How to Drive Defensively

Professional drivers pilot the Mercedes-Benz safety car. Starting with the 2021 season, Aston Martin will also provide modified vehicles. Drivers must maintain a reasonable speed to keep competitors’ tyres at a temperature that prevents them from overheating. Professional safety car drivers are accompanied by a co-driver who assists with operations and communications. This is an integral part of the safety car’s role in the race.

Remain calm

Remaining calm when driving is essential for safe, happy travel. Anxiety while driving can affect your physical and emotional state, and it may even lead you to make the wrong decision and endanger others. Here are some tips for remaining calm while driving:

Avoid engaging in conversations with other drivers, and avoid driving defensively if possible. Drivers who are rude to other drivers may cut you off or follow too closely. Try not to engage in conversation or gestures with other drivers. If possible, go to a quiet location and get a few minutes of fresh air. If the situation becomes physical, call 911. It’s not worth risking your safety if it leads to an accident.

Maintain a safe following distance

If you’re a commercial driver, you should maintain a safe following distance. Three seconds is the recommended minimum. However, this distance can change depending on the weather, time of day, and vehicle type. A standard car should always be at least 243 feet away. Following too closely can lead to a dangerous crash, especially for commercial vehicles. Therefore, this rule should be part of any driver’s refresher course.

A simple method to calculate this distance is to pick an object on the side of the road and count how many car lengths the vehicle in front of you has gone. It can be a lamppost, traffic sign, or tree. When the vehicle in front of you passes the mark, count to one thousand, and then two thousand. This way, you know how close the car is. Make sure you are within this distance to avoid tailgating.

Avoid driving aggressively

If you are planning to take a driver education course online, you should be familiar with defensive driving techniques. You must avoid driving aggressively in the presence of others on the road, including other drivers. Developing good defensive driving habits can mean the difference between a safe trip and an accident. The following tips will help you drive defensively on the road:

Don’t make eye contact with the driver in front of you. This may result in road rage. Avoid giving the driver a hand gesture or trying to “egg on” him. It is always better to remain calm, not to cause a confrontation. You should call the police if you notice a driver who is being aggressive on the road. This way, the police can intervene and deal with the aggressive driver.

Maintain a reasonable speed

While the posted speed limit will be a guideline to follow, it’s still essential to drive below the posted speed. The speed limit indicates the speed of the vehicle when conditions are ideal. Speeding on a slippery highway may be dangerous, and drivers should adjust their speeds accordingly. Ideally, they should drive no faster than the posted speed limit, but if the weather is bad or traffic is heavy, they should slow down their speed. The best way to stay within the speed limit is to plan your movements ahead of time.

In addition to maintaining a reasonable speed, drivers should consider other drivers’ intentions. If they are slowing down, they should take extra care when approaching traffic signals, breaks in dividers, or service roads. Traffic jams are a result of hasty motorists rushing to join the main road without checking the flow of traffic. This also causes congestion when cars pull out of parking spaces, and drivers must slow down. Patience will go a long way when tackling traffic jams.

Parallel park

When parallel parking, a safety car can act as your ally. When you are parallel parking, you must make sure that your car is parallel to the parked vehicle. To do this, you must turn the steering wheel to the left. In this video, you’ll see a 360-degree demonstration of the process. When driving in parallel, you must also check the windows, mirrors, and the front windshield for damage.

In parallel parking, you need to take full control of the steering wheel. When reversing, you must make sure that you’re in the right position to line up with the rear bumper of the car in front. You must also be sure to have both hands on the steering wheel. To parallel park a safety car, follow these steps:

Parallel park or reverse into a parking spot

You need to reverse or parallel park your car to find a safe parking space. If you can’t do this, you can use a safety car. To reverse, you must first turn your wheel to the left and then back up as far as possible. After backing up, shift your car into reverse and pull forward slowly. To exit a parallel parking spot, make sure you line up with the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

When parallel parking, make sure you leave at least an inch of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you. It is also advisable to look over your right shoulder before attempting to parallel park. To reverse, start your car in reverse and pull up two to three feet away from the other car. Use your blinkers to make sure you’re not obstructing the other driver’s vision.