Defensive Driving Crash Course

Table of Contents

The A.S.S. Method

Awareness.Speed.Space.

Chapter 1: What is Defensive Driving?

Expect the Unexpected

Habits of a Defensive Driver

Chapter 2: Collision Prevention

Perceptual skills required for defensive driving

Hearing

Sight

Smell

Touch

How to Drive Safely in Hazardous Conditions

Hazardous Situations and Ways to Encounter Them

Broken Windshield

Gravel and Other Loose Surfaces

Tire Blowout (puncture)

Passing Other Vehicles

Water on the Road

Slow Moving Vehicles and Heavy Vehicles

Animals on the Road

Chapter 3: Physical Conditions That Affect Driving

Age

Changes That Occur With Age

Why do These Changes in Driving Habits Occur?

Chapter 4: Mental State and Conditions That can Affect Your Driving

How to Control Emotions When Driving

Chapter 5: How to Keep Your Vehicle Ready for the Road

Daily Routine

Weekly

Quarterly

Chapter 6: Protection in a Vehicle - Seat Belts and Airbags

The Importance of Seatbelts

The Importance of Airbags

How They Protect You in a Crash

Benefits of Seatbelts

Benefits of Airbags

Types of Airbags

Seatbelt and Airbags Checklist

Seatbelts

Airbags

Vehicle Collision

Human Collision - Driver or Passenger Hits an Object Inside

Internal Crash - Internal Organs Hit Other Organs or Bones in the Body

Chapter 7: How to Drive in Conditions You Can’t Control

Light Conditions

When There is Too Much Light

When There is Too Little Light

Night Driving Safety Tips

Weather Conditions

Fog

Rain

Snow/Ice

Road Conditions

Narrow Roads/Lanes and Curving Roads

Potholes

Mountains and Steep Roads

Chapter 8: Driving Under the Influence

What is Impaired Driving, DWI or DUI?

Characteristics of an Impaired Driver

What to do if You Encounter a Drunk Driver on the Road

Chapter 10: Fatigued Driving

What is Driver’s Fatigue?

The Facts

Signs you are Fatigued While Driving

Tips for Reducing Your Risk When Driving Fatigued

Chapter 11: Aggressive Driving

What is Aggressive Driving?

Who is an aggressive driver?

How to Handle Aggressive Driving Situations

Preventing Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Responding to Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Chapter 12: Unsafe Driving Behavior

Unsafe Speed and How to Adjust to the Safest Driving Speed for Conditions

Not Knowing the Right of Way at Intersections - How to Avoid Collisions at Intersections

How to approach intersections

How to approach intersections at night

Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

What do the different lines mean?

Turning Improperly

Improper passing

Following Too Close

Why is a Three to Five Second Following Distance Important?

How to measure your stopping distance

Stopping distances formula

Stopping distance in rain

Stopping distance on ice

Chapter 13:  Unknown Defensive Driving Tips and Techniques

Ten Things To Keep In Your Trunk For Emergencies

How To Drive In Torrential Rain

Deciding to Leave the Freeway or Highway

Choosing to Stop and Park

Choosing to Keep Driving

How To Drive in Blinding Sunlight

How To Drive With Blinding Oncoming Headlights

How To Survive A Collision With A Large Animal

How To Jack Up a Car

How To Drive On A Spare Tire

How To Parallel Park Like A Pro

Top 10 Safe Driving Tips For Teens

How To Save Gas and Keep More Money In Your Pocket

Fuel Economy and Cold Weather

Why is fuel economy lower in the winter?

How can I improve my fuel economy in cold weather?

Fuel Economy in Warm to Hot Weather

How can I increase fuel economy in hot weather?

More Gas Saving Tips

The A.S.S. Method

Awareness.Speed.Space.

How’s your driving? There are 3 things that will drastically improve the driving of everyone. With over 3 million miles driven safely and defensively, I have developed a process called A.S.S. The A.S.S method stands for awareness, speed, and space. When these three things are combined while driving, your safety is at its highest level.

Most of us get behind the wheel of a car and don’t consciously think while driving because driving becomes so commonplace. Driving is one of the most dangerous things that you will do every day and is a leading cause of death. Since we can’t control the driving behaviors and habits of other drivers. Applying the A.S.S. method will increase your chances of a safe trip while driving.

The A in the A.S.S. method is for Awareness. Being aware will keep you focused on driving and not internal or external distractions. Always be aware of sounds, smells, lights, pedestrians/bikers and most importantly other drivers. The first S in the A.S.S. method stands for Speed. Your driving speed plays a major part in your safely while behind the wheel. In most crashes speed is the major culprit. The faster you drive, the longer it will take you to stop. You should also slow down considerably when weather conditions are not ideal. Speed kills. The last S in A.S.S. method stands for Space. Always try to keep space between you and other cars. Never drive directly beside or in blind spots of cars or trucks. You should never tailgate because that leads to rear-end collisions. Try to keep a 3 second following distance and even more in bad weather. Also, aim for space on both sides and behind you while driving. This will not always be possible but in those cases the other driving principles of Awareness and Speed will keep you out of danger.

Below I have elaborated more on each driving principle of the A.S.S. method. There are more tips and tactics for driving awareness, speed, and space. You will gain a big picture approach to driving and become an expert driver with millions of miles driven safely.

Awareness

It is possible for every driver of a vehicle to exercise their full awareness of what is going on around them while driving, but all too often there are many things that distract drivers while on the road, sometimes causing minor and major accidents. More than 95% of driving accidents occur due to poor decisions that drivers often make, but when people put their senses to use when driving, many accidents, and even deaths, can be prevented on the roadway.

Good vision, is one of the most important senses to put to good use when driving, because it allows people to actually see things that are going on around them on the roadway. It is very important to keep the windshield of any vehicle being driven, very clean, in order for drivers to see what is ahead of them, and what exactly is happening on the road. Drivers always need to know where their blind spots are before driving a vehicle off from a stationary position. It is necessary to check the left blind spot, and very essential that the driver look over their shoulder, and in the mirrors before driving off or changing lanes. Through scanning behind your vehicle, and ahead of it before driving off, drivers can save themselves and others a chance to avoid an accident on the road. It is a safe practice for many drivers to check their mirrors often, at least every 3-5 seconds, to know