Three Defensive Driving Techniques That Could Save Your Life

Let’s face it: the road is the single most dangerous place in the United States. About 3 million people get injured in bad car accidents ever year, while fatal auto accidents claim another 1.3 million lives. This means that fatal car accidents claim a life once every 13 minutes.

The road is so dangerous, in fact, that according to some auto accidents statistics, the average driver will get into at least one accident every six years.

However, the road doesn’t have to be such a terrifying place. If you drive defensively, you can avoid getting into bad car accidents. Here are a few tips and tricks to help.

Stop Tailgating
Pressuring someone into going faster by riding their tail isn’t going to do you or anyone else any favors. According to some agencies, it’s one of the top 15 reasons people get into bad car accidents. If you can’t see the tires of the car ahead of you touching the road, then you’re too close.

Let People Pass
If someone is tailgating you on the other hand, you need to let them pass. Some drivers try to pressure the tailgater by tapping their brakes, feigning a sudden stop, but that can be extremely dangerous. If you tap your brakes too hard, you may cause bad car accidents, and make the other driver slam into you. Instead, just let them pass. If there’s no place for them to do so, then just keep driving at a safe speed and don’t give in to the pressure, letting them pass at the first opportunity you have.

Use Your Signal
Whether your changing lanes, taking a turn, or even going around a roundabout, you need to turn your blinker on a few seconds before you take action. Clearly communicating your intentions with other drivers is a surefire way to avoid getting into bad car accidents.

Driving defensively can help you defy the statistics on car accidents, avoiding the bad car accidents that they claim are inevitable. If you have any questions about these defensive driving techniques, feel free to ask in the comments.