What is Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving means always trying to anticipate what may happen next, and being prepared to take action to avoid danger. To successfully do this, you must constantly monitor what is happening on the road, and plan ahead.

Defensive Driving Class

In accordance with National Safety Council guidelines, the Ohio Department of Transportation offers Defensive Driving classes, which they encourage retirees, companies, and individuals to attend. A minimum of 15 people are needed, and the cost is $30. You may also take it online for $30. The course lasts four hours. Taking the course will not only result in better driving, it may result in lower insurance rates.

Defensive Driving Techniques

Even if you can't get to a defensive driving class, try reviewing these safety tips:

• Always have an escape route in mind. Continually be aware of the space around you.

• Attempt to keep a safe distance from the vehicles around you.

• Scan the path ahead of you at least 12-15 seconds. Don't just focus on the space immediately ahead of your vehicle.

• Look in every direction before crossing an intersection, even when you have the right-of-way.

• Exercise increased caution anytime you have a limited field of vision, such as when approaching the top of a hill.

• Be aware of school buses, ice-cream trucks, mail trucks, and delivery trucks. Each represents an increased chance that someone may be leaving or entering a vehicle, and possibly creating a safety hazard.

• Be especially vigilant in construction zones and around emergency scenes, as other drivers may be distracted and not properly focused on their driving in these areas.

• Slow down when around erratic or dangerous drivers, as they increase the likelihood that an accident will happen.

• Cover the brakes and exercise increased caution in areas such as shopping centers, school zones, toll plazas, playgrounds, and intersections.

• Automatically reduce speed when conditions warrant it, such as when driving in rain, snow, fog, or on icy roads. Be proactive, and realize that it's not safe to drive at the posted speed limit in all situations.

• Be especially careful when around parked cars, as someone could dash out from between the cars. Also, drivers may be opening a car door, or trying to pull out of a parking space directly into your line of travel.

• Exercise increased caution when driving on roads that are very wet or slushy as other motorists could splash your windshield, leaving you unable to see for an instant.

• Be wary of drivers with out-of-state plates or rental cars, as well as drivers who have a map out or their interior lights on. All point to drivers who may not be familiar with the area, and thus may be confused or distracted.

• Look out for drivers backing up into the road from a driveway or parking lot, as these drivers may have a limited field of vision.

• Watch out for slippery conditions during the first several minutes after it begins to rain, as the rain will mix with the oily residue on the road surface.

• Anticipate the worst moves that drivers around you could make, and know how to safely react to each move.

• Try to keep your vehicle as visible as possible to other drivers, and whenever you can, stay out of other drivers' blind spots.

• Keep a safe distance, whenever possible, behind trucks with cargo that could easily spill onto the road. These vehicles could send debris flying into your line of travel, or into the path of those around you.

• Stay well behind a vehicle with an accumulation of snow on its roof, as this situation can create instant white-out conditions for anyone unlucky enough to be driving behind the vehicle.

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