I am trying to be a better driver (for me, my family and fellow drivers).
Please share your thoughts on tips to have a safer, better driving experience.
Bonus (for me) will be tips applying to driving in Midwest, Chicago Area or winter driving.
Thank you and happy motoring.
Defensive driving tips, please.
- Thread starter pandus13
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Everyone else is an idiot, and distracted with their I-phone, radio, or even with breathing in and out.
That guy/girl at the intersection ahead IS going to pull out in front of you/cut you off, always at the last minute.
Always keep an eye open for the softest landing place should you need to take evasive action when one of the distracted idiots does pull out in front of you.
I've avoided many accidents through observing idiots and imagining what might happen.
Biggest tip is, never / be careful when you change lane when there is someone perpendicular +- a couple of car lengths in the lane 2 lanes away from you.
I have witnessed so many near accidents when the person in the left and the right lane both decide to go into the middle lane at the same time.
Another thing is your visibility in freeway commuting traffic and the behaviour of people in front of you. Just don't stay behind people who are incapable of maintaining a steady speed and who do a lot of accelerating and braking. Also, you want to see a few cars ahead, so get out from behind those ridiculous SUV's etc.
Lastly, try not to be one of the 3 or 4 people on a 3 or 4 lane highway who decide to travel at exactly the same speed thereby blocking all traffic behind them who are trying to get somewhere. If you are then you're in trouble with me!
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Learn your car's limits and breaking points so you know if you are at them or not. So many people drive way too slow in conditions that are not bad, because they are terrified and or do not know what their car is capable of.
A good driver knows his car's breaking points and capabilities.
Also a simple one. Don't be stupid. If it seems like its a stupid move, its probably because it is.
Be courteous and aware. Don't drive distracted. Drive for prevailing road, traffic and weather conditions. (not driving at 55mph in the left lane while the flow of traffic is movong at 70 -or- driving at 70mph in a snow storm) Turn the cellphone off. Use turn signals. Anticipate upcomming senarios, like lifting off the gas when you see a distant traffic signal changing red.
(Ride a motorcycle in NYC traffic for a couple of years....made me very aware of my surroundings!)
Thanks, mate.
Will keep my eyes open. (extra large rearview mirror helps too)
Originally Posted By: rjacket
I've avoided many accidents through observing idiots and imagining what might happen.
Biggest tip is, never / be careful when you change lane when there is someone perpendicular +- a couple of car lengths in the lane 2 lanes away from you.
I have witnessed so many near accidents when the person in the left and the right lane both decide to go into the middle lane at the same time.
Another thing is your visibility in freeway commuting traffic and the behaviour of people in front of you. Just don't stay behind people who are incapable of maintaining a steady speed and who do a lot of accelerating and braking. Also, you want to see a few cars ahead, so get out from behind those ridiculous SUV's etc.
Lastly, try not to be one of the 3 or 4 people on a 3 or 4 lane highway who decide to travel at exactly the same speed thereby blocking all traffic behind them who are trying to get somewhere. If you are then you're in trouble with me!
Bill in Utah
Staff member
Always look (scan) WELL ahead. You knowing whats happening gives you time to react and slow the idiots behind you. Give lots of signal time incl flashers if you are going to be slowing down.
Scan mirrors every 5-7 secs and have an out. KNOW what is next to you and don't get blocked in.
SLOW down if conditions require it. Watch the other vehicles as they loose it and don't be one of them.
Bill
(1) be observant RE: your surroundings: cars driving in parallel to you, watch the front wheel and see if it has a tendency to cross the line (into your line), etc.
Keep a keen eye on junctions, traffic lights, and people's driving patterns. speed is always a consideration but always keep enough room/space between yourself and others in front of you to avoid accidents.
(2)be instinctive of what may come along in front of you: e.g. cars running red lights in front of you (junction); sudden braking in front of you, etc.
(3) establish a zone or "domain" arround you to make you feel safe. Do not let anyone get into this zone unless you are in a traffic jam or so.
(4) drive in steady speed and avoid sudden braking or jerking of your vehicle...unless emergency maneouvring.
be very mindful of the road conditions and other environmental factors (slick roads, snow, fog, etc.) and how others react..
Good luck.
Q.
Drive like you're on a motorcycle.....don't put youself in a position where anybody can hit you.
Always have an evasive action plan.....it keeps you on your toes.
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Also a simple one. Don't be stupid. If it seems like its a stupid move, its probably because it is.
Whenever and wherever possible avoid other drivers.
Create as much space free of other vehicles around you as possible.
Drive right, pass left.
Take a few advanced driving courses.
look all around, know where others are, know where you are. check side walks, look for motor cycles, bicycles, people walking. dont block walk ways, dont be in other peoples way. when its your turn DRIVE THE DARN CAR.
Go to a rallycross or 1/4 mile dirt track as a spectator. See how the cars handle, how they over/ understeer (look the terms up) and compensate. See how the fast drivers are smooth. Take a pedal bicycle for a ride. I am convinced that all the paper route biking I did as a kid, and mountain biking in college/ lacking a car and commuting by bike/ helped me with the physics of a real car.
Drive like a fighter pilot. Not that I mean aggressively, but by always keeping your eyes moving and being totally aware of what is going on not only in front of you and on either side, but behind you. Look for and evaluate "threats". Those can be everything for someone driving like a maniac to signs of inattentiveness (like we see when drivers are on their cell phone, texting, putting on makeup, etc) Other threats are big trucks that can throw up stones or debris at your car or overloaded trucks with gardening tools or construction tools or ladders that seem to have a way of ending up on the highway. I get as far away from those kinds of threats as possible and minimize my "dwell time" behind them. And it helps to drive a car in sound mechanical condition and a high performance vehicle with outstanding braking and maneuverability to be prepared in case you do have to take defensive and sudden action.
Stay out of people's blind spots. rjacket touched on it.
Be aware when you're driving next to another vehicle in their blind spot or changing lanes into another driver's blind spot. This is especially true for merging traffic. They always talk up blind spots with semi trucks, but it's just as easy to get lost and pinched in any car's blind spot.
Speaking of merging, be confident in your merging. Pick your slot and accelerate into it. Trying to merge onto a 70 MPH freeway while maintaining 45 MPH looking for a slot is a recipe for disaster. There's no need to be too aggressive about it, but don't be a limp dishrag either.
If there is an open lane next to you and someone is trying to merge along side, change lanes. This will avoid the silly merging dance: You speed up, then they speed up. They slow down, and you slow down. Just change lanes, give them an open courtesy lane to merge into, and slide back after a few hundred feet.
Don't constantly tap your brakes. It's not hard to maintain a following distance using only the accelerator. If you feel you constantly have to tap the brakes to maintain a proper following, you're probably trying to go too fast or following too close.
For some reason, a few Moody Blues lines came to mind...
There you go, man
Keep as cool as you can
Face piles of trials with smiles
Just don't let 'em get to you. 
Stay away from other vehicles and never expect them to follow the rules of the road. Don't tailgate - leave at least two seconds - and don't hang out in a lane beside another vehicle. Try to leave that space open for an emergency exit and so that you will not be affected if the vehicle beside swerves into your lane. When passing people, get by them quickly. Know who is around you at all times and when their positions change.
Do not brake hard or moderately and turn on a corner or sharp curve, brake before you enter the turn. Ive seen many guys make this mistake and almost fly off a cliff.
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