Defensive Driving Tips That Will Help Ensure Your Safety

Defensive Driving Tips That Will Help Ensure Your Safety:

Driving is an extremely common activity in the daily lives. According to National Traffic Department – ​​it is estimated that there are currently 74 million licensed drivers in the country.

With a large and growing number of drivers, talking about defensive driving is essential. The term refers to a set of practices and behaviors in traffic that aim to predict and prevent situations in which there is some danger and, consequently, possible accidents.

These practices are extremely important not only for self-preservation, but also for the protection of other drivers on the road. In addition, they help to avoid possible fines, damage to the vehicle and accidents. Within this topic, we will address the types of defensive driving and 7 tips on how to practice it. Continue reading!

Types of Defensive Driving:

According to the manual, there are two types of defensive driving: preventive and corrective, and both are necessary to maintain safety on the road.

Preventive driving occurs when the driver takes measures such as paying extra attention, assessing the traffic conditions, the weather, the road and even themselves, in order to anticipate and avoid dangerous situations. Click Here for Defensive Course

Corrective driving occurs when it is not possible to anticipate a dangerous situation and the driver needs to take quick action to minimize or avoid any risk.

In the example of a car braking suddenly and the driver behind swerving to the shoulder to avoid a collision, we have corrective driving.

Tips on how to practice Defensive Driving:

We have covered the concept of both preventive and corrective driving, and their importance. Read on for tips on how to apply theory to your daily driving practice.

Pay attention to safety features:

It is extremely important to periodically check that the safety features are present and working properly in your vehicle. In accidents, they can mitigate serious damage and save lives.

Seat belts must have working pretensioners and headrests must be present to prevent serious injuries to the spine and other parts of the body in the event of sudden collisions.

Equally important, the brakes must be adjusted and the fire extinguisher must be within its validity period.

Observe the signs:

Traffic signs are intended to inform drivers of any obligation, restriction, prohibition or conditions to which the road is subject. Under no circumstances should they be ignored.

Always look for yellow and orange signs and be alert to any signs of sharp curves, intersections, narrowing of the road and temporary signs in case of poor conditions due to weather or accidents.

Observing the road signs is crucial to driving safely, and paying extra attention in these situations can prevent accidents and accidents that could be avoided.

Respect the speed limit:

On any road, inside or outside the city limits, respecting the speed limit is essential, especially on highways, where the speed limit is higher on most routes and the presence of larger vehicles such as trucks is constant.

In cities, keep your speed within the limit, especially on roads with a lot of traffic where any carelessness can result in a crash.

Keep a safe distance while driving:

Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front is a simple measure that helps to avoid speed-related accidents, including pile-ups.

Technically, the most appropriate distance between vehicles is a space of one car every 20 km/h. On a highway at 80 km/h, the appropriate distance is four cars. 

Another very simple and widely used technique is the 2-second rule.  When the other vehicle overtakes you, count 2 seconds and maintain this distance. This rule is conditioned on a speed of 40 km/h, and it is necessary to adapt it if the vehicle's speed is higher.

Know the traffic laws:

Being familiar with Traffic Code and good traffic conduct is also part of defensive driving. Knowing the rules and respecting them ensures that the environment and dynamics between drivers are coherent, since everyone – technically – follows the same practice.

Not only focused on good practices on the roads, this knowledge also helps drivers protect themselves, knowing not only their duties, but also their rights in any situation where they need to defend themselves against the mistakes of other drivers or situations in which they are not responsible.

Be careful when overtaking:

Overtaking should be done in a calculated manner, avoiding recklessness and unnecessary risks. Checking the side and front mirrors for any movement in blind spots is a way to safely start overtaking.

If, when checking for possible vehicles coming from the opposite direction in the case of single lanes and positioned right in front of the vehicle to be overtaken, you find the lane clear, you can proceed safely.

Keep your vehicle in good condition:

Another aspect that helps with defensive driving is vehicle maintenance. Aligning wheels, checking brake wear, headlight operation, and tire usage conditions are essential checklists on the list of good traffic practices.

Keeping a car in good condition, although it may seem simple, is necessary. The measures mentioned above contribute to the car's grip on the road, greater control of the steering wheel, and better visibility of the road, and add up to a set of practices to ensure safety on the road.

As we have seen, practicing defensive driving, whether preventive or corrective, is vital to avoid unnecessary expenses with fines, vehicle collisions, and bodily injuries, including risk of death.