Defensive Driving Starts With You

The light turns green and you start to proceed through the intersection when suddenly a car cuts you off causing you to slam on your breaks to avoid a collision. Florida’s roads are full of bad drivers, a study finds. Florida ranks in the list of the top ten states with the worst drivers. Southern states made up half of the ten worst driving states because southern states typically tend to have the lowest auto insurance rates and the highest fatality rates. Florida also claimed the title for having the lowest rate of insured drivers in the country.

These statistics are alarming. Not only is Florida one of the most dangerous states to drive in, if an accident does happen, but the likelihood of getting adequate compensation for your injuries and property damage is also at risk due to a high number of uninsured motorists on the road.

One Way To Help Protect Yourself While Behind The Wheel Is To Learn The Lost Art Of Defensive Driving.

Defensive driving has been taught as an on-the-spot response time when something unexpected occurs during traffic. However, there are also techniques that you can learn to help hone your defensive driving skills.

1. Stay Focused on Driving – Safe driving includes visual, manual, and cognitive skills. Drivers must have their eyes on the road, their hands securely on the steering wheel, and their full attention on the task of getting from point A to point B safely. Distractions behind the wheel limit your response time when something unexpected happens and cause accidents every single day. Distractions can take many different forms, but texting and driving are one of the most dangerous ones since it involves visual, manual, and cognitive skills. Commit to safe driving practices and limit distractions behind the wheel.
2. Brake Early – The more space and response time you give yourself in traffic, the better. Slowing down sooner can make all the difference when traffic comes to a sudden halt. Leaving more distance in front of you and breaking slowly gives yourself time to stop before rear-ending the person in front of you as well as giving the drivers behind you more time to respond so you are not hit from behind.
3. Avoid Aggressive Driving – All it takes is one aggressive driver’s tendencies to rub off on someone else for road rage to start. Often times, one person cuts off the other driver and it escalates from there, with each driver purposefully causing driving hazards for the other and everyone else that happens to be on the road around them.
4. Do Not Rely on Other Drivers – Whether it’s a driver who is tailgating or a driver who weaves over the line or a driver speeding aggressively, the roads can be a dangerous place. Not everyone is paying attention to what they are doing behind the wheel. Even though you cannot control what other drivers are doing behind the wheel, you can control what you do behind the wheel. Your perspective while driving and a sense of accountability can make the difference in getting to your destination safely.

While it is impossible to see every detail that is happening at all times, it is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times to be a good defensive driver. At Burnetti, P.A. we deal in personal injury cases, many resulting from car accidents. If you have been injured in a car crash that was not your fault and would like more information, call us at (888) 444-8508.