Bay Area drivers are not known for their defensive driving habits, which is one of the reasons why we have more accidents per capita than almost any other region in California. However, learning to drive defensively is one of the best things you can do to avoid getting in an accident.
And, since car accidents are one of the top three reasons we get calls to tow cars, your defensive driving skills also reduce your risk of needing accident-related towing services.
The California DMV Handbook states that a defensive driver:
“...should always be looking for hazards.” They advise drivers “...to learn to see hazards on the road. However, do not forget why you are looking for the hazards—they may turn into emergencies. Look for the hazards to have time to plan a way out of any emergency. When you see a hazard, consider the emergencies that could develop and figure out what you would do. Always be prepared to take action based on your plans.”
By driving defensively, drivers improve their safety and road safety for all other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Here are 10 critical defensive driving tips to minimize your risk of causing an accident and help you avoid accidents caused by others.
Google maps and other digital mapping devices are beneficial, but only if you use them with your eyes on the road. It’s best to review your route ahead of time or let a passenger play co-navigator. The better prepared you are and the more familiar you are with your route, the less likely you are to make sudden lane changes, quick stops, or abrupt turns that put you and others at risk for an accident.
Have you ever felt that you’ve been driving for 15 minutes or longer and can’t remember what you’ve passed? Our brains can go on “auto-pilot” to a point, but that tendency to daydream or let your mind wander puts you at risk for rear-ending or striking another car, pedestrian, or biker who veers into your path.
Remain alert and focused on the road. Never drive if you are under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications with warnings about driving/drowsiness, or if you suffer from sleep deprivation.
Part 2 of remaining alert and prepared is to scan the roadway ahead of you, always on the lookout for inattentive drivers or potential drivers. This includes consistently using your rear and side view mirrors. Alert drivers have more time to swerve, safely change lanes, or put space between them and another driver to avoid collisions.
Cell phone use (including texting, watching videos, searching for contacts, and “quickly checking social media”) is now the primary cause of distracted driving in the U.S. It is also one of the leading causes of car accidents, including accident-related fatalities. Under no circumstances should you ever text or use your cell phone in ways that take your eyes off the road. If it can’t wait, pull over safely and tend to your business off the road.
Other common causes of distracted driving include:
In good weather, under normal driving conditions, you should allow three to four seconds between you and the car in front of you (this equals about one car length for every 10 mph). If you’re on the freeway, take a look at a major marker, such as a speed limit or exit sign. Then, count the number of seconds between when the car in front of you passes it and your car. If it’s three to four seconds or more - you’re driving defensively.
If the weather is stormy, the best defensive drivers avoid driving altogether whenever possible. If you must drive, increase the distance between you and the car in front of you by an additional second (or car length) or two.
Obey the speed limit at all costs, and drive slower in bad weather or poor road conditions. Speed limits exist for a reason, and speeding is a leading cause of accidents.
Blind spots describe specific areas around your car (and others’ cars) that cannot be seen using rear and side-view mirrors or by turning your head. Knowing where your blind spots are - and honoring them - ensures you don’t change lanes and hit a car next to you.
It’s equally important to have an idea of where others’ blind spots are and stay out of them. If you’re on a heavily traveled road and there’s no way to avoid a driver's blind spots, pay close attention to their driving as they could swerve into your lane.
NOTE: Semi-truck drivers have a large blind spot on their right side. There is a saying in the trucker community: left side passing side, right side suicide. Whenever you can, steer clear of the right side of semi or long-haul trucks.
In addition to the tenets of “see and be seen” and maintaining safe distances between you and other drivers, keep an escape route in mind. Your awareness of the road ahead, including gaps and extra shoulder room, gives you the ability to “escape” at the first sign of danger.
Poorly maintained cars are more likely to cause accidents, especially if they experience tire emergencies, run out of gas on a major highway or byway, or suffer mechanical problems where it’s maneuvering safely off the road. Observe your vehicle manufacturer's maintenance recommendations as part of your defensive driving strategy.
Don’t assume everyone else is as attentive as you are. In fact, odds are the majority of drivers around you have an offensive, rather than a defensive, approach to driving. If you drive as if nobody else is paying attention, you’ll be far safer than the rest of the drivers on the road.
Did an offensive moment let you down? The team at J&T Towing is here to pick you up and provide full roadside assistance and towing whenever you find yourself on the side of the road. Give us a call 24/7 at (707) 356-4613.
