1. Before
you drive, survey your vehicle.
Are your tires at the correct pressure? Are external mirrors set
properly? Are there any hazards, such as objects or small children,
near your vehicle? Are your windows all clear? Do you have fluid for
your windshield washer, and are the wiper blades clean and smooth?
2. When you
drive, pay attention to what is ahead, behind, and beside you.
Be aware of what is 15
to 20
seconds ahead of you, both directly ahead and to the sides, so that you
can anticipate everything that may force you to react.
3. Move
your eyes.
When you focus on what is immediately ahead, your peripheral vision is
affected, and you start to develop tunnel vision. Instead, regularly
move your eyes, and occasionally look toward what is in your peripheral
vision, particularly when you are approaching cross streets.
4. Use your
mirrors regularly. Check your mirrors
every five
to eight
seconds, and know where vehicles behind and beside you are in relation
to your vehicle, particularly those that are approaching your blind
spot.
5. Shoulder
check every time.
Even if you are sure you know the location of every vehicle beside and
behind you, practice shoulder checking before you move to the right or
left. The driver beside you may have a different view of how much room
there is beside you.
6. Make
connections.
That ball rolling across the road may be followed by a young child.
Traffic ahead of you moving into the other lane may mean a lane closure
or hazard ahead. A siren may mean an emergency vehicle is coming up
behind you. The speeding car on the side street may not stop before
crossing your path. The earlier you make a connection between what you
see and a potential hazard, the earlier you can safely respond to it.
7. Wear a
seat belt, and secure children and objects in your vehicle.
In the first moments after a collision, you need to focus on keeping
control of your vehicle. That's difficult to do if an object behind you
has just struck the back of your head. It's impossible when you've been
thrown out of the vehicle or through the windshield.
8. Avoid
distractions.
Talking on your cell phone, text messaging, getting into an argument,
or even changing the channel on your radio can all take your attention
away from what is around you.
9. Leave
plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
You should be no closer than four
seconds behind a car
or light truck,
and at least six
seconds behind a large
commercial vehicle. Leave even more time when the road or
weather conditions are poor.
10. Don't
drive in someone else's blind spot. If they don't see you,
they can't avoid you.
Further
Studies:
10
Tips For New Drivers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ClH977D0Yg
Safe Driving,
A Shared Responsibility Safety Video AT1002
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Mf0uefnHU
Winter
Driving Safety (on YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ft4ZRu0wsY
Road
Trip America
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/content.php?9-Defensive-Driving-Tips-Drive-Safe-With-Uncle-Bob&s=d1b7f5eac891af71987b483a9d4e02c4
wikiHow
to Drive Defensively
http://www.wikihow.com/Drive-Defensively
Top 5 Safe
Driving Tips - CARFAX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68cE9U_cV74
You
Must Learn Driving from Government Approved Learned Instructor.
You
Must Get References and check their reviews/remarks about the
Instructor.
You
Must Learn Defensive Driving for safety of you and your loved ones.