March is Safety Sales Event month at Davis-Moore, which means that every week we’ll be highlighting a different vehicle safety tip. This week we’re going to focus on something taught when you FIRST learn to drive, but something that many of us let slip as we get a bit older and a bit more comfortable behind the wheel: Defensive Driving. The National Safety Council’s Defensive Driving Course states Defensive Driving as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.” Defensive Driving goes beyond the rules of the road and mastery of the mechanics of driving-it focuses on anticipating and avoiding dangerous situations. Here are a few tips to becoming a better Defensive Driver:
DO NOT do unto others.
There will unfortunately always be crazy people on the road, swerving in and out of lanes and cutting others off in their haste to get to their desired destination. Don’t play their game by trying to cut them off to get ahead of them, resort to blaring your horn, or hand gestures-these only make the situation worse, and even more dangerously, they distract you from the road! When you find yourself on the road with someone driving dangerously, step up your awareness of what is going on around you and stay out of the way. Give aggressive drivers plenty of room to get around you.
NEVER insist on your right of way if another driver is challenging you.
Just because you follow the rules of the road and there are laws to ensure that our roads are safe-not everyone abides by these rules as they should. Even if the right of way is yours by law, custom or common courtesy, always remember that the number one objective is to get to your destination safely. When someone plows ahead of you, make sure to keep your ego in check and yield anyway.
Overcome overconfidence behind the wheel.
How many of us have been known to say “I’m a great driver, it’s everyone else on the road that is dangerous!” We all think that we are good drivers, but make sure that if you make that kind of claim that you can back it up by your actions. Slow down, obey traffic laws and always wear your seat belt. If everyone on our roadways followed those easy tips and treated each other with courtesy, our streets would be much safer for everyone.
Be aware of your surroundings!
Distracted driving can be as blatant as texting or applying make-up, or can be as unintended as letting your mind wander on the five o’clock drive home. As a driver, you should always be scanning the road for the unexpected and keeping an eye on those around you. Watch out for pedestrians, and those on motorcycles and bikes that can easily be lost in your blind spot. You can’t afford to be distracted for a second!
Take a refresher course in driving.
The skills being taught to our children to be safe drivers are long forgotten by many of us who have been on the road for several years. Do you sometimes drive or turn using only one hand instead of two? Do you sometimes come to a “rolling stop” (which isn’t a stop at all and could merit a ticket if there is a police officer in the area), or maybe not fasten your seat belt for those short trips? All of these are driving basics, and no matter how comfortable you are driving, should ALWAYS be followed.
Be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and set a good example for others who may be passengers in your vehicle. Remember that the road is no place for ego-the objective, no matter what, is to arrive safely at your final destination. So relax, and enjoy the drive. Slow down-and remember to always buckle up!