What is Considered “Defensive Driving” in Florida?

Defensive driving utilizes safe strategies to avoid potential hazards and predict dangerous situations. These strategies go beyond traffic laws and procedures and help you make good decisions while driving in the moment. Some defensive driving techniques are proactive and others are reactive, but they all work to help you avoid a car crash.

If you are involved in a car wreck, despite your best efforts to avoid it, contact David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. He frequently handles cases where the other driver was negligent and the victim is now injured and needs help. Contact us using our online contact form.

1. Stay Alert and Look At Your Surroundings

While driving, you should scan the horizon and always look for upcoming hazards that might cause a crash. That might be another car veering into your lane or construction up ahead. By remaining aware, you can give yourself time to think and maneuver away from danger.

2. Look for Reckless Drivers

Keep an eye out for other drivers on the road who appear to be driving recklessly. That may be indicated by them maneuvering erratically or failing to follow motor vehicle laws. Stay away from drivers who appear to be reckless by following at a greater distance or changing lanes, when possible.

3. Anticipate the Moves of Other Drivers

You should keep an eye on other drivers and anticipate where they will be maneuvering next. If a car fails to use a turn signal to change lanes, anticipate the same in the future. Think ahead to determine how you will handle the situation if they speed up, suddenly stop, or turn in front of you. Be prepared to make a sudden maneuver to avoid their negligent driving.

4. Check Your Blind Spot Frequently

Every motor vehicle has a blind spot. You should use your mirrors to look all the way around your car when backing and changing lanes. To fully check your blind spot, you may need to review your outside camera, if you have one on your vehicle, or turn your head to look out the vehicle’s windows. Do not maneuver into another lane or back up without fully checking to see if anyone is around you.

5. Stay Out of the Blind Spots of Other Drivers

Blind spots are usually at the back corners of vehicles, or even directly behind for large commercial trucks. Avoid driving in those areas to prevent a crash. You cannot rely on other drivers to use appropriate defensive driving techniques and check their own blind spots.

6. Always Use Your Turn Signal

When changing lanes, backing out across lanes, turning your car, or otherwise maneuvering your vehicle, always use turn signals. This tells other drivers where you are going and allows them to stay out of the way. Of course, other negligent drivers do not always acknowledge your warning. If they cause a crash, you should immediately call a personal injury attorney who can handle the situation and help you win money to cover your losses.

7. Yield to Other Drivers Who Look Like They Will Not

Although the rules of the road are clear about right of way, other drivers may not give it to you when it is legally yours. In those situations, avoid a crash by yielding to the other driver even though they are not following traffic laws.

8. Maintain a Safe Distance Between Yourself and Other Drivers

Following behind a vehicle too closely can result in a crash if you don’t have enough time to stop when the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly. You should give yourself at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you in good weather. In bad weather, such as ice or rain, you should increase that amount of time. Measure the time by finding a fixed object alongside the road and count the seconds between when the rear bumper of the car in front of you passes the object and when your front bumper comes even with it.

9. Don’t Drive While Distracted

Distracted driving is common today with cell phones, radios, passengers, and more causing a distraction for drivers. You should avoid all distractions by focusing on the road at all times and putting everything else on a back burner until you reach your destination. If you need to use your phone, pull over to talk or navigate. Never eat or read in the car, and avoid heated discussions with passengers that can be distracting.

10. Don’t Drink and Drive

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in Florida, and it should be avoided at all costs. Drunk driving is a primary cause of serious car accidents in Florida. When you drink, you have a delayed reaction time and fail to adhere to the other key defensive driving strategies. Either have a sober driver or call an Uber.

If You’re In a Wreck, Call Attorney David I. Fuchs

When you have an accident, you need to be able to prove that the other driver was negligent and that you deserve compensation. Attorney David I. Fuchs can help you do that with an investigation and by working against the insurance companies that will try to give you little or nothing at all. Use our online contact form today.