Defensive Driving Techniques

A minimum following distance of three seconds is recommended for normal dry-road conditions.. Defensive driving recommends a minimum three-second following distance under good conditions, giving time to perceive and react to sudden stops.

When driving at night, look toward the right edge of your lane and use the lane line as a guide to avoid being blinded by oncoming headlights.. To avoid temporary blindness from oncoming headlights, shift your gaze toward the right side of your lane and use the painted edge line or pavement marking as a guide.

This allows for enough time to perceive and react to a sudden stop by the vehicle ahead. A diagram for this topic isn't available yet — the worked example below walks the same reasoning step by step.

• !Many drivers underestimate the time needed to stop safely, and a three-second gap is the minimum recommended under good conditions, with longer gaps needed in adverse conditions.
• !Many drivers mistakenly try to stare at the headlights or close one eye, thinking it will reduce glare, but the effective technique is to look away toward the lane edge.
• !Many drivers still recall the outdated 10‑and‑2 position, assuming it offers better control, but it increases the chance of airbag‑related injuries.
• !Many drivers think a space cushion only means following distance or staying in a particular lane, but it actually involves space on all sides of the vehicle.
• !To avoid temporary blindness from oncoming headlights, shift your gaze toward the right side of your lane and use the painted edge line or pavement marking as a guide.

Answer each from memory — you'll see instantly whether you're right and why.

Run a focused 10-question mini-mock on Defensive Driving Techniques and see it stick.