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Be aware of your surroundings at all times :

While driving, constantly make a circular check around your vehicle by looking in the rearview mirror and both side mirrors. Being aware of what is coming behind you is as important as the road in front of you. Knowing what is on your sides at all times will allow you to react accordingly if sudden danger ahead forces you to swerve. This is very important especially on freeways.\

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AHEAD AT ANY TIME

Do not get distracted - not even for one second. That represent 88 feet at 60mph

A mile has 5,280 feet, and an hour has 3,600 seconds, so 60 miles per hour is 60 mph x5,280 / 3,600 = 88 feet per second!

Would you drive on a busy street blindfolded at any speed for 88 feet? imagine at 60 mph.

Tips for defensive driving:

  • Always have an escape route
    Especially on busy roads, you should always assume the worst will happen and be prepared for it. Constantly scan from the right and left mirrors to be aware of your surroundings so you instinctively know where to go and how to react in case an unexpected event happens.
  • Always be one step ahead, one second may save your life. You may be surprised later how you could avoid an accident before realizing the danger, your subconscious acting for you.
  • Eliminate Distractions: Statistics show that a large number of car accidents are caused by driver distraction. Be responsible, keep your eyes constantly on the road, and both your hands on the steering wheel. No texting and no eating while driving. If you must talk to passengers, do not look at them, keep focused.
  • What would be your main fear when traveling aboard a fully automatic car? Would you be a passenger in a fully automatic car with a disconnected computer or faulty sensors?  Until then, your brain is in charge while you drive. If it is busy doing other tasks, it would be the same as an automatic car with faulty sensors.
  • Keep your eyes on the road! If the traffic ahead of you is clear, it is easy to assume that you can look away from the road for a few seconds. Accidents always happen by surprise and at the least expected time, especially during these few seconds. Would you trust a new car with a fully automatic navigation system that shuts off for a few seconds?
  •  Focus ahead and away Rather than keeping your eyes fixed on the car right in front of you, try to focus on what is happening further ahead of it. With your eyes. keep scanning on a panoramic view. Your eyes will catch any unusual movement, preventing any possible chain reaction and you will be able to adjust your driving accordingly.  A chain reaction could come from a vehicle 5 or 6 cars ahead applying their breaks or turning at a light.
  • Change lanes only if you have to.  Many car accidents happen when a person suddenly changes lanes for no apparent reason. Choose a lane and stay there as long as possible.
  • Swerving. Changing lanes for no apparent reason is not recommended unless you are trying to avoid an accident. If you have already checked your surroundings, as explained earlier, you will know if you have the clearance to do so.
  • Be aware of your blind spots. Your side view mirrors do not show cars that are slightly behind you on either side of your vehicle. If you must change lanes, turn your head rapidly to check the clearance through your side windows.
  • Do not stay in someone's blind spot. If you do not see the drivers in their side mirror, they cannot see you, which is especially important with big trucks. Slow down or accelerate within speed limits to stay out of someone's blind spot.
  • Be aware of other drivers. If you aren't the one changing lanes, then you need to keep an eye on those who are. Many drivers try to slip between cars, even if it is too dangerous to do so. Watch all of your mirrors so that you can see anyone who may be approaching you quickly, most of the time they may even accelerate to block you. Slow down to let them pass if necessary.
  • Check intersections left and right. This is a very dangerous place, especially when accelerating at a green light. If your view is blocked at a crosswalk, move forward carefully and look both ways before entering the intersection. Check your left side for pedestrians or any cars that are ignoring the red light while speeding, and then look to the right before you start driving through the intersection.
  • Do not tailgate. When you drive too closely to another vehicle, you increase your risk for an accident because you leave yourself very little room to avoid an accident. Try to stay at least three to four seconds behind the person in front of you. If you have a larger vehicle, you will need to allow more room so that you will have enough time to stop. Tailgating is on just about every top-ten defensive driving tip's list, and for good reason. See the braking distance chart below.
  • Follow at a safe distance. Use the three-second rule. Increase your following distance in bad weather or poor visibility.
  • Try to keep driving with the flow. Driving with the flow of traffic, within the speed limit and respectable distances will prevent angering drivers behind you. Driving too slow or having adverse reactions or hesitation simply due to being scared of driving is very dangerous too. Practice will make you more comfortable driving.
  • Keep your distance from bad drivers. If you notice that someone is showing signs of being a bad driver, then you need to keep your distance. You may want to change lanes and slow down to let the car pass so that you don't have a chance of it rear-ending you. If you need to pass a bad driver, try to keep a good distance between the both of you.
  • Expect the unexpected. It always happens. Be ready
  • Avoid eye contact and road rage. Road rage is escalated when drivers look directly at one another.  Avoid making eye contact with these drivers, and continue driving as you were.
  • Velocity and reaction time. The reaction time is usually 1 second when your eyes are on the road and you are fully aware. At 60 MPH, during 1 second you move 88 feet. If a sudden incident occurs 100 feet ahead while simply looking away for a fraction of a second, it is already too late to avoid disasterYou have been distracted! If you are talking to someone, do not look at him/ her, stay focused.

Add braking time just adds another dimension to this equation (which varies tremendously based on the road condition). On the dry road with good tires and brake system, at 60MPH it will take an additional 152 feet to stop. With an immediate response on a dry road that represents a total of a minimum of 240 feet.

Click on image to zoom:braking distances

a spot on the road