You want to stay safe on the road, and you know that you face threats from other drivers. They’re going to make mistakes and drive negligently. Your solution is to work on becoming a defensive driver.
The first thing to keep in mind is that defensive drivers always try to anticipate the mistakes made by others. If you see someone slowing down without their blinker on, anticipate that they may be about to turn. If you see a car waiting at an intersection and you have the right of way, cautiously watch that vehicle as you proceed— they may run the stop sign or simply go out of turn, failing to yield the right of way to you. If you’re already prepared to hit the brakes, you may be able to avoid a collision.
Staying alert
In addition to anticipating potential mistakes and watching for warning signs, you always want to stay alert. Don’t get distracted by your cellphone. Don’t turn the radio up to full volume. Try to avoid mental, physical and visual distractions— the three main types defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When you’re alert, it improves your reaction time. For example, if you see another car drifting over the centerline, you can quickly start reducing speed and moving onto the shoulder to avoid a head-on collision. A driver who isn’t paying attention may not technically make a mistake, but they may not notice the other driver’s error as quickly, giving them less time to avoid the crash.
Being a defensive driver is smart, but it doesn’t guarantee you won’t be involved in an accident. If another driver makes a mistake and you suffer injuries, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.