09 Oct Defensive Driving – Are You?

Defensive Driving – Are You?

Defensive driving means staying alert, anticipating hazards, and being prepared for the mistakes of other drivers. Whether operating a company vehicle or your personal vehicle for work, your decisions behind the wheel can prevent crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

Defensive Driving Practices

• Always wear your seat belt. Use both the lap and shoulder belt whenever provided. Airbags supplement seat belts—they do not replace them.
• Do not drive while fatigued. If you become tired or drowsy, stop in a safe location and rest before continuing.
• Adjust before you drive. Set your seat, mirrors, climate controls, navigation, and other equipment before putting the vehicle in motion.
• Secure loose objects and cargo. Tools, equipment, briefcases, hard hats, and other unsecured items can become dangerous projectiles during sudden braking, a collision, or an evasive maneuver.
• Stay focused on driving. Continually scan the roadway, traffic, pedestrians, intersections, and changing conditions. Avoid allowing work issues or other distractions to take your attention from driving.
• Maintain a safe following distance. Allow enough space to recognize a hazard, react, and stop safely. As a general practice, maintain at least a three-second following distance under favorable conditions and increase the distance for rain, snow, ice, darkness, heavy traffic, poor visibility, towing, or other adverse conditions.
• Eliminate distracted driving. Do not text, read messages, enter information into a phone or navigation device, eat, or perform other distracting activities while driving. Pull over safely before performing tasks that require your attention.
• Never drive impaired. Do not operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, cannabis, or any medication or substance that impairs your ability to drive safely.
• Check blind spots. Before changing lanes, merging, backing, or turning, check mirrors and blind spots and use turn signals well in advance.
• Expect the unexpected. Do not assume another driver sees you or will obey traffic signals, signs, or right-of-way rules.
• Control your speed. Obey posted speed limits and reduce speed when road, traffic, visibility, or weather conditions require it.
• Avoid aggressive driving. Do not tailgate, make unsafe lane changes, race other vehicles, or respond aggressively to another driver’s behavior.
• Plan an escape route. Whenever possible, position your vehicle so you have adequate space to maneuver if traffic suddenly stops or another driver enters your path.
• Use extra caution in work zones, parking lots, intersections, and around pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Inspect the vehicle before driving. Address obvious problems involving tires, lights, mirrors, brakes, windows, or other safety-related equipment before traveling.

Remember

Defensive drivers do more than obey traffic laws—they anticipate what could go wrong and leave themselves time, distance, and space to react safely. Stay alert, avoid distractions, maintain adequate following distance, and never assume another driver will make the right decision.