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Defensive Driving Tips That Could Save Your Life |
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Written by Jerry Malcolm
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Defensive driving is all about awareness. The two critical skills that you will learn in defensive driving school is how to stay constantly aware of what is going on around you and how to take evasive action to avoid a looming road emergency. If you can conquer the basic skills of defensive driving, it can and will save you days and weeks of heartache that come from having an accident. It will save you thousands of dollars in car repairs and high insurance rates.
But most importantly, it could save your life by giving you the tools to avoid life threatening situations that come up when you are driving on your local roads and highways. So here are a few defensive driving tips to help you get started learning this important skill.
The Shoulder Check
Maybe the one habit you can develop that will keep you out of more accidents is the simple movement of the head to check your blind spot from time to time. The blind spot is that place in the lane next to you that you cannot see in your rear view mirror. It is usually a space right next to your driver's side rear passenger door. If another driver is in that spot as you are driving along, it is easy to change lanes and not be aware that he or she is there.
The solution is a simple one. By always checking that spot over your shoulder and maintaining a 360-degree awareness of everything going on around your vehicle, the blind spot is no longer blind to you. Not only is this important so you will make wise driving decisions but so you will know if someone driving around you is going to make a critical mistake that could endanger your vehicle. If you notice that someone in your blind spot is about to cross the lane in the direction of your car, you can take evasive action. But more importantly, when someone is chronically driving in that spot, you can speed up or slow down to get them away from your vehicle so the chances of a collision are reduced.
Environment Control
One of the biggest problems that happens during driving is distractions within the vehicle that can cause you to lose your focus on driving. By taking steps to reduce or eliminate distractions within your vehicle, you keep your attention free to maintain an awareness of the road conditions and the behavior of other drivers around you. Controlling your environment includes being faithful to some strict disciplines against talking on cell phones, texting or playing with the radio as you drive. Set the station you want to listen to before you begin your journey and leave it there.
It also means not allowing passengers to take your focus off of the road. This is difficult when you have children in the car. But it is important that children are made aware that when mom or dad is driving, they cannot demand your attention. If a crisis with one of the passengers comes up, your first obligation is to get off of the road safely so you can deal with it.
Intersections
When you think about it, crossing an intersection may be the most dangerous moment in driving. You are crossing in front of another road where drivers coming down that road may be traveling at high rates of speed. The only assurance that you have that that person will stop is trust that they both understand the rules of driving, that they are paying attention or that they are not driving recklessly.
The practice of running yellow lights or even into the red light of an intersection is common in urban driving. While it might feel gratifying to complain about the fact that other drivers abuse the intersection or even honk your horn, the most important thing you can do as part of your defensive driving strategy is to take charge of when you will cross that intersection.
That means that a green light does not necessarily mean enter the intersection immediately. By watching the other drivers approaching the intersection, you can be aware when someone is about to put you in danger and stay out of their way. Better to let someone get away with running a red light than to punish them with a collision with your vehicle.
These are just a few of the dozens of important defensive driving concepts that are important to learn to stay safe during the time when you behind the wheel. It pays to take a good defensive driving course so that you develop a full range of skills to keep you and your passengers safe on the road. Not only is this important because it makes you a better driver, it is crucial to understand defensive driving concepts because it can save your life.
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