5 Safety Tips for Defensive Driving

Anyone with substantial driving experience or those who commute daily to work or school have seen their fair share of irresponsible or inexperienced drivers. Whether they fail to signal a turn, tailgate, excessively speed, run red lights, or you see them rolling along while their eyes are on the phone, they present a significant risk to others on the roadway despite the general legal presumption that all drivers owe a duty of care to others on the road to take reasonable measures to prevent causing injuries. 

No matter how careful and experienced you might be as a driver, not all other drivers sharing the roadway with you can say the same. Careless, reckless, or inexperienced drivers all pose a significant safety risk to others on the road, and you could be one of them.

Though drivers cannot protect themselves from all dangers posed by careless or reckless drivers, following some important safety tips can help.

Stay Alert and Focused

Even when listening to music and podcasts, it’s critical to avoid deep concentration on anything other than the road. Be sure to look ahead, not only immediately in front of your vehicle but far ahead along the road as well as make frequent rear-view mirror and side mirror checks to monitor what is happening behind you. Be sure you always have your hands on the wheel and use only hands-free technology while driving. Never text and drive or scroll on social media behind the wheel, even when waiting at red lights.

Always be aware of the driving actions of those sharing the roadway, including watching ahead and behind for lane-changing drivers and remaining wary of other drivers in intersections who may not know or follow the correct rules of right of way.

Maintain a Safe Driving Distance

Never “tailgate” or drive too closely behind the vehicle in front of you so you have adequate stopping time if the driver suddenly slows or brakes. The general rule is to choose a fixed object ahead and ensure that three seconds pass between the vehicle in front of you passing the object and your vehicle passing the same object. Another way to judge the appropriate following distance is to estimate three car lengths between the front of your vehicle and the rear of the one in front of you.

Avoid Blind Spots, Especially in Commercial Trucks

When passing a vehicle in a parallel lane, keep in mind where the vehicle’s blind spots are—typically at mid-vehicle on both sides. Large commercial trucks have more extensive blind spouts, particularly on the passenger side. If you find yourself driving in this space, try to drive forward or backward out of the drive spot as soon as possible, or change lanes.

Be Sure to Avoid Aggressive Drivers and Diffuse Road Rage Situations

When a driver exhibits aggressive driving behaviors like speeding, weaving between lanes, tailgating, or aggressively honking at other drivers, fall back and let them pass. Resist reacting with anger if you make a mild traffic mistake such as cutting off another driver who then yells, honks, or reacts with rude gestures. Instead, show signs of remorse such as waving and mouthing, “I’m sorry” to de-escalate the situation and reduce the risk of a road rage incident.

Never engage in Risky Passing Behavior

On two-lane roads, carefully follow the center line symbols to know when it’s safe and legal to pass. If you have limited visibility ahead, you’re approaching an intersection, or there is an oncoming vehicle approaching, never take the chance even if you think you have time to pass safely.

You may not be able to prevent all car accidents because you cannot control other drivers, but by controlling your own driving behaviors to minimize risks, you can increase the likelihood of safely arriving at your destination. However, if you are involved in an accident contact our Seattle car accident attorneys today.