Defensive driving techniques are all about keeping your car safe through better driving practices. While rules and regulations are in place to prevent mishaps, accidents are often inevitable. Sometimes the cause of an accident might be a mistake from another driver’s end. Defensive driving techniques help you mitigate the probability of accidents caused by other drivers.
With proper focus on the road, you can often predict the actions of other motorists and act accordingly. Here are some defensive driving tips to improve your safety on the road.
Avoid Distractions
Vehicles offer various leisure facilities including music, radio and air conditioning to keep you entertained and make the trip comfortable. However, drivers can easily get distracted when adjusting music for the right song or setting up the air-conditioning to the right temperature. Sometimes chatting with passengers or using your mobile phone can divert your attention from the road.
Even a minor distraction can lead to an accident. It is better to adjust the vehicle infotainment system before driving on the road. Avoid the use of mobile phones while on the road as you can be fined by the police.
Maintain Slow Speed
Speeding is usually the prime cause of accidents, hence, you need to follow the UAE speed limits to avoid accidents and penalties. Driving faster means it will take longer to stop. Mishandling in such a scenario can be fatal. It takes patience and practice to drive with the traffic flow.
Use Safety Devices
While airbags keep you safe, putting on seat belts is equally important to avoid injuries due to airbag deployment. Modern cars are equipped with various safety features that can be activated or deactivated as per user preference. It is advised to always keep the essential ones active including forwarding collision warning, braking assist and lane departure warning.
There are other modern safety features that can provide a safe driving experience such as the Adaptive Cruise Control System.
Stop at Traffic Signals
Traffic signals are placed to prevent accidents at intersections and manage the traffic. Even when the roads look clear, breaking the signal or rushing at yellow light is not advised. Due to an intersection, you can miss an upcoming car, resulting in a life-threatening collision.
Additionally, most traffic signals have traffic cameras in the UAE to catch the violators. Such offences can result in a fine of up to AED 1000, black points accumulation and even confiscation of vehicles.
Use Side Indicator
Using side indicators or blinkers while changing lanes or making a turn will help prepare rear vehicles to slow down or adjust accordingly. Confusion on the road can result in unnecessary accidents. If caught by the authorities, failure to use indicators in the UAE can also result in traffic fines.
Maintain Safe Distance
Tailgating another car is fine if you are stuck in a traffic jam. However, tailgating can result in an accident on a road with regular traffic flow. For instance, if a driver in front of you suddenly stops the car or makes a turn without indicators, it may lead to a collision due to confusion.
Hence, a safe following distance between cars makes it easier to stop your car in such situations safely. The practice becomes essential when driving in foggy weather with low visibility. The average safe distance varies based on your speed. Hence, the faster you are driving, the longer will be the safe distance to stop the car effectively.
Beware of Blind Spots
Blind spots in cars have always led to accidents as drivers are unable to see another vehicle. Sometimes your car pillars can block the vision or your side mirrors are not well adjusted to view the adjacent car.
Blind spots are a major problem for larger vehicles like trucks and buses. Due to sheer height and length, such vehicles have larger blind spots at the front, rear and side. This is why it is always advised to drive extra carefully around heavy vehicles.
Adjust for Weather Condition
Weather conditions like sandstorms, fog and heavy rain usually result in lower visibility and slippery roads. Under low visibility conditions, a single collision can lead to a chain of accidents. Driving slowly under such conditions is not just important but is often advised by the authorities in the UAE.
Maintaining enough space between other cars along with low speed allows reaction time to safely make safety manoeuvres or apply brakes. Here are some important tips for driving in a bad weather.
Use High Beams Effectively
The high beam system in cars increases the visibility on the low-lit roads where headlights are not enough. However, you should always avoid the usage in high traffic areas as it can blind the upcoming car. In fact, improper use of high beams can result in traffic fines as well.
High beam lights also help when driving at night. Follow these night driving safety tips to make your driving experience better and safe.
Expect the Unexpected
The purpose of learning defensive driving techniques is indeed to expect the unexpected. Driving on the road requires focus so you can take evasive action to protect yourself. Human error is something that cannot be eliminated. If other drivers make mistakes, you should be able to plan ahead and adjust accordingly.
Defensive driving techniques will make your driving safer. Your chances to avoid an accident due to another’s mistake increase dramatically if you apply such techniques. If safety is your priority, in addition to defensive driving, modern cars equipped with extensive safety features will make your life easier and safer.
Check out some of the used car for sale in the UAE. to experience some of the advanced safety features.
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Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blogs for more information on car parts, market trends and automotive technology.
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