What is Defensive Driving?
What is defensive driving? Defensive driving is anticipating problems and responding ahead of time so that you can protect yourself and others from dangerous and unexpected driving situations. It’s the best way to avoid accidents and become a smarter driver. When driving defensively, your goal is to be aware of potential threats and be prepared to deal with them before they become a problem.
Avoiding collisions isn't just making sure you follow the law and do everything right. Even if you do everything right, all it takes for a collision to happen is for someone else to do something wrong. That's why it's important to expect other drivers to make mistakes and be ready to adjust your driving as soon as you spot a potential problem on the road.
Defensive Driving Techniques to Practice
As a defensive driver, your priority is to put yourself in a position to respond calmly and react quickly when something unexpected occurs. This is why our online free safe driving course will help you day to day.
Remember these golden driving rules each time you get behind the wheel:
- Respect others – Treat other drivers the way you want to be treated and give them space so that they feel safe.
- Be alert – Pay attention to what other drivers are doing to avoid any potential hazards.
- Be aware – Stay alert for anything that could put you in danger.
By taking simple actions such as scanning the road ahead, maintaining a safe following distance, and watching for changes in driving conditions, you can detect and avoid potential problems before they happen.
How Do You get a Defensive Driving Certificate?
At the end of our free defensive driving course online, you will be presented with a defensive driving course certificate.
Not Just for Fixing Tickets: Defensive Driving Course
Did you know that taking a defensive driving course online isn’t just for clearing a traffic ticket, but can also reap your financial benefits? While the benefits vary state to state, they include reduction of traffic ticket fines, keeping points off your record, and an insurance discount.
What is a driver defensive course exactly? Defensive driving school provides defensive driving classes come in different formats, so check with your state’s requirements before choosing the one right for you:
- Online driver safety course – Take part in defensive driving classes online on any device with an Internet connection at your convenience.
- Classroom course – Attend a structured learning environment with a teacher and students.
- In-car lesson – Get in the driver’s seat with an instructor who can identify your strengths and weaknesses and show you safe driving techniques.
Take our online defensive driving course to improve your driving record and lower insurance rate. With state-approved driving defensive courses that fit any schedule, you'll never have to leave the comfort of your home to meet court requirements.
Distraction-Free Driving in 8 Steps
There are many distractions that can take your attention away from the road. The good news is there are ways to avoid them. Keep these steps in mind to help you drive distraction-free:
1 - Learn your A-B-C’s – Make this part of your routine before you start the car: adjust your mirrors, buckle your seatbelt, and check on your passenger.
2 - Plan your route – Looking at directions on a phone or map means taking your eyes off the road. So plan your route ahead of time or download a navigation app with voice-directed guidance.
3 - Hang up – Focus on what’s ahead and never text or talk on the phone while driving.
4 - Faster without food – It’s tempting to eat and drive, but when you take a bite or fumble around the bag you’re not paying attention, so enjoy your food after arriving at your destination.
5 - Promote peaceful passengers – Driving is not the time for arguments or crying kids. Keep conversations to a reasonable minimum. If you need them to be quiet, tell them.
6 - Don’t let music distract – Listening to music isn’t dangerous, but fiddling with the dials can be. Create a playlist and keep the volume at a reasonable level.
7 - Be well rested – Driving drowsy is the same as driving intoxicated! If you’re too tired to drive, pull off the road and rest.
8 - Don’t drive drunk – Driving impaired affects judgment and reaction time. Getting a DUI will cause you to lose your license and increase insurance rates. Worse yet, it can result in lives hurt and lost: Don’t drive drunk.
If you have any further questions on the defensive driver course then get in touch with I Drive Safely today!
