Driving is by far the most dangerous activity the average person participates in daily. Driving is essential to maintaining a high quality of life, earning an income and enjoying everything our area has to offer. You can do your part to minimize Illinois auto accidents by driving in a defensive manner.
Defensive driving keeps you, your passengers and other drivers on the road as safe as possible. This approach to driving is centered on a heightened awareness of one’s surroundings. Look ahead down the road, to the left and right and glance at your rear-view mirror from time to time. Make mental notes of patterns in traffic, respond accordingly and you will have done your part to keep our roads safe.
Always Have Your Guard Up When Driving
Though the average driver is safe on the road, people make mistakes. You can reduce the chances of an accident by keeping your guard up. Look out far ahead of the vehicle in front of you. Observe traffic ahead, around and behind your vehicle so you are aware of all potential threats. Always try to leave at least a couple car lengths between your vehicle and other vehicles. This amount of room provides you with some space to slow your rate of speed, change lanes and get out of harm’s way if another driver makes a mistake. Assume other drivers will make bad decisions, hope for the best and do your best to anticipate others’ decisions.
Cut out Those Pesky Distractions!
Distractions are the primary barrier between you and a safe arrival at your destination. Illinois auto accidents are commonly caused by distracted drivers. From cell phones to music, the radio, in-vehicle conversations and beyond, there is plenty to distract drivers from the road.
- Some simply veer to one side of the road when entering navigation information, adjusting the radio station or looking for something else on the vehicle monitor.
- Set your radio stations and music playlists prior to getting in the vehicle and departing for your destination.
- Keep your focus on the road and away from the seemingly endless number of distractions in the vehicle and it will be that much easier to make it to your destination without drama.
Have a Backup Plan in Mind
Think of a way to escape your current situation on the road or highway just in case things go awry. Do not fall into the trap of complacency during your trip. Keep your mind active by thinking of an escape route for potential scenarios in which vehicles come to a sudden stop or another emergency develops. It will help to observe others in your vicinity. Try to predict their behaviors while watching them drive.
However, do not focus on others’ behaviors to the point that you lose track of the road. Keep an opportunity available to safely maneuver off the road and away from danger and you just might avoid a nasty accident.
Impaired Drivers Sabotage Their Ability to Drive in a Defensive Manner
If you are even slightly impaired, do not attempt to drive. Driving requires hand eye coordination, anticipation, clear vision and a high level of awareness. Do not get behind the wheel if you have consumed alcohol, drugs or have not slept well. Even a single drink has the potential to impair your driving ability.
Take Care of Your Tires to Drive Defensively
The quality of your tires is especially important as the seasons change. The skies will soon open up, the temperatures will dip, and it will prove that much more difficult to stop in a reasonable distance. Your vehicle’s tires must be in top-notch shape to reach a complete stop in a reasonably short distance. It will certainly help to replace your tires with snow tires when November arrives.
If your tire tread is at an unsafe level, if your tires are outdated or if you suspect it is taking too long for the vehicle to reach a full stop, make a beeline to the closest tire provider. It is incredibly dangerous to attempt to react to stressful road challenges when tires are even a couple pounds under-inflated so do not put your family’s well-being at risk. It is always better to err on the side of caution by spending for tire maintenance, repair or replacement.
Maintain a Safe Distance Between Your Vehicle and the One Ahead
Leave at least a couple vehicles worth of space between your car and the one ahead of you. Expand the distance when you are traveling at a higher rate of speed on the highway as it will take that much longer to come to a complete stop when traveling at a high rate of speed. Defensive driving requires at least a three second wait between the vehicle ahead passing a benchmark and your passing the same mark.
Embrace the Opportunity to Pull Over to the Side of the Road
It is time to think of pulling over as escaping a potentially costly and/or deadly situation on the road. If you do not like the behavior of the drivers in your vicinity, turn on your blinker or your emergency lights and pull over to the shoulder. Wait until the situation on the road plays itself out before rejoining traffic.
Alternatively, if you are riding as a passenger in a vehicle in which you do not appreciate the driver’s aggressive approach, ask him or her to pull over. Tell the driver you want to calmly discuss the situation on the side of the road and you would feel safer if he or she pulled over. Do not address the situation until you are pulled over and out of harm’s way.
Younger Drivers Should Avoid Filling up the Vehicle With Friends
Young drivers are that much more likely to drive aggressively when they have a vehicle full of friends. The presence of even a couple friends in the vehicle dramatically increases the drivers’ distractions.
Encourage your teen drivers to drive solo, with a parent or another guardian until their driving confidence is high. It might also make sense for parents to set driving rules at one passenger per teen driver at least for the first couple of years. Even as your teen driver improves, encourage defensive driving by limiting the total number of riders to match the available seat belts in the vehicle.
Mind the Safety Equipment
There is no sense paying a premium for a new vehicle if you do not take advantage of all the safety features. Always wear your seat belt. If the airbag indicator light is blinking or illuminated, have it checked out. Make sure your child safety seat is the appropriate size for your little one. Bring your vehicle in for maintenance every couple years to guarantee your safety features are functioning as designed.
Do not Assume You can Safely Multitask
Too many drivers assume they can operate a vehicle while multitasking. Even if you have cruise control on while traversing the highway on a summer road trip, you should not attempt to have a conversation on the phone or search for a radio station while driving.
There is an appropriate time and a place for everything. Give the road your undivided attention and you will make everyone safer. Do not assume your hands-free device is that much safer than a regular phone. The truth is these devices are equally dangerous.
Be Mindful of Others
Above all, defensive driving is centered on treating others well. Drive safely, be mindful of the speed limit and other rules of the road, follow all traffic laws and you will have done your part to act in a defensive manner. Part of mindfulness is anticipating the behavior of others.
Pay attention to fellow drivers, watch them as they approach your vehicle and do your best to predict how they will act in various situations that could unfold in the upcoming moments. Remain aware of others in your vicinity, be prepared to adjust accordingly on-the-fly and the road will prove that much safer for everyone.
Avoid Impairments Aside from Alcohol
Just about everyone knows alcohol impairs one’s ability to drive. However, some people are unaware of other impairments aside from alcohol. Even something as simple as not getting enough sleep qualifies as an impairment in the form of sleep deprivation. Aside from sleepiness, anger in the form of road rage or other emotions have the potential to hinder one’s ability to drive.
Maintain a Clear Path of Vision
Take a close look at your windshield and surrounding windows. Can you see clearly? Is there clutter, fog, obstructions or any other visual interference? If so, clear it away so you can see around the entirety of your vehicle.
Alter Your Attitude
Your mentality means a lot when it comes to driving safely. If you feel agitated, fatigued or stressed in any way, it is time to focus on the positive and overcome your fears. Key in on positive factors while behind the wheel and you will find it is that much easier to maintain a clear focus on the road ahead. If you feel an overwhelming rush of negativity, pull over, take a deep breath and think about how nice it will be to reach your destination safe and sound.
Preparation is Key
You can prevent a harsh auto accident by preparing ahead of time. The minor preparations you make today really do have the potential to increase your vehicle’s performance or make an unfortunate event that much less painful. Maintain your vehicle’s brakes, engine, oil, headlights, brake lights, windshield wipers and other features. Keep all your safety gear functional and updated.
Take a Defensive Driving Course
Even if you feel as though you are a defensive driver, you will benefit from a defensive driving course. This instructional course can be taken in person or on your web-connected computer. The material will rehash the rules of the road and strategies for defensive driving. The little bit of time you spend refreshing yourself on driving etiquette, the better you will perform when the pressure is on amidst strenuous road situations.
Anticipate and Understand
Take a defensive driving course or search the web for more information on defensive driving tips and you will find several helpful crash prevention strategies. Keep these techniques at the forefront of your mind as you operate your motor vehicle.
As an example, it will help to regularly scan the road ahead, to the sides and even behind your vehicle with the rearview mirror. Have an awareness of your vehicle’s acceleration ability and stopping distance. Keep track of its reaction distance, nearby hazards, right of way situations, the distance necessary for passing and other subtleties to manage the road. This heightened state of awareness and mindfulness really does improve your ability to react.
Injured in an Auto Accident? Our Illinois Auto Accidents Specialists are at Your Service
If you are hurt in an auto accident, do not assume you have to pay for all the related expenses. Our legal team is here to help with Illinois auto accidents of all types. We provide free consultations.
There is no fee unless we win your case. Give us a call at 844-977-1900 to schedule a consultation. Our office hours are usually 8-5 yet we will take your call 24/7. You can also contact our staff through our website’s helpful LiveChat feature.