Upload
trankhue
View
219
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Defensive Driving Skills Guide
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
DRIVE DEFENSIVELY!
You probably heard this long before you first got behind a wheel. And you’ll keep hearing it, for good reason. These days and nights, driving is more hazardous than ever. Not just from those weather and traffic conditions you can’t control, but other drivers and other distractions. Is he on his phone? Was she just texting? Did your phone just ring?
While many of today’s car models come with features and technologies to help reduce hazards, road incidents can happen. Driving defensively can lower the odds of them happening to you. Knowing the rules of the road, keeping your driving environment as clean and clear as possible, and reading traffic and weather conditions from moment to moment—that’s driving defensively. And that’s driving smart.
Let’s explore how...
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
Leave a Safety SpaceOne-one-thousand, two-one-thousand,
three-one-thousand…
You’re the quarterback. That’s because at
55 mph, your car will travel almost the full
length of a football field in one second--80
yards. And at only 25 mph, in one second
you still travel 12 yards. And if you can
travel that far in that amount of time, so
can others.
Give yourself space. Literally, 3 seconds at
whatever speed you’re going is a good rule
to follow, especially when conditions like
the weather, traffic, and geography
change. That storm isn’t going anywhere.
But you are. And check yourself against
your own tendency to speed up or
slow down.
Look Ahead For HazardsStay informed to stay ahead. Road signs
and traffic alerts—both visual and
auditory—provide lots of information to
keep you ahead of the curves, hidden
driveways, and changing conditions.
Read what’s happening ahead, behind, and
on both sides of your car and the road. And
adjust what you can control—your position
and speed—to keep as clear as possible
from what
you can’t.
Drive in Plain SightSometimes you really need to be noticed.
On the road, for example.
Remember: just because you see them
doesn’t mean they see you. Make sure
others on and off the road see your vehicle
at all times. And this doesn’t mean driving
faster to get into that clear space ahead.
This means dropping back or moving over
into that clearer, safer, more visible space
behind or to the side of you. This means
signaling early, and often, for turns, lane
changes, and slowing down. Check your
brake lights, headlights, and taillights
often, and replace them immediately as
needed. Headlight use at any time can be
helpful, and make sure your brights are
used with consideration.
See. And be seen.
Watch the WeatherSpeed limits are there not as a foundation,
but as a best-possible scenario. These
limits represent the maximum suggested
speed when the road is dry, the weather is
clement, and visibility clear.
Stay aware of the weather around you and
ahead of you, and how it can impact road
conditions. Stopping times, stopping
distances, and vehicle traction can all be
affected by weather. And even weather we
love—sunshine!—causes sudden glare off
of other vehicles that can affect your
ability to see.
Remember Your Blind SpotsWhen you’re behind the wheel, car mirrors
are looking out for you from places you
can’t see or reach. Keep them in good
condition, and check them often, even
when the road is clear and you’re at
normal, steady speed. Every 10 seconds or
so, when changing lanes are good
defensive driving practice.
And don’t forget pre- and post-driving:
Check them when you get behind the
wheel, and before you leave the car. Check
for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists,
Segway riders, hoverboarders, anything
that might not see you, your passengers,
and your car. See them first. So when you
start moving, they see you.
Use Your Mirrors, Use Your EyesAs a defensive driver, your own eyes are
your single best source of information.
Though car mirrors and car cams are
helpful, they’re not perfect. It only takes a
fraction of a second to check your blind
spots, especially when planning a
lane-change, approaching a turn, and
pulling in and out of any kind of parking
space, including your own garage or
driveway.
Don’t Make AssumptionsWhile it may be good practice to assume
the best of others, it’s good defensive
driving practice to never assume anything.
Don’t assume that you’ve been seen, or
that other drivers will follow the rules.
Don’t assume that those drivers—ahead,
behind, to either side—will stop or let you
in. In other words, assume that you are the
only defensive driver on the road, and
you’ll be better prepared for those who
aren’t.
Impairment Affects AbilityJust as your car’s condition affects its
drivability, your mental, physical, and
emotional condition affects yours. Keeping
everything—both your car and
yourself—properly working, fueled and
rested, tuned up and turned on makes
driving safer and smarter.
Don’t drive impaired—by alcohol, drugs,
and other substances. Even some
over-the-counter medicines can affect
your physical condition and mental
alertness, which means they can affect
your ability to drive defensively.
Keep Calm, Keep ClearDriving defensively isn't about driving
aggressively. It's often about driving calm,
and that's good practice at any time. This
especially applies when other drivers are
driving carelessly. Your car and the area
around it may feel like personal space, but
the road is used and shared with others.
Don’t lose it just because others abuse it.
Don't Drive DistractedAny distraction in a moving car is like taking
an outside traffic hazard or bad driver off the
road and putting them inside the vehicle.
Even those that seem manageable can
unexpectedly veer beyond our control. So
minimize them in the car, and maximize your
focus where it needs to be: on the road.
Need we even mention phones and other
devices?
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
Leave a Safety SpaceOne-one-thousand, two-one-thousand,
three-one-thousand…
You’re the quarterback. That’s because at
55 mph, your car will travel almost the full
length of a football field in one second--80
yards. And at only 25 mph, in one second
you still travel 12 yards. And if you can
travel that far in that amount of time, so
can others.
Give yourself space. Literally, 3 seconds at
whatever speed you’re going is a good rule
to follow, especially when conditions like
the weather, traffic, and geography
change. That storm isn’t going anywhere.
But you are. And check yourself against
your own tendency to speed up or
slow down.
Look Ahead For HazardsStay informed to stay ahead. Road signs
and traffic alerts—both visual and
auditory—provide lots of information to
keep you ahead of the curves, hidden
driveways, and changing conditions.
Read what’s happening ahead, behind, and
on both sides of your car and the road. And
adjust what you can control—your position
and speed—to keep as clear as possible
from what
you can’t.
Drive in Plain SightSometimes you really need to be noticed.
On the road, for example.
Remember: just because you see them
doesn’t mean they see you. Make sure
others on and off the road see your vehicle
at all times. And this doesn’t mean driving
faster to get into that clear space ahead.
This means dropping back or moving over
into that clearer, safer, more visible space
behind or to the side of you. This means
signaling early, and often, for turns, lane
changes, and slowing down. Check your
brake lights, headlights, and taillights
often, and replace them immediately as
needed. Headlight use at any time can be
helpful, and make sure your brights are
used with consideration.
See. And be seen.
Watch the WeatherSpeed limits are there not as a foundation,
but as a best-possible scenario. These
limits represent the maximum suggested
speed when the road is dry, the weather is
clement, and visibility clear.
Stay aware of the weather around you and
ahead of you, and how it can impact road
conditions. Stopping times, stopping
distances, and vehicle traction can all be
affected by weather. And even weather we
love—sunshine!—causes sudden glare off
of other vehicles that can affect your
ability to see.
Remember Your Blind SpotsWhen you’re behind the wheel, car mirrors
are looking out for you from places you
can’t see or reach. Keep them in good
condition, and check them often, even
when the road is clear and you’re at
normal, steady speed. Every 10 seconds or
so, when changing lanes are good
defensive driving practice.
And don’t forget pre- and post-driving:
Check them when you get behind the
wheel, and before you leave the car. Check
for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists,
Segway riders, hoverboarders, anything
that might not see you, your passengers,
and your car. See them first. So when you
start moving, they see you.
Use Your Mirrors, Use Your EyesAs a defensive driver, your own eyes are
your single best source of information.
Though car mirrors and car cams are
helpful, they’re not perfect. It only takes a
fraction of a second to check your blind
spots, especially when planning a
lane-change, approaching a turn, and
pulling in and out of any kind of parking
space, including your own garage or
driveway.
Don’t Make AssumptionsWhile it may be good practice to assume
the best of others, it’s good defensive
driving practice to never assume anything.
Don’t assume that you’ve been seen, or
that other drivers will follow the rules.
Don’t assume that those drivers—ahead,
behind, to either side—will stop or let you
in. In other words, assume that you are the
only defensive driver on the road, and
you’ll be better prepared for those who
aren’t.
Impairment Affects AbilityJust as your car’s condition affects its
drivability, your mental, physical, and
emotional condition affects yours. Keeping
everything—both your car and
yourself—properly working, fueled and
rested, tuned up and turned on makes
driving safer and smarter.
Don’t drive impaired—by alcohol, drugs,
and other substances. Even some
over-the-counter medicines can affect
your physical condition and mental
alertness, which means they can affect
your ability to drive defensively.
Keep Calm, Keep ClearDriving defensively isn't about driving
aggressively. It's often about driving calm,
and that's good practice at any time. This
especially applies when other drivers are
driving carelessly. Your car and the area
around it may feel like personal space, but
the road is used and shared with others.
Don’t lose it just because others abuse it.
Don't Drive DistractedAny distraction in a moving car is like taking
an outside traffic hazard or bad driver off the
road and putting them inside the vehicle.
Even those that seem manageable can
unexpectedly veer beyond our control. So
minimize them in the car, and maximize your
focus where it needs to be: on the road.
Need we even mention phones and other
devices?
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
Get Driving. Defensively.If we had to distill this guide down to the fewest possible words, they would simply be “drive defensively.” But if you want a little reminder, take these keys—key letters, that is—and remember these guide rules.
Don’t make any assumptions.
Ensure you look well ahead when driving.
Follow other vehicles at a safe distance.
Expect the unexpected.
Never forget about blind spots.
Search for clues up ahead.
Impaired driving is dangerous.
Visibility to others is crucial.
Ensure you avoid distractions.
Enjoy being and becoming a great defensive driver!
© 2016 I Drive Safely. All Rights Reserved.www.idrivesafely.com
For more information, visit www.idrivesafely.com
Connect with us: