7 Tips for Defensive Driving

Driving your car is the single most dangerous activity you perform daily. As we spend quite a bit of time in a vehicle, it can seem pretty routine but with the level of risk involved, it's a good idea to brush up on your defensive driving skills. Review these tips to help you build better driving habits:

1.  Limit distractions. There are so many distractions in our lives these days, from texting, answering phone calls, messing with the radio, eating, putting on makeup, shaving and many other things. Distracted driving isn’t defensive driving, it’s offensive driving. Nothing is more important than focusing on getting from point A to point B safely.
2.  Never assume. Never just assume that a driver is going to stop or turn. It’s better to assume they may not. It may be an accident that their turn signal is even on, so it’s better to just drive cautiously and never assume.
3.  Stay alert. If you’re tired or upset and can’t focus behind the wheel then that is the last place you need to be.
4.  Be aware of your surroundings. Check your mirrors frequently and scan road conditions that are ahead of you. Keep your eyes moving and be aware of what is going on around you.
5.  When in doubt, yield. If you aren’t certain who has the right away, it’s always best to yield on the side of caution. By all means it’s better to lose five seconds of your time than to get caught in a collision.
6.  Look far ahead of your vehicle. Check to see what is happening ahead of you so you can anticipate traffic situations and adjust your driving accordingly.
7.  Let it go. If you notice a driver is driving recklessly or is upset at your driving and honks at you, don’t engage with them. Slow down and let the drive speed away and let it go.

We all want to arrive to our destinations safely. By following these tips and allowing yourself time to get to your destination, you can be a defensive driver.