Aggressive driving behaviors are not only inconsiderate, they also lead to a greater risk of accident and injury. That’s why all motorists should utilize defensive driving tactics, which entail remaining aware of your surroundings at all times and following traffic laws to the letter. Esurance offers a few examples of defensive driving behaviors and how they can benefit you.
Maintain a safe distance
You never really know what other drivers might do. That’s why you should always work to maintain a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles. If a motorist makes a sudden maneuver, you’ll have time to react, which could potentially prevent an accident. Keeping a distance of about three or four car lengths will also prevent rear-end collisions should another driver slam on the breaks unexpectedly.
Don’t drive distracted
Distracted driving can be deadly. There are numerous behaviors to avoid behind the wheel in this case; along with texting and driving, eating while driving, changing the radio station or adjusting the GPS, or even carrying on a conversation with passengers can all end up causing an accident. Always keep your phone on silent and out of reach when driving to prevent temptation. Also, be mindful of any other activities that may pull your focus from the road, even something like daydreaming.
Watch out for blind spots
Blind spots are those areas around your vehicle that are out of view from your mirrors alone. Along with frequently checking your own blind spots, make sure you’re not straying into the blind spots of other vehicles. This is especially important when sharing the road with large commercial vehicles, which have a number of hard-to-see areas surrounding. Large trucks and buses are also tougher to control, so the driver may not be able to correct in time to prevent an accident.