defensive driving
Anticipatory road behavior
Defensive driving is a set of techniques for anticipating hazards and avoiding accidents, regardless of the mistakes of other drivers or adverse conditions.
It emphasizes awareness, maintaining safe following distances, and expecting the unexpected.
Many jurisdictions offer defensive driving courses that can reduce insurance rates or dismiss traffic tickets: I took a defensive driving course to clear the points from my license.
- traffic lawsRules for road users
- road conditionsState of driving surfaces
- lane disciplineProper driving position maintenance
- three-second ruleTime limit for fallen food
- reaction timeSpeed of response
speed limits · right of way · situational awareness · eyes on the road · road signs · anti-lock brakes · focus · collision avoidance · escape route · airbags · vehicle maintenance · seat belts · judgment · road safety · driver education · safety course · attentiveness · road signage
- drivingdrive, steering, driver, acceleration, motorist
- safetysafety helmet, hazard, airbag, alert, occupational safety
- driver educationstudent drivers, behind the wheel, driver education, practice hours, classroom instruction
- driving safetyblind spot, braking, brake, signaling, merging
- driving schooldriver education, driver's ed, learner permit, permit test, road test
- vehicle maneuverssteering, braking, accelerating, parking, reversing
defensive drivingreckless driving
Unsafe vehicle operation
road rage · dangerous driving · tailgating · speeding · racing
defensive drivingcareless driving
Negligent vehicle operation
distracted driving · negligent driving · impaired driving · drunk driving · texting while driving