Tips to keep you safe while you are on the road… Defensive Driving Tips to keep you safe while you are on the road…

DON’T SPEED Each incremental increase in speed reduces your ability to react in time to hazards, because you may be covering more distance in less time than it takes to react. Normal reaction time is between .75 and 1.5 seconds Average reaction distance at 50 mph is approx. 83 feet. That is two bus lengths of travel- just to react. A defensive driver chooses a speed matching traffic as closely as possible without exceeding speed limits. If traffic is moving at a higher speed than you should go, keep to the right and out of the way.

CHILL OUT Driving safely is all about attitude. When your emotions are running high- your judgment can fail you. Don’t drive while emotionally stressed or upset- before you head out on the road- take a few deep breaths. Focus on the task at hand. Don’t allow other drivers who make mistakes or who are rude affect your attitude or behavior. It will affect your driving. Remember- we are all human, and therefore imperfect. When other drivers around you make mistakes or bad judgment calls that directly affect you- let it go and keep in mind- it really doesn’t matter. Try to keep your attitude rational, calm, positive & professional.

PAY ATTENTION & AVOID DISTRACTION Paying attention makes it possible for you to SEE, RECOGNIZE and AVOID the hazards lurking on the road. These are the 3 basic elements of defensive driving. It helps create the time you need to recognize hazards and avoid a collision. Distractions are things like- changing the radio- dealing with rambunctious or misbehaving kids, and even talking to passengers. It is imperative to maintain an orderly bus- or allow the attendant to deal with issues. If you are alone- pull over and deal with any issue’s at-hand. Never try to resolve issues from behind the wheel- while in motion. At 30 MPH- every second that elapses- you have traveled the length of your bus and then some. Make a habit of keeping the driving task as JOB ONE.

DON’T TRUST ANYONE! You can never rely on what the other driver will do. Keep a wary eye on the other guy and leave yourself plenty of room. Anticipate the mistakes he will make and be ready for them. Most collisions occur when they do something we don’t expect, or we do something they don’t expect. Be alert to the possibilities and have a strategy in mind for dealing with them. Always signal your intent, with plenty of notice. (at least 100 feet). Then check, re-check and check again- to make sure everyone around you is aware of the move you are about to make. NEVER assume that everyone around you IS Paying Attention.

YIELD ANYWAY! Nobody ever yielded their way into a collision. If you are in doubt of who has the right of way, give it away. When it comes to driving safely. It’s not the principle, but the outcome that counts.

STOPS & INTERSECTIONS Make sure your deceleration to the stop, does not surprise the guy behind you. Pay attention to where you stop. Leave a car length between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you are first at the light, stay back from the crosswalk and clear of the intersection. When entering an intersection that is green, cover your brake and watch for turning vehicles, pedestrians and cross traffic. From a stop, when the light does change- look Left, Right and Left again before you enter the intersection. REMEMBER- It is Not Legal to enter on the green light until the intersection is clear of traffic and pedestrians. Assume someone may run the light, and take the time to look.

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK You should always be looking 15-20 seconds ahead of your vehicle, farther if you can. Do not concentrate on any one thing in your field of focus for more than a second. Use a scanning motion to take in and analyze everything that is happening around you. Peripheral vision is your “early warning” vision. Keeping your focus on one thing, narrows that vision to a “tunnel” vision. If you turn right, LOOK right. Changing lanes, LOOK and LOOK again. Before passing through an intersection-LOOK-both ways twice. Before entering an intersection or leaving a stop sign- LOOK. That few extra second it takes to LOOK and LOOK again- prevents collisions and saves lives.

THE END presented by Christine Russell Information from www THE END presented by Christine Russell Information from www.roadtripamerica.com/defensivedriving