One of the best ways to avoid car accidents is just to become a defensive driver. Remember that human error causes the vast majority of car accidents – over 90%. Even if you don’t make a mistake, you could be hit by another driver who does.
The main goal of defensive driving, then, is to anticipate these mistakes. This allows you to plan for them in advance so your responses are faster when they do take place. By driving with this defensive mindset, you can keep yourself from being involved in an accident in the first place.
Examples of how this works
One example of defensive driving is just how you watch traffic around you. For example, maybe you’re approaching a cross street where another driver is waiting to turn. You have the right of way.
In this situation, some drivers may just entirely ignore the car that is about to turn, knowing that the other driver should wait for them to pass. But what if that driver makes a mistake and turns too early? If this happens and you’re not paying attention, you may feel like the accident is inevitable. It all happens so quickly.
But if you are instead watching that car and waiting to ensure that the driver turns at the right time, you’ll see them start driving too early. You will have been waiting for this mistake, anticipating that it could happen, so you will quickly press the brakes and begin reducing your own speed. Everything else about the situation is the same, but changing your own focus and attention prevents the accident.
Defensive driving can be very helpful, but even it doesn’t prevent all accidents. If you’ve been injured by another driver, you may need to seek financial compensation.