9 Defensive Driving Tips You Need to Know

A lot of us drive every day. But it’s one of the more dangerous things we do. In 2019, for example, 36,096 people died in car crashes. Many others get seriously injured.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, get immediate medical attention and consult an experienced auto accident attorney to help you deal with the aftermath.

But if you want to avoid getting in a car crash altogether, here are nine defensive driving tips that will help:

Plan your drives so that you give yourself ample time to prepare. If you're rushing to get somewhere, you’re more likely to speed and cause a wreck.

You should also check the weather forecast. This way, you can avoid poor road conditions that make it hard to see or make the roads slippery. 

Next, stay alert. Get enough rest before you drive so you don’t get drowsy, sit up straight in your seat, and keep both hands on the wheel. 

Watch your surroundings and scan ahead to anticipate traffic problems and road hazards. And when you’re at an intersection, always look both ways. You never know when someone might speed through a red light.

Keep your eyes on the road. It’s easy to get distracted by eating, drinking, fixing your hair, doing your makeup, not to mention texting, calling, and otherwise using your phone. But you should get rid of these distractions to give your full attention to driving. 

Try not to get too distracted in your thoughts either. Spacing out will lower your reaction time, making it harder to respond to changes on the road.

Another way to drive defensively is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. For cars in front of you, follow the 3-second rule, which says you should be 3 seconds away from the next car at any given time. For cars to your side, stay in the center of your lane and avoid driving side by side for too long.

Always break early, especially in bad road conditions. This gives you more time to slow down and gives the drivers behind you more time to stop as well. It’s all about creating a buffer to minimize the risk of contact.

Blind spots are the areas you can’t see in your rear-view or side-view mirrors. You should check them by turning your head to look before you turn or change lanes.

Also, try to avoid driving in other drivers’ blind spots. You never know when they’ll fail to check it and accidentally hit you.

Turn signals tell other drivers how you plan to drive. They eliminate confusion and make turning and changing lanes much safer. So always use your blinkers, even when you think no one is around.

Avoiding an accident often takes quick reflexes. So it’s best to have a plan in your head of where you will pull over to dodge a potential hazard. Ideally, you should always have a free lane next to you.

Road rage is the opposite of defensive driving. So avoid it at all costs and stay away from other aggressive drivers.

Lastly, driving defensively means never assuming how others will drive. Yes, you hope others will follow traffic rules just like you. But don't count on it.

For example, look both ways at intersections. Someone trying to speed through a yellow light might miss it and hit you instead. Bottom line: expect the worst and don’t trust anyone but yourself.

When it comes down to it, driving always comes with risk. According to one estimate, your chances of getting in a car accident are 1 in 366 for every 1,000 miles driven.

But if you drive defensively, you dramatically lower your chances of getting in a car wreck. So buckle up and follow the tips above to protect yourself and other drivers.