Imagine you’re driving east along Highway 10 on your way to the Fox River Mall in Appleton. You’ve just passed through Waupaca and your two kids are arguing in the backseat. You whip your head around, imploring them to behave. As your eyes refocus on the road, a text notification chimes, drawing your gaze to your phone
The kids start yelling again, prompting you to look back and give them a stern warning. As you regain focus (again), you’re startled to find a deer stepping onto the road just feet ahead, forcing you to hit the brakes. You narrowly avoid the collision, and the car behind you narrowly avoids rear-ending you.
This is a perfect example of distracted driving, the opposite of defensive driving. You got lucky.
What is defensive driving?
Defensive driving is a proactive approach to road safety. Unlike reactive driving, which only responds to immediate situations, defensive driving encourages you to be aware of your surroundings and foresee risks before they turn into problems. This approach not only keeps you safe but also protects passengers and other drivers.
Top defensive driving tips
Driving requires your undivided attention and awareness. To ensure your safety behind the wheel, implement these defensive driving techniques:
- Maintain a safe following distance: A good rule of thumb is to stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. This distance gives you enough time to react to sudden stops or emergencies, reducing the risk of rear-end collisions. Increase this distance and use your headlights appropriately when weather conditions are poor.
- Stay aware of your surroundings: Always be watching for potential hazards, like pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles that may change lanes unexpectedly. Use your mirrors often and check blind spots before changing lanes, crossing an intersection, or passing another car.
- Avoid distractions: It’s easy to be tempted by mobile devices, passengers, or in-car entertainment systems. But distracted driving is dangerous and can be deadly. Keep your phone out of reach and limit conversations that could take your focus away from driving. There will be plenty of time to catch up on texts and social media once you’re safely parked.
- Make proactive decisions: This means making conscious choices about when to yield, merge, or change lanes based on the actions of others and the state of the road (bumps, potholes, etc.). Instead of reacting impulsively to sudden changes, anticipate the situation and make smart decisions that prioritize safety.
Benefits of defensive driving
The most obvious advantage of defensive driving is the reduced risk of accidents. By implementing the above strategies, you’ll lower your chances of being involved in a crash.
Defensive driving also boosts your confidence on the road. As you get better at identifying potential hazards, managing challenging situations, and eliminating bad driving habits, you’ll feel more in control behind the wheel. If you’re prone to anxiety while driving, practicing defensive driving will ease your fears.
Although defensive driving reduces your risk of an accident, it doesn’t remove it entirely. Connect with a local Rural Mutual agent to make sure you’re protected should the unexpected happen.
