Even in the best of conditions, driving can be very dangerous. We do it so routinely that sometimes it’s easy to forget just how many potential situations there are on the road that could bring harm to you and anyone you have in the car with you. When you’re driving, there is so much you can’t control, so the best way to ensure your own safety and the safety of your passengers is to focus on your own actions and what you can control. This is called defensive driving, and there are a few main principles that it entails that all drivers should be familiar with. 

Stay Focused and Alert

While it might seem obvious, staying focused on the road and not letting yourself get distracted is something that too many drivers neglect. A wandering mind, a quick glance at a phone, or driving in a mental state that impairs your judgement, like being sleepy or under the influence, are all highly dangerous situations, and just because you’ve done it before and nothing bad happened, that doesn’t mean nothing bad ever will happen. Keeping a clear head and staying focused is one of the best ways you can protect yourself while driving.

Never Depend on Other Drivers

It might sound bad, but one of the best ways to stay safe on the road is to assume that everyone else around you is going to do exactly the wrong thing. Relying on other drivers to be smart and follow the rules of the road is a good way to get into a bad situation. Always watch the drivers around you and never assume that they’re going to do the right thing.

Avoid the Offensive

Road rage is a real thing and it can be very hard to control. However, it’s also incredibly dangerous, and you need to be able to keep your cool on the road. Aggressive driving tendencies are not only difficult for other drivers to predict and can cause accidents, but can have a ripple effect and increase hostility on the road. Going out of your way to get back at someone for cutting you off or something similar will only make the situation worse.

Predict Hazards and Plan to Avoid them

Paying attention while you’re driving is about more than just keeping your eyes on the road in front of you. To do defensive driving properly, you need to be anticipating what could go wrong and planning how you will avoid the accident. For example, if you see someone ahead of you driving aggressively and changing lanes frequently, you have to assume that they’re going to do something like change lanes without checking their blind spot and sideswipe somebody, so it’s a good idea for you to keep well back so that you can avoid the situation. Or, if you’re looking ahead and see something in the road, like a piece of trash, change lanes ahead of time so that you can avoid it.

 

With these defensive driving tips in mind, you should be able to anticipate dangerous situations on the road and drive in a way that keeps you and your loved ones safe.

Tags: driving tips, Lincoln, Lincoln Motor Company, Safety
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »