The Smith System of Defensive driving

raaizin

raaizin

Joined
Apr 7, 2004
Messages
1,334
Location
NJ
Shout out to The Motor Guy While for his post about best driving tip. I was reminded of the Smith System when I was training to drive a truck. I thought it was important enough for its own post. Many good tips hear.



Smith System is a defensive driving technique that focuses on five key rules to help drivers stay safe:
  • Aim high: Look at least 15 seconds ahead to scan for traffic and hazards


  • Get the big picture: Be aware of your surroundings at all times


  • Keep your eyes moving: Constantly scan your environment to stay alert


  • Leave yourself an out: Maintain safe following distances and avoid situations that could box you in


  • Make sure they see you: Remove assumptions about other drivers
 
raaizin said:
Shout out to The Motor Guy While for his post about best driving tip. I was reminded of the Smith System when I was training to drive a truck. I thought it was important enough for its own post. Many good tips hear.



Smith System is a defensive driving technique that focuses on five key rules to help drivers stay safe:
  • Aim high: Look at least 15 seconds ahead to scan for traffic and hazards


  • Get the big picture: Be aware of your surroundings at all times


  • Keep your eyes moving: Constantly scan your environment to stay alert


  • Leave yourself an out: Maintain safe following distances and avoid situations that could box you in


  • Make sure they see you: Remove assumptions about other drivers
Click to expand...
All good food for thought for general automotive safety.

Unfortunately in this day and age, much the same can be said for avoiding being the victim of a crime.

I was in a unique military unit where we stressed and practiced the “leave yourself an out” principle as a way of life. A huge part of that is knowing the capabilities of your vehicles and the limitations that go along with them. For example, suspension travel, water fording capability, and approach/departure angles. We had vehicles modified in-house that appeared to be from a civilian showroom floor, even from a few feet away, yet had been adapted to our missions underneath the outer sheet metal.
 
JoelB said:
These are all good points, but are also really common sense. The problem is the lack of care of drivers on the road today, not improper training. That's what I see anyway.
Click to expand...
Indeed, that's why this is a good post regardless if we know they are common sense.

Lemme see, I'm doing just a touch over the speed limit and some person is up my pipe. Happens EVERY time I drive. Every time.
 
raaizin said:
Shout out to The Motor Guy While for his post about best driving tip. I was reminded of the Smith System when I was training to drive a truck. I thought it was important enough for its own post. Many good tips hear.



Smith System is a defensive driving technique that focuses on five key rules to help drivers stay safe:
  • Aim high: Look at least 15 seconds ahead to scan for traffic and hazards


  • Get the big picture: Be aware of your surroundings at all times


  • Keep your eyes moving: Constantly scan your environment to stay alert


  • Leave yourself an out: Maintain safe following distances and avoid situations that could box you in


  • Make sure they see you: Remove assumptions about other drivers
Click to expand...
Great rules.

Same five rules my Dad taught me. Honestly.

Didn’t realize until I was considerably older how good a driver he was.

Or how well he taught me.
 
raaizin said:
Shout out to The Motor Guy While for his post about best driving tip. I was reminded of the Smith System when I was training to drive a truck. I thought it was important enough for its own post. Many good tips hear.



Smith System is a defensive driving technique that focuses on five key rules to help drivers stay safe:
  • Aim high: Look at least 15 seconds ahead to scan for traffic and hazards


  • Get the big picture: Be aware of your surroundings at all times


  • Keep your eyes moving: Constantly scan your environment to stay alert


  • Leave yourself an out: Maintain safe following distances and avoid situations that could box you in


  • Make sure they see you: Remove assumptions about other drivers
Click to expand...
Seeing it written this is exactly how I drive.
 
We use this as do lots of of other transportation agencies. It works well when actually utilized, and our insurance company offers a discount with it.
 
• ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, NEVER ALLOW A REALLY CLOSE TAILGATER TO STAY THERE.

I have only used this extreme reaction a handful of times in all the 50 + years I have been driving. But I absolutely will not alow an extreme close tailgating situation to go on without interruption.

I'm not talking a little closer than normal. I talking about the idiots that are as close to the back bumper as something you would be towing. I will slow down to a speed that is safe for the following distance they leave if I can't shake them by lane changing or other means.

If there literaly 2 ft. behind me and I can't shake them, I'll let it drift down to 5 mph if I have to.

I hate a tailgater and refuse to accept someone doing that.

Like I said, only a handful of times ( I could count them on one hand ). But I will not put up with it.

I know of accidents where a driver had to suddenly stop, and a very close tailgater hit them and pushed them into the situation they could of avoided. This usually causes several vehicles to be totaled that would not have been if not for extreme close tailgating.
 
Last edited:
JimPghPA said:
• ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, NEVER ALLOW A REALLY CLOSE TAILGATER TO STAY THERE.

I have only used this extreme reaction a handful of times in all the 50 + years I have been driving. But I absolutely will not alow an extreme close tailgating situation to go on without interruption.

I'm not talking a little closer than normal. I talking about the idiots that are as close to the back bumper as something you would be towing. I will slow down to a speed that is safe for the following distance they leave if I can't shake them by lane changing or other means.

If there literaly 2 ft. behind me and I can't shake them, I'll let it drift down to 5 mph if I have to.

I hate a tailgater and refuse to accept someone doing that.

Like I said, only a handful of times ( I could count them on one hand ). But I will not put up with it.

I know of accidents where a driver had to suddenly stop, and a very close tailgater hit them and pushed them into the situation they could of avoided. This usually causes several vehicles to be totaled that would not have been if not for extreme close tailgating.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I hate tailgaters, too. I see it a lot on the highways here in metro DC. People driving cars that don't look like they have been maintained tailgating a late model higher performance car. When I have someone tailgating me I set the cruise control and then start reducing the set speed by 1 mph, repeatedly.
I remember 2 experiences driving in this area. 1 was on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. I was headed west and some guy was tailgating me. I let him get close and then, because of traffic, I hit the brakes hard (my car was a 1985 bimmer). He had to really scramble so he didn't hit me. The other was on 395n. Lots of traffic. Clown in a beat up van was tailgating me. Same tactic. He hit the brakes so hard that the van was swerving from 1 side of the lane to the other. He sure looked upset. I don't use that tactic any more.
 
If someone is on your butt, just move out of the way...problem solved. Brake-checking someone should be a night in jail b/c it's not just that person that is impacted. If they have a dash cam that will end up on you.
 
bullwinkle said:
I always add:
ALWAYS ASSUME THEY ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING STUPID AND TRY TO KILL YOU.

That way you won't be surprised. Or DEAD.
Click to expand...
Yep, something I strongly adapted to (aside from the list in the first post) after moving to the STL area ten years ago. Yeesh.
 
The company I worked for was all in on The Smith System . I suffered through that training every year .
 
JimPghPA said:
• ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, NEVER ALLOW A REALLY CLOSE TAILGATER TO STAY THERE.

I have only used this extreme reaction a handful of times in all the 50 + years I have been driving. But I absolutely will not alow an extreme close tailgating situation to go on without interruption.

I'm not talking a little closer than normal. I talking about the idiots that are as close to the back bumper as something you would be towing. I will slow down to a speed that is safe for the following distance they leave if I can't shake them by lane changing or other means.

If there literaly 2 ft. behind me and I can't shake them, I'll let it drift down to 5 mph if I have to.

I hate a tailgater and refuse to accept someone doing that.

Like I said, only a handful of times ( I could count them on one hand ). But I will not put up with it.

I know of accidents where a driver had to suddenly stop, and a very close tailgater hit them and pushed them into the situation they could of avoided. This usually causes several vehicles to be totaled that would not have been if not for extreme close tailgating.
Click to expand...
Another strategy is, when being tailgated, to leave extra room between you and the vehicle in front, allowing you to brake more gradually than usual, which makes it less likely the tailgater will hit you.
 
Brons2 said:
If'n you're going to be a "defensive driver" please stay out of the left lane. That is all.
Click to expand...
"Why is everyone always tailgating me?" - left lane campers that don't understand "passing lane" and feel like they are public speed enforcement b/c "You wouldn't need to pass me on the right if you were doing the speed limit."
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wwillson
GM Super Cruise - 15,000 mile review
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
wwillson
slo town
Our trip to the 108th running of the Indy 500
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
Carmudgeon
1
Random thought/question: Automotive HVAC systems
Replies
9
Views
2K
brianl703
slo town
My experience 30 floors up during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
2
Replies
23
Views
4K
Cheetah-kins
W
20,000 miles in a CX-5 GT-R
3 4 5
Replies
91
Views
21K
14Accent
Back
Top