Defense driving is the automobile accident prevention and damage mitigation philosophy of driving that you can take certain measures to decrease the chances of a car accident or the damage caused by it regardless of the conditions of the road or the mistakes of other drivers by following certain best practices when operating a motor vehicle.
Defensive driving could save your life or the life of someone else. It could lessen the injury caused by a car accident, or the severity of the damage to your or another driver’s vehicle. Automobile accidents still rank high as a cause of mortality in the United States, so defensive driving is a critically important responsibility of every driver on the road.
To drive defensively, you cannot be distracted. Texting or talking on the phone while driving, eating while driving, applying makeup while driving, or doing anything other than paying attention to the road and the other drivers is distracted driving. You also cannot drive defensively if you are under the influence of alcohol or other substances that decrease judgement and reaction time, if you are sleep deprived, or if you are experiencing strong negative emotions.
Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents, especially for inexperienced drivers. If you are not driving while distracted or under the influence, then you can practice defensive driving by being more alert. That means looking ahead and being aware of what’s happening further down the road and not just in front of you, checking your mirrors frequently to know what’s behind you and on either side, and being aware of both conditions on the road and how other drivers are driving.
If you are more alert you can be proactive about anticipating possible car accidents and reacting quickly to avert them.
That is the essence of defensive driving.
If you notice cars slowing ahead of you, debris on the road, reckless drivers, a car wandering all over its lane, or have any premonition of something that could go wrong, slow down and keep your distance from the trouble. Be ready to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid a collision.
Follow best practices to ensure you stay safe even if another driver makes a mistake. Look both ways even when you’re at a traffic light and you have the right of way to protect yourself from drivers that aren’t paying attention. Don’t tail gate and always keep a safe distance between you and the next vehicle. When it comes to staying safe on the roads, the best offense is a good defense.
A huge benefit of defensive driving is that it will lower the cost of your car insurance in Maryland. This is because defensive driving will result in fewer accidents as well as better driving habits. If you are a defensive driver, have your car insurance costs reevaluated by a local Maryland insurance agency today! Give Freedom Insurance Agency, Inc. a call and we discuss how to lower your vehicle insurance costs, today!
