Defensive Driving

Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts  .

  • Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and be ready.
  • Allow enough following distance between you and the driver in front of you.
  • Focus on the task of driving.
    See also:

    Underbody Maintenance
    Use plain water to flush dirt and debris from the vehicle's underbody. Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do this. If not removed, rust and corrosion can develop. ...

    Braking
    Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time. Average driver reaction time is about three-quar ...

    XM Messages
    XL (Explicit Language Channels): These channels, or any others, can be blocked by request, by calling 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and 1-877-438-9677 in Canada. XM Updating: The encryption code i ...