Defensive Driving Rules
Rule 4: Wear your seat belt

We seldom realize the importance of seat belts until we come across an accident. The sole purpose of seat belts is to protect us at the time of collision. It not only sustains crash forces but also keeps us from being thrown out of the vehicle. All major researches show that the majority of death, at the time of crash, occurred because the persons involved were driving without wearing seat belts. Yet we come up with a variety of excuses for not wearing them. Some of them are:
1.“I don’t feel comfortable.” “It’s suffocating.” “I can’t breathe properly.”
Are they really so uncomfortable? Nothing is as comfortable as dying or spending months in hospital or losing one of the limbs.
2.It wrinkles my neatly ironed clothes. Undoubtedly, they do.
3.“I don’t want to stick to the seat at the time of crash. What if I’m trapped or my vehicle catches fire?” But the fact is, people get killed by smashing themselves inside the vehicle. Being thrown outside is even dangerous. Besides, it helps you stay conscious; therefore, more likely to escape in case the engine catches fire.
4.“Those who ride with me make fun of me if I’m wearing the seat belt.” You must not listen to them or the best would be to ask them to wear it. The point is why to keep such company who are so irresponsible. Let them realize the fact that wearing seat belts prevent over 50% of deaths and injuries.
5.“I don’t care!” Some of us are living daredevils and would never fear death. There are certainly other ways to express our audacity. Wearing seat belt is for our good; we better accept it at the earliest.
Defensive Driving Rules
Rule 3: Say no to speed!

Why to drive fast? How many times are we really desperately in need of driving fast?
We really don’t have any obvious reason; we just do it deliberately for overtaking other vehicles, or without realizing the growing speed. Whatever may be the case, the risk of collision always persists. Speed driving increases the risk of collision in two ways: one, it cuts your reaction time. Two, it results in more stored energy that must be dispelled in any collision.
Let’s listen to what science says: “Each incremental increase in speed reduces our ability to react in time to hazards, because we are covering distances in lesser time than what it takes to react.” It worsens while driving at night; since darkness substantially reduces our visibility.
Experienced and sensible drivers keep themselves at a speed that matches with the traffic and never exceed or slow under.
Does speeding really save much time?
In most of the cases, we find the car who took us over about half a mile back to be waiting at the next red light.
It doesn’t save much time, does it?
Say no to speed!
Defensive Driving Rules
Rule 2: Trust nobody but yourself

Ready-to-learn attitude, which assists taking precious lessons from previous mistakes, will further extricate your dexterous hands from similar troubles on noisy roadway. It is better anticipating that other drivers might make mistakes; it’s you who should be circumspect to disentangle yourself from unpredictable menace- ‘drivers’ and opposite will make your life reliant on clemency of bear party returner or violent youngsters. It has been corroborated that most of the collisions occur because of others’ carelessness. Remember, your one inane mistake can welcome accidents that will cruelly snatch your valuable life from the beautiful world.
Don’t be too trusting
Believing that other drivers, who might be adolescents, are quite threatening for you, you are opening up a space to adopt a wary approach to be a guarantor of own life because if traffic rules fail to save you, it’s your adroit mind responsible for dealing with them strategically and providing instant safety.

What happens after collision? You might be the victim or the one who made someone victim. In either case what excuse comes out? “Sorry, I didn’t notice you!” “I never saw you!” “It is your fault!”
Apparently, almost every collision involves inattention of one or both drivers. It could be anything, talking, drowsiness, fatigue, highway hypnosis, any sort of distractions or even daydreaming.
Seeing, recognizing and avoiding are the three basic elements of defensive driving. Driving a vehicle is not like walking or riding a bicycle. A slight negligence can claim life or disable a person for life. Paying attention helps you create the time that you need to recognize hazards and escape collision.
Have your ever wondered why most of collisions take place in your locality?
It’s not just a coincidence. The fact that we are too relaxed causes the problem. Familiarity creates contempt and inattention. Most of don’t realize that a fatal injury can occur even in low speed collision.
Being alert and poised while driving is not as easy task as it seems. The problem worsens by each passing month and year. Our mind tends to wander and we drive automatically. Most of the collisions are caused by experienced drivers. We really seriously need to think over it.
Attentive driving can be practiced and mastered. We can make a list of Do’s and Don’ts and go through it immediately before you start driving. Driving is not a casual task; therefore it does require your full attention.

Driving in rain and fog is always a jittery no matter how experienced driver you are. Heavy rain and fog limits the visibility to just a few yards decreasing your ability to see and be seen. On the other hand, rain builds up water on roadways and creates slippery and hazardous conditions that cause tires to lose traction. Driving safely in such weather conditions doesn’t just mean to slow down; there are other safety tips you must follow:
1.You’ll never know how the weather is going to be in an hour or so; therefore, make sure all your vehicle lights are in working order. Make sure that your headlights are on while driving in rain or fog, even if it is a day time.
2.Make sure that your windshields and windows are clean from inside as well outside. Check your windshield wiper blades for wear and replace them if required. Worn blades smear water on the windshield rather than clearing it making it almost impossible to see outside. Be extra cautious in freezing rain.
3.Drive slowly and cautiously in rain after a long spell on dry roadway. Even highly maintained roadways become slippery due to the mixing of water with oil and grease that build up on it.
4.Make sure that your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure and contain sufficient thread depth to make good traction. Situations like hydroplane is possible even at the speed of 35 or below. Slow driving is always recommended.
5.To maintain “space cushion” keep a bit bigger distance from the vehicles ahead. It’s always safe.
6.Is has been seen that most of the drivers, while driving in rain or fog, tend to follow the taillight of vehicles in front of them. In such situations, avoid stopping your car on the shoulder of a roadway. In case you really need to, you must take your car as far off the roadway. Turn off the headlight, and turn on the emergency hazard lights.
7.In order to beat the visibility in fog, always use low beam headlights. A strict no to high beam headlight as it reflects back off the fog and worsens the visibility.
8.While driving in foggy condition, try listening to approaching traffic you are unable to see, for you need to open your car windows a little. It helps you to form a fair idea of vehicles coming from both the sides.
