by Lyn Lomasi

Created on: October 20, 2010

Driving defensively is an important part of safety when it comes to road travel. Just because you are a safe driver doesn't mean that everyone else who's driving will also be that way. Wearing a seatbelt is the first and foremost thing anyone riding or driving in a vehicle should do. Also, avoid driving impaired. Following defensive driving tips can also help immensely to protect you from accidents and incidents on the road.

RoadTrip America reports that an estimate of 50,000 people die annually due to road related injuries. Factoring in the injuries causes the number to rise much higher. Over 22 million people are injured every year on United States roadways.

Paying attention is the number one defensive driving tactic listed on the RoadTrip America website. Keeping your mind alert and focused on the road can help prevent many incidents from happening. One distraction could be road rage. That distraction could linger throughout the day due to the upset caused. Never let anything, including other drivers, distract you from driving safely.

Another thing to remember is that there can sometimes be confusion as to who has the right way. A good defensive driving tip in this instance is to simply yield that right to the other person. Even if you have the right of way, if there seems to be confusion, allow the other person to go first to prevent an accident. In this case, the safety of both parties should come before the standard traffic rules.

Reaction time is key to preventing accidents and when the person driving is speeding, that reaction time decreases. In fact, reaction time decreases each time driving speed increases. With their calculations, if a person is driving 70 mph, the average reaction time is 115 feet (or about 7 car lengths).

Buying and using other safety devices is also important in driving defensively. Child safety seats, ABS brakes, air bags, and other devices may be optional but are invaluable when it comes to safe driving. Be sure that you not only have these devices, but that you know how to use them properly and do so each time they are used.

Keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive defensive driving guide. A certified defensive driving course is a good idea and is just one of the many ways to be prepared and stay informed.

Sources:

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/DefensiveDriving/Rule 04.htm

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/DefensiveDriving/Driv e-Safe-With-Uncle-Bob.htm

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