3. Learning to D.R.I.V.E.
Driver Awareness
Always have an out! What this means is never put yourself in a situation where if an evasive situation occurred, there would be nothing you would be able to do. You always have to be prepared for the worse case situation.
Expect the driver in front of you to slam on his brakes. Be ready for that truck to turn into your lane. Watch out for that oncoming car making a left turn in front of you. Be looking for that small child that chases her ball into the street.
When one of these events happens, where do you go? Whether you are driving down a city street or the open highway, you must always be aware of your surroundings. Schools and office buildings have escape plans in case of emergencies. You should have an escape plan mapped out while driving. By educating yourself in a few simple techniques, you will greatly increase your awareness behind the wheel and you will realize just how uneducated the average driver really is.
ALWAYS LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT!
If you are following too closely and the car in front of you brakes suddenly, you have already created a problem. Distance gives you time, and time gives you options.
Many driver education programs teach the two-second or four-second rule. While this can provide a general guideline, it often causes drivers to focus only on the vehicle directly in front of them instead of the overall traffic environment.
A better approach is to use your judgment. Can you see far enough ahead to anticipate what is happening? Do you have space to react if conditions change? If not, adjust your position and create a greater safety margin.
Remember, you need to see the big picture and teach yourself how to D.R.I.V.E. Not only do you need to be aware of what’s happening two seconds in front of you, you need to be aware of what’s happening ten seconds, or fifteen seconds in front of you.
Good drivers do not just react—they anticipate.
Vision
Your eyes are the most important tools that you have as a driver. At 60 mph, a vehicle travels nearly 90 feet per second. A lot can happen in 90 feet. Imagine how many collisions could be avoided by simply looking just one second further down the road. It’s all about being aware.
In order to see the big picture you need to use your eyes properly. This is one of the most important rules of driving. Instead of focusing your attention four seconds in front of you, look as far ahead as possible. By doing so, you can identify potential hazards 10 to 15 seconds in advance and begin planning your response. You’ll know if there’s a clear lane on your left. You’ll know if you have to slow down. You’ll give yourself plenty of time to react. And remember to always check your mirrors. You should be just as aware of what is behind you as you are of what is in front of you.
A majority of drivers simply look directly in front of them and react to what’s happening around them. A good driver looks ahead and anticipates what’s going to happen next, not just react to what has all ready happened. Just like in many sports, if you have to REACT to something, a mistake has all ready happened. As a good driver, you want to ANTICIPATE every thing that you do.
An excellent example: How many times have you seen half a dozen vehicles stuck behind a bus at a bus stop? A bus is a pretty big vehicle, but those drivers simply weren’t looking down the road far enough to anticipate what was happening right in front of them. Consequently, they got stuck behind a bus.
Your eyes are also very important in potential collision situations. A majority of collisions are caused by drivers becoming focused on an object in a panic situation. For example, if the car in front of you stops suddenly and you find yourself staring at that vehicle’s rear bumper, chances are that you’ll hit that vehicle’s rear bumper. Or, if your car loses traction and begins to slide towards a tree you may find yourself keeping your eyes focused on that tree instead of where you want to go. If you’re looking at the tree…you’re going to hit the tree.
Always look where you want to go. Your eyes will act as a guide to help direct the vehicle back on its correct path. If you ski or snowboard, do you constantly look down at your skis or board? Or do you focus down the mountain to where you want to go? The answer is simple; you look down the mountain where you want to go. The same principle applies in driving.
Your eyes act as a guide. Look where you want to go!!
D.R.I.V.E.
Defensive driving requires effective management of time and space. These skills are developed through awareness, experience, and proper technique.
To help simplify this process, remember the acronym D.R.I.V.E.:
D – Develop
Develop good driving habits. Stay focused, avoid distractions, and maintain awareness of your surroundings at all times.
R – Recognize
Recognize changing road and traffic conditions. Use your vision to detect potential hazards early.
I – Identify
Identify situations that could become dangerous, such as merging vehicles, sudden stops, or unexpected movements from other drivers.
V – Visualize
Visualize your response. Determine what actions you may need to take to avoid a collision, such as braking, changing lanes, or adjusting speed.
E – Execute
Execute the necessary action smoothly and effectively. This is where proper training and experience make the difference.
The more you practice these steps, the more natural they become. In a real situation, there is no time to think through each step individually