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How you can become an effective defensive driver

On Behalf of | May 16, 2023 | Car Accidents

It can be very difficult to avoid car accidents. The problem is that you’re at the mercy of other drivers. Even if you don’t make mistakes, someone else might. You can drive safely, but someone else may be negligent or reckless and you can still be injured in an accident.

One potential way to avoid harm, or at least reduce the odds of a crash, is to become a defensive driver. Below are some tips that can help significantly.

Anticipate mistakes

First and foremost, remember that the goal of defensive driving is to anticipate mistakes. By doing so, you can react quickly and avoid getting into an accident in some cases. Don’t trust other drivers to do the right thing, and they can never let you down. You’ll always be ready to respond.

Stay alert and focused

A big part of defensive driving is simply keeping your focus on the road. Don’t get distracted by your phone. Don’t drive under the influence. Don’t drive when you’re tired. You need to keep your attention on driving your car and watching traffic around you. You’ll even want to avoid interacting too much with passengers while you drive.

Make safety your priority

Defensive driving prioritizes safety over everything else. People often drive with a wide variety of goals. Some people just want to get to their destination quickly, for example. They prioritize speed over safety. But your focus should always be on arriving without getting involved in an accident.

Increase your following distance

One thing that can sometimes help is to give yourself a greater following distance. This gives you more time to see the mistakes that another driver might make in enough time to respond to them effectively. Many people accidentally tailgate all the time, which means that they’ll never be able to react as effectively as you will.

Have you been injured?

These tips can help you become a defensive driver, and that can keep you safer. But nothing guarantees you won’t be injured in an accident caused by someone else. If this happens, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other costs. Seeking legal guidance is generally the best “first step” forward in this regard.