember as your speed increases so does your visual lead time!
Having an effective visual lead time allows you the time to slow down or adjust lane positions well in advance. It also allows us time to predict what pedestrians, animals and other drivers will do from the sides of the road in our peripheral vision.
Defensive Driving Strategy #3
Be an antisocial driver! That’s right be antisocial. Isolate your vehicle in traffic, and stay away from other drivers every time you drive. Doesn’t it make sense that the less you are around other vehicles, the less that can go wrong? People love to drive in “packs” on the freeway. If one of those cars has to swerve or brake, many cars will be involved in that collision. So, why not drop back behind those packs of cars or accelerate by them in order to drive as a “loner.” Establish clear space in front of your car, on the sides, and behind your vehicle. This way you have no one to worry about except your self. This strategy is much easier to use on the expressway, but with a little bit of hard work it can also be used in city driving.
Isolating your vehicle in heavy traffic is a difficult skill, but it can be done. Do your best to keep space all around your car, but more importantly drive in a position in traffic where you can easily be seen by other driver’s. Stay out of other drivers’ blind spots. Blind spots are located off the right and left side rear fenders of your vehicle, and are spots that cannot be seen in your rear view mirror. That is why it is important to always check your blind spot when making a lane change. Large trucks also can also cause visibility problems. In this case, it is important to establish larger following distances, so that you can see in front of the truck, and at the same time they can now see you. Driving with your lights on will also increase your visibility not only at night, but also during the day. Seeing and being seen, along with being an antisocial driver, will go a long way in keeping you safe on the road.
If everyone implemented these three simple defensive driving strategies what a better and safer place our highway transportation system would be!
Want more defensive driving strategies as well as a FREE copy of “Keys to Passing You Road Test.”? Sign up on the side bar above! You can also get more printable driving strategies and tips by accessing our RESOURCES page above.