First, I would like to address attitude. Most people are aggressive and inconsiderate behind the wheel. This is the type of attitude that leads to road rage and an increased heart rate. If you just learn to relax a little, you’ll soon notice that someone cutting you off suddenly isn’t worth all the stress it usually causes.

When someone cuts you off, what is your first response? Blast your horn, right? Wrong answer. Your first reaction should be to get both hands on the steering wheel and start decreasing speed. If you feel that it is unsafe to be near this driver, let them get ahead of you. What’s the rush? You’re already in a car, so you’ll get there. Did they clip you? Did they REALLY almost hit you? Most times, they don’t. They just did something rude and you didn’t like it. Shrug it off. Don’t get mad. Say this to them as though they are sitting next to you, “Good job, smart person.” As long as you don’t get emotionally involved in your commute, everything will be fine.

You may be wondering why I stated that you should decrease speed. There are many reasons. 1. You don’t need to be near drivers who behave this way. 2. They may do something like suddenly stop or slow down. I can’t count how many times I have had drivers cut in front of me only to suddenly slow down and turn into a parking lot. Creating some distance and anticipating that saves me from hitting them every time. It also saves the next car in line from rear-ending me.

Following distance is crucial when it comes to accident avoidance. A good following distance can keep you in control of almost any situation. It gives you time to react to anything. From debris on the road, to sudden stops, a good following distance is your ticket to smooth, collision-free driving. I say a good following distance is six seconds or more.

You will find that your driving will improve if you truly do practice defensive driving techniques. You will be more relaxed and in control. Try these few techniques daily and you will feel better. It will take a while for these techniques to become habit. When they do, you will be ready to learn more defensive driving techniques.