How do you avoid mistakes while driving?

Ideally, you should apply your turn signal 100 feet before initiating a turn, and at least five seconds before changing lanes. You drive when you’re tired. Although it’s not often talked about, driving while tired is a common driving mistake that can also be deadly.

Where should you be alert while driving?

Here are a few tips on how you can stay alert and be prepared for changing conditions: –

Keep your mind on your driving and your hands on the wheel Scan the road ahead for problems Check mirrors frequently Expect the unexpected Yield to other drivers who are determined to get there first

Defensive drivers are also alert and focused on their driving and prepared for anything that might occur on the road. Being a defensive driver means keeping your mind on your driving and your hands on the wheel. You can’t be talking on the phone, thinking about other things, fiddling with the radio or CD player, or carrying on animated conversations with passengers.

You also have to constantly look well ahead for changes in traffic or road conditions. If you see brake lights ahead, slow down and be prepared to stop. Keep an eye on what’s going on behind you, check your mirrors frequently for oncoming vehicles. Always expect the unexpected when driving. That way, you’ll never be surprised and you’ll always be in control.

Watch for other drivers making sudden moves. Keep alert for pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals darting out in front of you. If you’re a defensive driver, you’ll also yield to other drivers instead of challenging them to a dangerous duel. Think about the way you drive. This document is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind.

This document cannot be assumed to contain every acceptable safety and compliance procedure or that additional procedures might not be appropriate under the circumstances. Markel does not guarantee that this information is or can be relied on for compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability.

This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional or technical advice. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser or trained professional. Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete.

What is the most critical factor for driving safely?

Vision is particularly important because it is the primary sense used in driving. About 90 percent of the information required for safe driving relates to vision.

What characteristic is most important for a driver?

Breaking Down the Personality Characteristics of Bad and Good Drivers – Characteristics of Bad Drivers

Reactionary – A recent study that indicates good drivers become bad drivers when confronted with poor driver conduct. By remaining conscious of this you make sure that you do not allow the actions of others to impact your own emotions, and performance on the road.

“‘Good’ drivers turn bad when faced with poor driver etiquette, according to QUT research which has found many motorists are creating the problem they hate by responding aggressively to rudeness on the roads. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when drivers respond aggressively to behaviour they think is bad” (Lauren Shaw, QUT’s Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety)

Competitive – Competitiveness can be productive in the work environment and most certainly in sports. But when it comes to driving, it can cause problems. Those who bring competitiveness into the car tend to find enjoyment in out-maneuvering other drivers. This can lead to accidents. Leave your competitive nature on the field, court, or putting-green to keep a serene scene on the road.

Aggressive – Those with an aggressive personality often drive aggressively. Research shows that aggressive driving can quickly evolve into road rage.To nip this potential in the bud avoid the associated actions of lane blocking, tailgating, lane changing without signaling, and obscene gesturing,

Risk Taking – Thrill seekers can be fun to be around in many scenarios. But on the road is not one of them. Remember that even professional extreme sports athletes take the most stringent of safety precautions. Consider driving as your preemptive precaution, and save the thrills for the surf, sky, skatepark, and slopes.

Inability to Concentrate – An inability to concentrate over significant periods of time can be detrimental to road etiquette. Note that those suffering from ADHD overcome distractions while driving, which means you can too. By following these tips to avoid driver distractions your ability to concentrate on the road will greatly improve.

Characteristics of Good Drivers

Patient – Patience is one of the most important traits a driver can have. Heavy traffic, road construction, parking, and the actions of other drivers will test patience on a daily basis. Impatience can lead to aggression, bad decision making, and ultimately accidents. Patience is a virtue in driving and prevents car accidents.

Considerate – By definition, a considerate person is one who is careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others. Considerate people exhibit good driving etiquette. They let people merge, follow the speed limit, yield to pedestrians, and use turn signals. What they don’t do is equally important. They don’t honk when not absolutely necessary. They don’t tailgate. They don’t double park. If you follow all of the above then you too are a considerate driver. Keep it up!

Defensive – This doesn’t refer to conversations around your wardrobe, political beliefs, or how your raise your kids. Defensive in this context applies to anticipation, Anticipation is the ability to read what is happening around you (situational awareness) and respond accordingly. Those that constantly analyze their surroundings and take note of the small details perform well on the road. As a driver, they constantly keep changing their line of vision between short, medium and long distances. This provides a bigger picture of what is happening around them, and thus they are able to anticipate an accident before it happens. If you take precautions in life, then be sure to add this practice to your driving where it will serve you, and other drivers.

Knowledgeable – A new study from the University of Nebraska indicates that driver education significantly reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers. Those that start off on the right foot (or gas pedal) begin a more successful driving career. ConsumerReports states that follow-up adult driver education can be helpful in brushing up on skills. The verdict is in, the greater your thirst for knowledge, the more likely you are to educate yourself on the ways of the road and the less likely you are to get into an accident.

The lesson here is to recognize the personality traits that make you a good driver and those that do not. Then, align yourself accordingly. Contrary to some lines of thought, you must not detach personality or emotions while driving, but instead embrace the good parts.

Take Google’s driverless automated vehicles for example. They don’t get distracted, never fail to pay attention, have no blind spots and do not drink, do drugs, or fall asleep. Yet somehow, they have experienced higher than average accidents because they were not able to apply the positive traits noted above to the actions of bad drivers around them.

That’s saying something very positive about your potential for safe driving on the road.

What is your responsibility as a defensive driver?

Defensive Drivers Choose Caution Over Speed, and Other Core Concepts of Road Safety – The 15 rules of defensive driving stress patience, caution, and consistency. After learning the rules of the road, employees are prepared to deal with unforeseen circumstances from drivers with road rage to bad weather.

Prepare before you leave, Build in enough time to avoid rushing and to allow for breaks and needed stops. Check your vehicle to make sure it’s operational, especially if it’s a vehicle you’re unfamiliar with, including walking around and conducting a visual inspection. Before starting the vehicle, adjust seat, mirror, climate control, GPS/directions and music so that you aren’t distracted by these while driving. Switch your cell phone to “do not disturb” setting to limit distractions. Look ahead, A driver with defensive driving skills scans the road ahead of them and behind them. They ensure road safety by scanning ahead at least ten seconds, a quarter of a mile, or to the next intersection to ensure they have enough time to avoid potential dangers. Prepare for the unexpected. Because drivers don’t know what other drivers will do, they must keep an eye on the actions of others at all times. Erratic drivers, such as drunk drivers or people on mobile devices, might swerve into their lane or change speeds unexpectedly. Drivers need to be ready to react quickly. Don’t speed, Driving above the posted speed limit increases risk in two ways: it cuts reaction time and results in more damage if the driver gets in a wreck. A defensive driver chooses a speed matching traffic as closely as possible without exceeding speed limits. If traffic is moving at high speeds and aggressive drivers are present, drivers need to keep to the right and out of the way. Don’t drive when impaired, Driving while impaired includes more than drunk driving. Driver fatigue, illness, and the use of medications, alcohol, and drugs all are possible hazards and need to be considered before a driver gets behind the wheel. Always wear a seatbelt, Wearing a seatbelt cuts the likelihood of dying in a traffic accident in half. Safety belts provide impact protection, absorb the force of a crash, and keep drivers and their passengers from being thrown out of the vehicle. Don’t run red lights, There are three types of red-light runners—daydreamers, distracted drivers, and aggressive drivers. All three types cause car accidents. A safer driver pays attention to traffic lights, slows down, and comes to a complete stop. The same goes for stop signs. Follow traffic laws. Basic traffic laws codify the concept of defensive driving. Although the average person understands traffic rules, many careless drivers ignore them. Drivers need to follow the laws because they keep traffic moving in a predictable manner. When drivers know what others are going to do, they avoid conflicts and collisions. Create space, Defensive drivers create space around their vehicles. A safe following distance is two to four seconds depending on variables like heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions. Drivers determine the safe following distance by watching the vehicle ahead of them pass a specific mark on the side of the road, then counting “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, etc.” If their front bumper passes the same mark before they finish counting, they’re following too closely. Signal correctly, Signaling at the wrong time often leads to traffic crashes. For example, if a driver is approaching an intersection, and plans to turn right immediately after the intersection into a gas station, they increase the risk of an accident if they signal too soon. Another driver might turn left in front of them because they don’t know where they are turning. Keep this in mind when moving across lanes as well, signaling and checking traffic around you as well as your blind spots are important when changing lanes. Know the vehicle’s blind spots. Road users need to familiarize themselves with the largest blind spots of fleet vehicles before they drive them. The blind areas on most vehicles are large enough to hide other vehicles, so before changing lanes good defensive drivers turn their heads to check for oncoming traffic. Avoid distractions, Potential hazards when driving include eating, drinking, applying makeup, talking on cell phones, adjusting music, dealing with kids, or talking to passengers. Technology like hands-free devices and Bluetooth audio might lead drivers to think it’s safe to multitask while driving, but the human brain can do only one thing at a time well. The HSI Distracted Driving Course trains employees to focus on the task of driving instead of mobile phones and other distractions. Beware of intersections, Intersections are one of the most dangerous areas for any driver. More than 80% of all collisions in cities that result in injury or death occur within signal-light intersections. To reduce their risk, drivers must slow down as they approach a green light and make sure to look left, then right, then left again. The first danger to drivers is the traffic approaching from their left. If the intersection is a blind one—where a driver can’t see the traffic on the cross street until they are very close—they need to slow down even more. And remember to yield to other drivers in intersections without stoplights; one of the golden rules of defensive driving is, “If you’re at an intersection and you don’t know if it’s your turn to go, let the other driver go.” This is especially important when aggressive driving is involved. Take it slow in rain or snow, The rule of thumb is to slow down by a third in the rain, and by at least half in the snow. Reduce speed more if ice may be present. Prevent accidents by making sure your vehicles’ tires are in great shape and that they are inflated properly. Brake lightly on a slippery surface. Do not pump ABS brakes. Pass safely, Passing is one of the most dangerous situations drivers encounter daily. Rules for passing include not exceeding the speed limit and passing only where it is allowed. Before passing another vehicle, drivers need to visually clear the road ahead and behind them. Drivers should not tailgate before passing. Instead, they should maintain their following distance to see what’s ahead.

Learning about becoming a defensive driver requires repetition and engagement. Adding the HSI Driver Safety Training Program to your safety program is an excellent way to protect your people.

What is the most critical factor for driving safely?

Vision is particularly important because it is the primary sense used in driving. About 90 percent of the information required for safe driving relates to vision.

When you are driving you should look 15 seconds ahead?

2.4.1 – Seeing Ahead – All drivers look ahead; but many don’t look far enough ahead. Importance of Looking Far Enough Ahead. Because stopping or changing lanes can take a lot of distance, knowing what the traffic is doing on all sides of you is very important.

1. You need to look well ahead to make sure you have room to make these moves safely.
2. How Far Ahead to Look.
3. Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead.
4. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12 to 15 seconds.
5. At lower speeds, that’s about one block.
6. At highway speeds it’s about a quarter of a mile.

If you’re not looking that far ahead, you may have to stop too quickly or make quick lane changes. Looking 12 to 15 seconds ahead doesn’t mean not paying attention to things that are closer. Good drivers shift their attention back and forth, near and far. Look for Traffic. Look for vehicles coming onto the highway, into your lane, or turning. Watch for brake lights from slowing vehicles. By seeing these things far enough ahead, you can change your speed, or change lanes if necessary to avoid a problem. If a traffic light has been green for a long time it will probably change before you get there. Start slowing down and be ready to stop.

Where should you be alert while driving?

Here are a few tips on how you can stay alert and be prepared for changing conditions: –

Keep your mind on your driving and your hands on the wheel Scan the road ahead for problems Check mirrors frequently Expect the unexpected Yield to other drivers who are determined to get there first

Defensive drivers are also alert and focused on their driving and prepared for anything that might occur on the road. Being a defensive driver means keeping your mind on your driving and your hands on the wheel. You can’t be talking on the phone, thinking about other things, fiddling with the radio or CD player, or carrying on animated conversations with passengers.

You also have to constantly look well ahead for changes in traffic or road conditions. If you see brake lights ahead, slow down and be prepared to stop. Keep an eye on what’s going on behind you, check your mirrors frequently for oncoming vehicles. Always expect the unexpected when driving. That way, you’ll never be surprised and you’ll always be in control.

Watch for other drivers making sudden moves. Keep alert for pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals darting out in front of you. If you’re a defensive driver, you’ll also yield to other drivers instead of challenging them to a dangerous duel. Think about the way you drive. This document is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind.

1. This document cannot be assumed to contain every acceptable safety and compliance procedure or that additional procedures might not be appropriate under the circumstances.
2. Markel does not guarantee that this information is or can be relied on for compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability.

This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional or technical advice. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser or trained professional. Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete.

Jack Gloop