Defensive Driving Techniques – It's About Space!

There are a lot of different aspects to defensive driving techniques, but a key feature is to create and maintain space around your vehicle. After all, it's difficult to come into contact with another vehicle, or some other object, if you constantly maintain adequate space around your vehicle.

USE THE "TWO-SECOND-PLUS RULE"

Use defensive driving techniques to create space around your vehicle. Never allow yourself to get "boxed in" by other vehicles. Adequate space creates enough reaction and braking time to help you avoid a collision.

One of the key aspects of creating space is to follow the vehicle in front of you at a distance of at LEAST two seconds. You achieve this by watching as the vehicle ahead passes some object such as a sign on the side of the road, or a mark on the road surface—then count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two." If you pass your chosen spot before reaching "two," you're too close and should slow down slightly, repeat the count and get the space you need!

Avoid being tailgated, or having other vehicles encroach on your space. Employ your defensive driving techniques by changing lanes, or adjusting your speed to enable tailgaters to pass.

Even following at two seconds distance, you must be alert to respond quickly, but you should have enough margin under normal circumstances.

Sometimes two seconds' space may not be sufficient. Leave more space when you can when following a vehicle different to yours, such as a motorcycle or truck. Motorcycles can usually stop faster than you can in a car, and large trucks impede your vision, which can cause you not to see hazards until too late. You need to monitor this aspect of your defensive driving technique to take into account the characteristics of the vehicles near you. If in doubt, it's better to allow a bit more space than normal.

Allow extra space when travelling on a loose, or slippery road surface as your stopping distance may be longer than normal.

Be aware of the vehicles next to your vehicle in other lanes and try to adjust your speed to keep your vehicle "in the open", with no vehicles on either side. Be very wary if you become surrounded by vehicles in a moving "pack". Use your defensive driving techniques to negotiate yourself into a space between packs, so you have clear lanes on both sides. (This is absolutely vital for motorcyclists!)

Even when you are stationary, such as at a red light, you need to leave adeqaute space between you and the vehicle in front. Leave enough room so you can escape if the car in front of you doesn't move, or if you need to move away from danger approaching from behind. Make sure you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you where they touch the road. This will give you sufficient room to negotiate around when necessary.

When driving remember to use your defensive driving techniques to give yourself some space and avoid unwanted contact with other vehicles.

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About Ray Hogan

Ray Hogan is co-owner of http://www.defensivedriversense.com which provides quality resources on defensive driving techniques, advanced driving and traffic safety programs.


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

0% APR Credit Cards: How Can They Do That?

During the days when the federal bank interest rates were at its lowest, back in 2002 and 2003 to be specific, countless credit card providers offered 0% APR credit cards to many consumers. Needing only to pay the outstanding balance, smart consumers were able to charge up to their limits without incurring monthly interest charges. The question that some people were asking when these cards were at their peak of popularity was this: how do credit card providers make money off of this type of plan? Well, good question! Let's examine 0% APR credit cards and the way they really work and if they are still available to you today. You just might be surprised at the answers!

Annual Fees. Depending on the credit card provider, some card holders have been charged an annual fee for the privilege of having a 0% APR credit card. Annual fees for some of these cards generally run from $15 to $20, even higher.

Late Fees. You would think that if customers had a 0% APR credit card that they would always pay them on time, right? Well, many do not. So, every time a payment is received late credit card providers would assess a late fee. With fees ranging from $19 to $39, that can add up especially if someone is habitually late.

Default Rate. Oh, that 0% rate is nice on the surface. Read the "member's agreement" and you will quickly learn that late payments will not only incur a fee, but a "default rate" would be charged bumping up the annual percentage rate to double digit figures on existing balances as well as on new charges! If you are late you can say, "bye, bye" to your 0% APR credit card in no time.

Short Term Offer. 0% APR credit cards are still offered today. Almost always they are cards for new card holders that offer a 0% rate for a limited period of time, such as twelve months, before a higher rate kicks in, which usually is around 12%. Some cards will allow you to transfer existing credit card balances over to the new card and receive the 0% rate on transferred balances. What a great way to cut your costs and save money too!

Don't worry about credit card providers having difficulty making money even with low or 0% APR credit cards. Rates have since increased, in some cases dramatically, making it more difficult to find a low interest rate credit card. Still, great offers exist, but you must know where to find them. Searching online for your 0% APR credit card is a great way to quickly find and compare all of the best offers available.

Copyright 2006 Edward Vegliante

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About Edward Vegliante

Ed Vegliante runs the website http://www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com, a well organized credit card directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for a variety of credit card offers including 0% APR Credit Cards.