Defensive Driving 101: Your Guide

Have you ever found yourself filled with rage driving down the road? Either some knucklehead cut you off or someone forgot to use their blinker and all of a sudden you’re ready to give them a piece of your mind or flip them the bird. Now, we are all about positive energy here at Zappone and we want to give you some of our defensive driving tactics to help keep you cool, calm, and collected out on the roadway. Well, of course, these tips will also help keep you safe, as well. Check them out below and we hope you will start using them during your everyday commute to ensure a better, safer driving experience for everyone! 

1. Anticipate other drivers to make mistakes.
2. Always be in control of your vehicle and keep your focus on the road. Don’t let cell phones, the radio, friends, or a heated argument distract you from being a safe driver.
3. Slow down and take your time on the road. Stay with the flow of traffic, but be mindful of speed limits and other drivers coming to a stop or changing lanes.
4. Click it or get a ticket. You’ve heard this for years and we’re telling you to do the same. Don’t risk your life or someone else’s because you’re not a fan of seatbelts.
5. Play it safe and yield when you’re not sure what another driver intends to do. Even if you have the right of way, give the other driver the benefit of the doubt and let them pass first.
6. Watch for stop lights and stop signs. Distractions will happen, but driving through a red light or a stop sign can lead to some potentially tragic collisions.
7. Use your blinkers, always. Driving isn’t a guessing game, don’t make other drivers guess where you’re turning or if you are. Use your blinkers and hope they have the same driving courtesy as you do.
8. Take a deep breath and don’t let road rage creep up. People make mistakes on the road and it is our job to let them go, proceed to our destination, and be safe while doing so. Don’t let the actions of other drivers negatively affect you.
9. Choose a safe vehicle with a high safety rating to ensure that every drive will be a safe one from start to finish.
10. Leave some space between you and other drivers. Collisions happen most often when a driver is too close and another stops too quick. Give your fellow motorists some space and prevent those collisions from happening in the first place!