The United States has some of the busiest roads in the world, with more than 281.4 million vehicles registered throughout the country. As you might have guessed, this staggering volume translates to an equally large number of accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as many as 36,096 fatal car accidents occurred in 2019 alone. The Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) even considers road collisions one of the leading causes of death for people aged one to 54.
As tragic as these incidents are, many of them can be avoided by practicing defensive driving techniques. While having WI car insurance can help you deal with the aftermath of a car accident, driving defensively could help prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.
What is Defensive Driving?
“Defensive driving” is the collective term for a set of safety practices that minimizes the possibility of road accidents. By applying various driving strategies, drivers could reduce the risk of accidents by a considerable degree. At the very least, these practices could also minimize personal injuries and property damage caused by vehicular accidents. When properly implemented, defensive driving protects you and your passengers, as well as those in the other vehicles around you.
The 3Ps of Defensive Driving
There is no single set of clearly defined practices that constitute “defensive driving”. Every situation is different, and drivers often have to react to given circumstances on the spur of the moment. For this reason, it can be difficult to outline a clear course of action that defines defensive driving.
That being said, there are common aspects to all safe driving strategies. Most strategies fall under the “3 Ps” of defensive driving, which we outline below.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is the first step toward driving defensively. There are many factors to consider when planning a drive, including weather conditions, route, and the condition of your car.
Be extra careful and avoid speeding when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Heavy rain and snowstorms can increase the risk of motor accidents considerably.
Planning your route could prevent accidents. If you know how to get where you are going, you are much more likely to keep your eyes on the road and less likely to make sudden stops and turns.
Always make sure your car is in optimum condition. Check the tires, brakes, lights, and other components that could affect your ability to drive safely.
Pay Attention
Staying focused is one of the most important aspects of defensive driving. You need to give your undivided attention to what you are doing and be aware of everything going on around you. For this reason, you should never use your phone while driving unless you have a “hands-free” system that lets you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. But, even then, your primary focus should be your driving.
Obeying traffic lights and road signs is a must. But even if you follow the light changes and stop signs strictly, you can’t be sure that other drivers will be as vigilant. So, try to be prepared for other drivers’ sudden actions so you can react appropriately to avoid an accident.
Practice Patience
Finally, try to remain calm and patient while on the road. Avoid having to rush through traffic and trying to beat red lights by giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. And if you happen to get stuck in a traffic jam, resist the urge to speed ahead at every opportunity. Apart from possibly preventing scrapes and fender benders, this could also help keep your fuel consumption low.
As you can see, many of the skills and strategies employed in defensive driving can be learned by anyone. However, it will take some familiarity and practice, particularly if you aren’t used to driving that way before. Even so, you will develop the knack for it over time until it becomes second nature.
In closing, it is important to keep in mind that not all drivers will be as vigilant and considerate as you are on the road. Therefore, along with developing the proper defensive driving habits, it would also be beneficial to observe the driving habits of others so you can react appropriately in any given scenario. As you gain experience, you will continue to make use of the defensive driving strategies outlined above.
