{"id":1491,"date":"2022-04-01T16:19:04","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T16:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=1491"},"modified":"2023-09-21T22:45:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T22:45:54","slug":"8-simple-defensive-driving-tips-to-keep-you-safe-on-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/driving-safety\/8-simple-defensive-driving-tips-to-keep-you-safe-on-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Simple Defensive Driving Tips to Keep You Safe on the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Driving Can Be Dangerous \u2013 Here Are 8 Simple Defensive Driving Tips to Keep You Safe<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On any given day, your experience behind the wheel can range from uneventful to dramatic, which is why <\/span>defensive driving<\/span><\/b> is so important. Knowing how to <\/span>avoid or defuse potentially dangerous situations<\/span><\/i> can help keep you a great deal safer on the road, and possibly prevent an incident that could raise your <\/span>car insurance<\/span><\/a> premiums.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all begins innocently enough; you get cut off in traffic by a discourteous driver and, depending on your mood at the time, either look the other way or grossly overreact. You may lean on your horn and gesture at the offending motorist and the race is on. Tailgating, swerving from lane to lane, and risking injury or death, trying to prove a point. What point?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two wrongs don\u2019t make a right. That\u2019s why, below you\u2019ll find eight easy-to-follow defensive driving tips to assist you in staying calmer behind the wheel.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don\u2019t respond<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 In other words, just because some guy cuts you off, don\u2019t chase him down in response. Or, if he gestures rudely, avoid responding with the same gesture. Things can get ugly really fast\u2026and, you could be putting your life, the life of someone riding in the car with you, or the lives of innocent motorists at risk by your behavior. Let the other driver go. It isn\u2019t worth it.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t get in the way<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Avoid driving in the fast lane unless you\u2019re driving the speed limit or above. If someone comes up fast behind you, get out of the way. Signal and move over to the next lane. No one voted you \u201cKing of the Road\u201d or appointed you \u201cCop for the Day.\u201d So, it isn\u2019t your job to slow other motorists down or to impede them just because they\u2019re speeding. This may only infuriate already aggressive and angry drivers. If they want to get past you\u2026let them.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Don\u2019t try to take the right of way<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Even if you have the right of way, should another driver challenge you for it, don\u2019t insist on going for it at any cost. Yield anyway. The whole idea, here, is to avoid a confrontation and get home safely.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"woman<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t ignore your surroundings<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Always be aware of what\u2019s going on around you by being aware of your surroundings. Don\u2019t allow distractions, such as texting, talking on a cell phone, applying lipstick or any other activity to take your eyes off the road. If an aggressive driver is nearby and is irritated by your behind- the-wheel behavior\u2026it could set him off. Furthermore, it could keep you from noticing cars braking ahead or put you at an unsafe disadvantage.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Don\u2019t be overconfident<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 We all rate ourselves as excellent drivers. Some of us are slightly misguided\u2026and fall short of that. Therefore, don\u2019t overestimate your driving ability. Speeding and cutting in and out of traffic can prove to be quite dangerous, especially in bad weather. Know your limitations\u2026and those of your car.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Don\u2019t be afraid to take a defensive driving course<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 You might be surprised at how much of your \u201cgood\u201d driving habits and ability have decreased over the years. Don\u2019t look at it as embarrassing \u2013 look at it as a way to improve your driving skills and to save some money on your auto insurance, since most insurance companies offer discounts for completing the course.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Don\u2019t drive if tired or drowsy<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Food for thought: the\u202f<\/span>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/span><\/a>\u202freports that more than 56,000 crashes a year are caused by drowsy drivers. You don\u2019t want to join that club. Sleepy drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers and the outcome is usually the same. Take a nap before heading out. Drink some coffee and get some fresh air every few miles. And, if none of it is working\u2026pull over and get some sleep. Stay alert and stay alive.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Cool is the rule<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The way you approach your daily commute will dictate how well it goes. Stay cool and calm, even if traffic is bogged down. Listen to calming music\u2026not political talk. Be smart and avoid getting angry, no matter what. And leave the aggressive driving<\/a> to the other guy. Just stay out of his way. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By following these 8 simple defensive driving tips on a daily basis you might find renewed enjoyment in driving \u2013 and you\u2019ll certainly be safer.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s Another Tip for Finding Affordable Car Insurance Online Today <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another good tip is \u2013 make sure you\u2019re getting the\u202fbest rate on your auto insurance. Why not get a\u202f<\/span>free auto insurance quote<\/span><\/a>\u202ftoday?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For low-cost premiums and high-quality coverage, contact Freeway Insurance. Freeway Insurance offers affordable car insurance quotes from a wide network of the top insurance providers in the nation. Call\u202f<\/span>(800) 777-5620\u202f<\/span><\/a>or\u202fcome visit us at one of our convenient <\/span>locations<\/span><\/a> and start saving today!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n Get a Quote <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Driving Can Be Dangerous \u2013 Here Are 8 Simple Defensive Driving Tips to Keep You Safe  On any given day, your experience behind the wheel can range from uneventful to dramatic, which is why defensive driving is so important. Knowing how to avoid or defuse potentially dangerous situations can help keep you a great deal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002600,"featured_media":6413,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[81],"importance":[],"type-content":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1491"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1002600"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1491"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9558,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1491\/revisions\/9558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1491"},{"taxonomy":"importance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/importance?post=1491"},{"taxonomy":"type-content","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-content?post=1491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}