If you are going to be behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is important to learn defensive driving techniques. This is not only to keep you and your passengers safe but it is also to keep everyone around you safe. There are numerous techniques you can learn in order to improve your ability in avoiding dangerous situations.
Defensive driving isn’t doing aggressive driving or tricks that professional drivers know, but it is simply learning how to read a situation and reacting accordingly.
- Reading Situations:
Knowing your situation is the first thing you need to know in regards to defensive driving. You will need to be able to spot hazards in the distance, read road conditions, and drive according to the conditions of the weather. These are things that many drivers actually do not know and thus make it even more important to improve your defensive driving abilities to avoid accidents caused by reckless or careless drivers.
- Reaction Time:
Your reaction time can make the difference between escaping scratch free and being involved in an accident. Even if you normally react slowly to most situations, you can improve your odds by increasing the amount of time you have to react. The main way you can do this is by maintaining a safe distance between the cars in front of you. Following too closely is extremely dangerous and it will not offer the amount of time you need to avoid an accident. This is also against the law. Another way to improve your reaction time is to simply pay attention. Stay focused and avoid distractions.
- Know Your Vehicle:
You must know your vehicle, how it handles, and it will react during different driving situations. Many people buy a car as an appliance to get them from point A to point B, which is fine but because of this mindset they do not take the time to learn the handling of their vehicle. Knowing how your vehicle will react in different circumstances is important! This will provide you the confidence you need when avoiding or reacting to dangerous situations on the road.
Defensive driving is something that everyone should know to make the roads a safer place. As an online traffic school in San Juan Capistrano CA, AODD’s Online Traffic School is committed to providing drivers the training and education they need to not only improve their skills, but to also make our streets safer.
For more information on our services and what we can do for you, please feel free to visit our website