Defensive driving and you

According to the National Institute for Traffic and Highway Safety, many preventable accidents are caused by aggressive driving.  We have all seen this every day.  Someone runs a red light because they are impatient.  Someone else weaves in and out of traffic on an interstate going 20 mph over the speed limit.  Or it can be as simple as someone not being courteous and letting a car merge into traffic by not yielding to merging traffic (this happens everywhere).  Or what about the impatient person that doesn’t want to wait in stopped traffic and decides to pass everyone on the median or shoulder and then pushes their way back into traffic farther up Similar to budging or skipping in line in a grocery store.  Regardless, this is all aggressive driving and it can not only get you killed, but it can also kill others.  The safest way to drive is not aggressive, but defensive or reactionary.

The whole theory behind defensive driving is to allow for enough time and distance between your car and others that if need be in an emergency you could stop safely.  This is especially important at higher speeds as it takes much longer to slow your car to a stop.  According to most state DMV’s it is recommended that for every 10 mph in speed one should allow for 1 to 2 car lengths distance between their car and the next nearest car or vehicle.  In rain, snow or during night driving when visibility is more limited than more distance will be necessary as well as lower speeds as conditions deteriorate. 

Hot rodding, speeding, racing, sliding, spinning tires, etc… may all seem like neat things to do at a car show or in the movies, but they should never be attempted on the open road.  All one has to do is research the internet for stupid car accidents and similar on Google and you will find thousands of people who have lost their rides and in some tragic cases their lives.  Yes, you can also receive a ticket for reckless driving, speeding, reckless endangerment (if there are kids or similar in close proximity), etc…  It just isn’t worth it.  One ticket and your car insurance will go up, you will have a big fine and court costs to tend to.  Yes, you can hire a lawyer and get it reduced or dropped, but they will cost you at least $150 to $500 or more depending on the ticket and charges filed.  It just isn’t worth it.

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Instead learn to drive defensively.  Travel at a safe following distance.  Lay off the horn unless absolutely necessary.  Leave with enough time to easily get to your destination.  Driving while on a time limit like when you are close to being late for work will definitely make you prone to aggressive driving tactics.  Get proper sleep, no one that is over tired can respond properly to an emergency situation in time.  What if you only had three hours sleep and are running late and out of no where a young child runs out into the street right in front of you.  Will you be prepared?  Don’t say that it won’t happen, because it unfortunately does every day.  You should look at it as sex without a condom – could you live with the consequences? 

Defensive driving is a simple as going the speed limit, allowing a proper following distance, be alert and aware (be constantly watchful of the road ahead as in that split second where you fumble with your iPod, text message or lookup that number on your cell phone anything could happen).  It is a very good idea to look into defensive driving courses offered by your state and local DMV and community colleges.  They are usually free or very low cost (under $50 at most) and are very beneficial.  These defensive driving courses can also remove points from your license and make you eligible for an insurance deduction.  That in itself should be motivation to take a course.  Even if you just read a book, please take defensive driving seriously as you may save someone’s life or your own.  I should know as working as a volunteer EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) for a local volunteer ambulance squad I have seen thousands of the worst accidents you could ever imagine and some worse than that.  Many of these were due to stupid decisions like driving too fast in bad weather, running a red light, drunk driving, etc…  The point here is that defensive driving saves lives, I only wish more drivers took the initiative to practice and learn it.  Article provided by MDWholesale.com headlight cleaner, headlight restoration and headlight repair.