Driving safely – also known as defensive driving – is a delicate dance. How can you strike the balance of alertness, caution, good reflexes, and patience that defines this safety-centric style of driving? Let’s take a look: 

Let’s say you drive safely more often without specifically thinking about it. If so, then you’re practicing at least some defensive driving techniques by default. But you’re also relying on luck to a certain extent. Granted, you can never control the behavior of other drivers. Instead, you can be as mindful and careful as possible with your own driving habits. That’s the essence of defensive driving: Keeping safety in mind behind the wheel while following best practices to minimize accident risk.

Harold Smith, founder of the world’s first driving school, didn’t necessarily invent the five defensive driving rules. He devised the Smith System in 1952, and modern driving involves factors he didn’t address or couldn’t have predicted.

With that said, Smith’s principles are a critical foundation for defensive driving.

1. Visualize exactly where you’ll be on the road 15 seconds from now by looking as far forward as you can whenever possible. 2. Be mindful of your surroundings. In Smith’s rules, this entails checking one mirror (rearview or side) every 5-8 seconds. Also, keep a safe following distance for a better view, and don’t forget your blind spots. 3. Don't let any object, landmark, or pedestrian hold your attention for longer than a few seconds. (Here, Smith warns against distracted driving half a century before the campaigns about it we now see regularly.) 4. Maintain a spot in traffic with as much vehicle-free space around it as possible. This requires changing lanes and adjusting speed as needed, both to maneuver safely and keep pace with traffic. The major point of this rule is avoiding tailgaters (and not letting yourself become one). 5. Warn other drivers if you feel like they can’t see you by using your signals. (Smith didn’t specify in his original rules, but your lights should be the main tool here, not your horn, unless all else fails.)

Smith didn’t specifically cover several of his rules that are important to becoming a defensive driver. Some are closer to “common sense” than “advanced,” but they’re all extremely valuable.

Intersection vigilance According to the Federal Highway Administration, about 50% of traffic-related injuries each year (and 25% of all traffic deaths in the same period) happen at or near intersections. You should be at your most observant in these locations and keep right-of-way rules top of mind.

Careful passing This ties back to Smith’s rules about maintaining space. Of course, you can’t always keep the same amount of space his rules recommend when trying to pass someone. But do your best through close observation and careful signaling.

High caution during inclement weather Every risk on the road becomes several times more dangerous when dark clouds, intense rain, sleet, or snow, high winds, or some combinations thereof are present. You need to be both more observant and rely heavily on your signals and lights. Also, keep more distance from other cars when facing hazardous weather.

Watch out for modern distractions Back in the 1950s, Smith likely thought of car radios and eye-catching landmarks as major distractions. Today, the risks are much more attention-drawing, from mobile devices to dashboard consoles that double as entertainment centers. Be especially careful to spot visibly distracted drivers and stay as far away from them as possible.

Driving defensively benefits you and everyone else on the road by default. But with the Novo Safety Program, sensible driving behavior can lower your monthly auto insurance premiums.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about our usage-based insurance and how it can reward safe drivers.