Every single driver must know that operating a car with his or her hands is not a risk-free endeavor. In order to start reducing these threats, though, one must possess the very basic understanding of the core concepts underlining defensive driving. Much good can be accomplished when you get to understand what it is like to be a defensive driver and some of the recommended safety behaviors that you can apply as you drive.

Naturally, you will be obligated to ensure that your vehicle has the relevant auto insurance policy before you are allowed to legally drive in the road. With the help of an independent insurance agent, you may find the most appropriate cover to use within a very short time. Firstly, though, I will describe to you defensive driving and give you twenty ideas and tactics that can make you a better defensive driver.

What Is Defensive Driving

To maintain safety of the drivers, one should have good knowledge of the concept of defensive driving. Then, what is defensive driving? Defensive driving is a concept that can be used to describe a particular kind of driving conduct that involves safe reaction towards fellow motorists, pedestrians, weather alterations, and other potential dangers.

The next time you go out on the road, remember this term of defensive driving. Watching the road and being prepared to act accordingly to threats on and near the road would go a long way in helping mitigate your risk as an on-the-road driver.

Read also: Beginner's Guide to Hill Driving Techniques And Tips

Advantages of Defensive Driving

What then is a defensive driver and what is driving defensively? Safe driving behaviors and practices are practiced continuously by a defensive motorist to help them reduce the chances of accidents and other malpractices.

The defensive drivers are alert and they are always observant of the changes that can take place and obtainable on the roads and weather conditions and they always look up at the road to see the other cars and people. The advantages of learning to be defensive drivers and be a defensive driver include not only ensuring that you have a low chance of being involved in accidents and remain safe but also that you avoid traffic crimes such as being ticketed and consequently end up saving on your automobile insurance.

Defensive driving lessons are offered in most states. Other defensive driving classes can assist you in getting vehicle insurance discounts. However, regardless of the course you do not take, it is almost guaranteed that by being accident-free and maintaining a clean driving record will reduce the cost of your vehicle insurance.

Eight Rules and Strategies of becoming a Defensive Driver

What makes one a good defensive driver? You can learn a great number of fundamental techniques and tricks you can use in the road.

It could be a good idea to shift some actions and thinking when driving because this would make you a defensive driver. To assist you in making a start, we have installed a list of 20 points and tips to assist you become a more defensive driver.

Read also: 10 Easy Techniques for Becoming a Better Driver

1 Focus on the work at hand

Defensive driving simply entails being on task which is to drive safely. Being behind the steering wheel, it should always be what is happening on the road that is of great concern.

Turn the radio low and do not let the passengers bother you. A defensive driver is constantly examining the environment around them in case of any possible threat and to ensure they are informed of any change, the driver must be alert to weather and road conditions.

2 Anticipate other drivers to make errors

Becoming a defensive driver is in part the ability not to assume that other motorists are not distracted and do not know how to drive defensively. In coming to a junction, always watch the other vehicles to ensure that they actually stop when needed to make sure you pass past them.

Watch the traffic around you to ensure that the other cars do not suddenly switch lanes without notifying you. And also, think about the fact that not all drivers on the road might be the locals and they are not familiar with the local traffic patterns.

Read also: 9 Tips for Being a Defensive Driver

3 Slow down

Driving at a safe pace is a part of being a defensive driver. Defensive driving is incorporating the habit of knowing the existing speed limit and obeying them.

Teen drivers are the most likely to engage in speeding activities on the road, and thus increase the probability of an accident among them tremendously. Slow speed is beneficial because the drivers have more time to react to the persistent changes or potential threats and avoid accidents.

4 Take use of safety equipment

Defensive driving can be assisted using safety features. Seat belts should always be tight and airbags should always be in working condition.

Certain cars have some additional protection measures that assist defensive drivers, like blind-spot cameras and lane assistance. The modern day cars will beep when you want to reverse or switch lanes when an object or a car is parked in your path.

5 Never, never, never, never buckle up

The most tragic and painful driving statistics can depict how many lives can be saved through some simple precautions, such as wearing a seat belt. One of the major requirements of becoming a defensive driver is the proper use of a seat belt. In a single year, the number of people killed in automobile accidents has reached 37,000, yet 2,549 of them could have been spared in the aforementioned accidents had they been wearing a seat belt during the accidents.

According to the National Safety Council, you will be 50 percent less likely to suffer injuries in a road accident when wearing seat belts. In a different year in the recent past, seat belts saved around 15,000 lives.

Actual defensive drivers ensure that they fasten their seat belts as soon as they get in the car. The other element in defensive driving is not to start the car before you can be sure that all the passengers have been securely strapped.

6 When in doubt, give

Defensive driving involves the ability of a driver to give way in doubtful circumstances. In case you are confused about what to do in a crossroad, or a road sign has been knocked off or knocked down and is no longer visible, apply the defensive driving technique of yielding to ambiguity. Then, once it is safe to do it, do it.

7 Stop on red

Running a red light has been identified as the main cause of junction crashes. This occurs sometimes because of quitting paying attention to the road and other times it is because of the setting sun glare.

However, unfortunately, in some cases, it is due to the fact that the motorist was in haste. Slowing amount to each junction and analyzing the situation is the best defensive driving strategy. Never race the yellow light.

8 Use your blinkers

Turn signals are also another element of being a careful driver. When you feel like changing lanes or taking a turn, never forget to turn on your blinker before you are about to do something so that the other drivers can know what you are up to.

Defensive driving involves activating at least 100 feet beforehand of a turn you are about to make the turn. In case of a change of lanes, take not less than 5 seconds to switch on the blinker before changing.