Road Rage: Defensive Driving Tips Everyone Needs to Know

You probably learned about defensive driving in your driver’s education course back in high school, but it never hurts to brush up on the finer details. Here are a few tips for being a responsible, defensive driver.  

Eliminate Distractions

You might need to make a few sacrifices if you’re going to eliminate all external distractions from your driving. Wake up a few minute earlier so you have time eat breakfast before you leave for work instead of on the go. Put the phone away—don’t text or even talk on the phone while you’re driving. If music distracts you, or you’re a habitual radio surfer, turn it off.

Expand Your Focus

Don’t focus on the car directly in front of you. The narrower your focus, the more likely you’ll be to miss crucial warning signs three, or four, or ten cars ahead of you. Keep your eyes scanning the horizon instead, and you’ll have more time to react to potentially dangerous situations.

Don’t Be a Lane Changer

As often as possible, choose a lane on the highway and stick to it. Don’t weave in and out of traffic—you’ll only increase your and other drivers’ risk of collision. You’ll also avoid sending other drivers into a road rage if you share the road, and keep to yourself instead of invading others’ personal driving space.

Check Blind Spots Faithfully

They teach you about blind spots in Drivers’ Ed, but don’t think it’s a principle for beginning drivers only. Even if you’re pretty sure there’s no one in your blind spot, check it anyway, every time you change lanes. The one time you neglect to check your blind spot, could mean a nasty accident that might cost you and another driver mechanical repairs and hospital bills.

On another note, be careful to stay out of others’ blind spots as much as possible. You never know when someone is going to change lanes without looking, and you want to be well out of the way if that happens.

Look Both Ways

Whether you’ve been stopped at a red light, or are coming up to an intersection with the right of way, look both ways before you blaze through. If another driver runs a red light, you need to be on the defensive to avoid a collision. Be aware of other drivers’ potential mistakes at all times.

Avoid Bad Drivers

Don’t succumb to road rage. Sharing the road with aggressive drivers can be frustrating, but instead of trying to keep your temper in check, just distance yourself from a bad driver whenever possible. Change lanes, take a different route, or let them pull ahead of you when it’s convenient.

Don’t Tailgate

The most important part of being a defensive driver is, rather obviously, not being aggressive. Stay a respectful distance behind the car you’re following. Keep an eye out for tailgaters of your own, too—if the car behind you is riding your bumper, do your best to open up a way to let them pass you.

Pedestrian Safety

Drive defensively, yes, but take extra precautions as a pedestrian as well. Pedestrians are most often injured as a result of the following incidents:

• Drivers failing to observe posted speed limits
• Bad weather conditions
• Drivers who ignore traffic signals
• Drivers failing to yield right of way at marked crosswalks
• A driver’s failure to stop before turning right at a red light
• Drunk driving

The best thing you can do to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian is to be aware of the drivers on the road. Before you step out onto the crosswalk, look both ways and make eye contact with any oncoming cars. Don’t wear dark clothing when you’re out walking at night, keep a close eye on children around busy streets, and always face oncoming traffic if you are forced to walk in the street.

Firms like Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP, accident lawyers in Edmonton, covers cases ranging from car and motorcycle accidents to pedestrian incidents. If you’ve been injured either as a pedestrian or driver, contact a local office and start discussing your options. If you were not at fault, you will be eligible for compensation for your injuries.

The road is a dangerous place, and you’ll need to be on your guard if you’re going to avoid accidents. Drive responsibly, and avoid aggression both in yourself and other drivers as much as possible. Be aware of what is going on around you, and you’ll be much more likely to make it to and from your destinations safely.