What is Defensive Driving?
Defensive driving can be looked at as using reasonable means to avoid an automobile accident. Simply stated it can be just looking out for the other guy and anticipating his possible actions. It goes a lot farther than that however, because it entails being able to look ahead and see danger before it happens. It is easier to modify your speed and/or move to a safer area ahead of time than being forced to quickly react by slamming on the brakes or swerving.

Defensive Driving Tips

• Anticipate what the other driver is doing.
  Sometimes, you can tell that another driver is lost or is hunting for a particular street address. Give that driver plenty of room in the event she suddenly stops, changes lanes, or drifts into your lane. Be alert for signs of a driver who is distracted including driving too slow, drifting into other lanes, and tailgating. A distracted driver is four times as likely to have an accident.
• Make yourself visible to others.
  Always signal your intentions to change lanes well in advance. Use your low beam headlights during daylight hours. Use friendly hand gestures to signal your apology, or to indicate a problem.
• Go with the flow.
  Either slow down or speed up according to the flow of traffic. If you move into the passing lane, drive the speed that the traffic is moving in that lane. Sometimes traffic will flow at 5-10mph faster than the speed limit. Don't insist on doing the speed limit.
• Leave room for error.
  Leave yourself a "buffer zone" that will allow you to stop or avoid an occurrence ahead and on all sides. Strive to separate yourself from "clumps" of traffic. It is unconscious behavior that causes people to congregate in groups on the road like lemmings. There usually develops traffic-free zones between these groups that you can travel in that keeps you away from the crowd.
• Stress-free driving
  Heightened emotions, due to aggressive driving or being in a hurry can be an accident-causing distraction. Keep your driving experience a calm one by avoiding confrontations. Don't try to "get back" at someone for cutting you off. Don't honk at someone who is obviously distracted. You never know what their tolerance is for aggression. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment. Anticipate delays and develop alternative routes.
• Driver fatigue
  Driving defensively can save time, energy and offer a more restful driving experience. When a driver becomes fatigued, it is more difficult to drive responsibly and puts everyone at risk. Pull off the road and rest whenever you feel tired.
• Driving defensively in inclement weather
  On long trips, you may experience a variety of climatic conditions for which you will need to adjust your driving. Adjusting to safe speeds and following distances for the various conditions you will experience can save your life. Black ice is a common phenomenon that is nearly invisible to drivers. It can occur on almost any road surface but is more likely on elevated roads such as bridges. You need to anticipate the possibility of ice on bridges even if the rest of the roadway is clear.
• Defensive Driving Technology
  In addition to making sure your brakes and tires are in good condition, there are some new technologies available to add to your ability to avoid accidents. The normal human reaction time is 1/100th of a second from seeing a threat to making a muscular response. Collision mitigation technology is now being installed in automobiles to enhance your response time. Sensors can detect and warn you if you are about to merge with a vehicle which is occupying a space hidden from view by a blind spot in your field of vision. Other sensors can warn you if you are approaching a vehicle in front of you at an unsafe speed. Not intended to relieve you of the responsibility for driving responsibly, these innovations are intended to give you an edge in an increasingly hazardous environment.
• Experience is the Best Teacher
  Although anyone can read about defensive driving techniques, the best teacher is experience itself. Until you have been in the trenches, you will not be able to experience the unpredictability of other drivers, and assess your response to their careless behavior. The morning commute is the best classroom in the world for practicing responsible driving.