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We’ve all been coping with a local weather of heightened threat over the previous two years. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled us to reevaluate the potential hazards concerned in just about all the things we do: from mundane actions akin to grocery buying and pharmacy runs to much less frequent excursions like adventures overseas or journeys to go to far-flung family, we needed to utterly change how we take into consideration day-to-day risks. Driving is not any exception, so now is a superb time so that you can begin practising defensive driving.
Even though we’ve been driving a lot much less total, with whole miles traveled down by about 40% as early as April of 2020, and solely growing by 13% in June 2021, the charges of automobile accidents and site visitors fatalities have truly gone up. The sobering truth is that an estimated 38,680 individuals died in site visitors accidents in 2020, the very best variety of any 12 months since 2007. What’s extra, 20,160 individuals have been killed in automobile crashes within the first half of 2021 alone. That’s up 18.4% even from 2020, and is the most important variety of fatalities in the identical time interval since 2006.
Whereas the reason for this spike in accidents and fatalities just isn’t but clear, one idea is that largely empty highways tempted drivers to push the velocity restrict and drive much less safely, inflicting extra accidents. One other is that drivers took higher dangers, akin to rushing, neglecting to put on their seatbelts, and driving underneath the affect, and disregarding site visitors legal guidelines. Lastly, one NHTSA examine discovered that extra drivers consumed opioids, cannabinoids, and alcohol in 2020 than they did earlier than the pandemic.
Regardless of the purpose behind these startling statistics, they present us a transparent have to take higher precautions on the highway. To that finish, we’ve put collectively our greatest recommendation on defensive driving and staying protected behind the wheel.
What’s defensive driving?
Defensive driving, merely put, refers to a set of driving abilities that greatest prepares you to reply to hazards on the highway. When most of us consider the time period “protection”, we’d consider sports activities or martial arts earlier than driving. Nevertheless, whereas most of us won’t usually consider defensive driving in these phrases, it’s completely an vital type of self-defense.
Defensive driving permits you to defend your self towards hazards akin to collisions brought on by drunk drivers, erratic driving conduct, and inclement climate situations, together with anything which may go fallacious on the highway. Defensive driving, in different phrases, means hoping for the most effective, however being ready for the worst.
Defensive driving particulars
So, how precisely does one apply defensive driving? We’ve compiled our greatest suggestions under, however many states’ Division of Motor Autos web sites have on-line defensive driving programs accessible to assist fine-tune your abilities, stay a safer driver, and most significantly, keep away from a site visitors ticket or a collision.
Plan forward to your journey, and anticipate the sudden
Earlier than you permit the home, all the time be sure to’re up to the mark on the site visitors and climate situations alongside your route. Considering forward like this may allow you to higher plan your drive and keep away from any bother spots.
Leaving nicely upfront is all the time an amazing thought as nicely. Even in case you’re already habitually punctual, contemplate heading out a couple of minutes early. Should you’re on the highway forward of schedule, you’re much less prone to develop into annoyed with different drivers, velocity, or tailgate.
Scan your environment
Anytime you’re on the highway, it’s a good suggestion to be aware of creating tunnel imaginative and prescient. It’s an inclination many people have, particularly on lengthy, uneventful drives. Tunnel imaginative and prescient on this case means focusing solely on what’s instantly forward of you, to the exclusion of something in your peripheral imaginative and prescient. Whereas it’s vital to hold your eyes on the highway, it’s higher to scan your environment, hold your eyes transferring, and look far forward, slightly than trying solely at what’s proper in entrance of you. This fashion, you’re higher in a position to see and keep away from any hazards.
Decelerate; use your brakes
Velocity limits exist for a purpose. You don’t wish to drive too slowly, as that is additionally harmful and might impede the move of site visitors, however you do wish to stick as near the velocity restrict as you’ll be able to handle. At larger speeds, it turns into rather more troublesome to brake in time to keep away from an accident, and also you’re more likely to lose management of your automobile. Shield your self and others by braking early, driving at an affordable velocity, and sustaining a protected following distance from the automobile forward of you.
Anticipate different drivers to make errors
You’re solely human, and so is each different driver on the highway. All of us make errors, however sadly, errors at excessive speeds can come at a excessive value. You’ll be able to’t management different drivers’ actions, however you are able to do your greatest to anticipate them.
When it comes to defensive driving, this implies by no means assuming that different drivers will do what they need to. For instance, once you’re at an intersection and your mild turns inexperienced, it’s a good suggestion to attend only a second earlier than driving by way of. Simply because different drivers have a purple mild doesn’t essentially imply that they’ll cease. Giving your self an additional second as a security cushion can assist you keep away from a collision if one other driver runs by way of the purple.
It’d sound paranoid, however being consistently looking out for automobiles swerving into your lane, working purple lights or cease indicators, improperly yielding at intersections, drivers exhibiting highway rage, or simply driving erratically typically will hold you and different motorists a lot safer than in case you assume they’ll behave as they need to.
Keep alert, keep away from distractions, and take precautions
Defensive driving begins with essentially the most primary of security precautions. Put on your seatbelt, and ensure everybody else in your automobile does too. Be certain your wiper blades work nicely sufficient to allow you to preserve good visibility within the rain. Should you’re driving in situations the place you should use your wipers, be certain your headlights are on as nicely. Preserve your tires correctly inflated, and all the time hold your security inspection updated.
Driving defensively additionally means avoiding distractions. Driving ought to have your full consideration. Should you’re driving with pets within the automobile, hold them restrained with correct pet seat belts or carriers. Regardless of how late you’re working in your technique to work, don’t attempt to brush your hair, shave, or placed on make-up behind the wheel — it’s not the time, and it’s not price it. Should you’re driving with passengers, don’t hesitate to ask them to maintain the quantity down, or to show off vibrant electronics when driving at night time. And, above all, please, please, please don’t textual content and drive.
Lastly, all the time keep alert behind the wheel. A part of defensive driving is recognizing once you shouldn’t be driving in any respect. Should you’re too drained or too intoxicated to be behind the wheel, hold your self and others protected and keep off the highway.
Advantages of defensive driving
By now, we hope we’ve made it clear: security is crucial good thing about practising defensive driving. Maintaining your self, your passengers, and different motorists protected ought to completely all the time be your high precedence.
As if saving lives isn’t sufficient, defensive driving may prevent cash. Drivers with few or no accidents on their file can anticipate to pay considerably decrease charges for automobile insurance coverage than drivers who’ve been concerned in, or triggered, collisions.
Whether or not you’re already accustomed to defensive driving otherwise you’ve made a renewed dedication to security post-pandemic, Automotive has loads of assets that can assist you keep heading in the right direction. Contact us and get a quote at the moment.
