| According to many Defensive Driving course | | | | more space you must allow. At freeway speeds, |
| instructors, there are five vital rules to defensive driving. | | | | maintain a good 4 to 5 second leeway. |
| If everyone followed just these five rules, experts | | | | If counting seems difficult to measure while driving, |
| agree that car accidents would be reduced by at least | | | | consider car lengths...always have at least one car |
| 98%. | | | | length between you and the car in front of you. At |
| So, do your part to reduce the dangers of driving, and | | | | freeway speeds, lengthen that space to roughly two |
| to further protect yourself and your loved ones from | | | | car lengths or more. If you find yourself having to |
| dangerous and possibly fatal accidents. Read on to | | | | brake every time you see the car in front of you |
| discover what you can do to be more safe on the | | | | brake, then you are following too closely. |
| road - and don't be fooled by the simplistic nature of | | | | Defensive Driving Key #3. Don't Speed |
| these rules. You may believe they are common sense, | | | | If you love to drive, you hate the admonition to not |
| but we can guarantee that either you or someone you | | | | speed. However, driving too fast for road conditions or |
| know breaks at least two of these rules on a regular | | | | traffic exponentially increases your chances of getting |
| basis! | | | | into an accident. First of all, your speeds leave you with |
| Defensive Driving Key #1. Pay Attention and Focus on | | | | less reaction time than may be needed to avoid a |
| the Task of Driving | | | | crash and the faster you drive, the longer it will take |
| Yes, this one seems the most obvious! But how often | | | | for your brakes to successfully stop your moving |
| have you been on your cell phone while driving? Or | | | | vehicle. |
| fiddled with a handbag, papers, a map, or kept digging | | | | Yes, inertia's a witch. But it's a law of physics and no |
| for something in your pockets? Splitting your attention | | | | pouting will change that. So work with the universe and |
| from the process of driving immediately puts your | | | | watch how fast you're going. The easiest way to |
| driving on auto pilot. You are no longer consciously | | | | manage your speeds is to keep pace with the traffic |
| involved in operating your two ton box of metal - you | | | | around you. And most importantly, don't change lanes |
| find you can't remember what you saw, or that you | | | | or weave in and out of traffic when at high speeds. |
| changed lanes a mile back. Most importantly, your | | | | Defensive Driving Key #4. Don't Drive Impaired |
| response rate is reduced and impaired. You cannot | | | | If you have any alcohol, you must wait two hours for |
| react quickly to new stimuli because your conscious | | | | every drink consumed before you drive. And always |
| brain is not involved in the active reception of such | | | | follow up alcohol with an equal amount of water. It will |
| information. | | | | allow you to maintain your "buzz" for a good length of |
| So how can you increase your ability to pay active | | | | time, but will help your body return to full capacity |
| attention while driving? Never chat on your cell phone - | | | | when you begin winding down (provided you wait the |
| in some states like California, it is now illegal to drive | | | | prescribed amount of time after drinking before driving). |
| and talk on the phone. Try not to daydream, and if | | | | And don't kid yourself. Just because you think you can |
| someone else is in the car with you, do not look at | | | | walk in a straight line doesn't mean you can drive |
| them while talking - keep your eyes and attention on | | | | adequately. Just as talking on a cell phone impairs your |
| the road. Averting your eyes, for even two seconds, | | | | ability to drive defensively and safely, having any |
| while talking to a passenger, could put both your lives in | | | | alcohol in your system when you're driving will impair |
| serious danger. | | | | your ability to react to road conditions or other drivers. |
| Also form good driving habits. For instance, if you're | | | | This also goes for being sick, tired, or otherwise |
| making a trip to a new destination, get familiar with | | | | impaired. If you do not feel you have a clear head, do |
| your map or directions before getting into your car. | | | | not drive. If your eyes or head hurt too much, don't |
| Make sure that you can recall most of them from | | | | drive. If you have trouble staying awake, or you've had |
| memory so that you are not forced to finger through, | | | | to take medication that makes you drowsy, don't drive. |
| or constantly look at your papers while driving. In | | | | Defensive Driving Key #5. Buy and Maintain Safe |
| addition, pace yourself - if you're hungry, stop and eat | | | | Driving Equipment |
| at the restaurant. Don't drive through and eat while | | | | If you drive an older model vehicle, find out what |
| driving. If you're tired, pull over and rest. Don't gamble | | | | equipment your car has and consider upgrading. You |
| your life and another's just because you're in a hurry or | | | | want to ensure that you have ABS (anti-lock) brakes, |
| you believe you won't fall asleep. Driving is hypnotic - | | | | traction control systems, and air-bags. Auto engineering |
| eventually you will fall asleep if you are not well rested. | | | | continues to impress - consider the latest in safety |
| Defensive Driving Key #2. Maintain Your Distance | | | | technology: run flat tires, SOS systems that will |
| This is particularly difficult for those of us living in | | | | automatically notify paramedics if your vehicle is in an |
| Southern California. We're practically raised on | | | | accident, and active systems that assist with safely |
| tailgating! But nevertheless, following too closely behind | | | | managing your vehicle, such as Active Cruise Control |
| another vehicle accounts for 40% of vehicle accidents. | | | | that will automatically change your speed to match a |
| Plus, in the event of a rear-end collision, the fault | | | | slower vehicle in front of you, and to maintain a |
| automatically falls on the rear vehicle - even if the | | | | pre-determined distance behind. |
| driver honestly believes the front vehicle stopped too | | | | Because upgrading an older vehicle to these new |
| suddenly. | | | | technologies can get exceedingly expensive, you may |
| This is because if you maintain the proper distance, it's | | | | consider selling your used car for a newer model. If this |
| almost impossible to hit the vehicle in front of you - | | | | is the case, we can help. We are the largest and most |
| because you've allowed yourself enough reaction time | | | | respected auto buying service in Los Angeles and all |
| to stop. | | | | of Southern California, having bought and sold over |
| So what is the proper following distance? A good rule | | | | 50,000 cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. We guarantee to |
| of thumb is the "two second" rule. You want to always | | | | offer you more for your car than any dealer and we |
| remain a two-second count behind the vehicle in front | | | | get that cash into your hands within 24 hours. Visit us |
| of you. However, the faster your speeds are, the | | | | at Cash4UsedCars.net to learn more. |