Safe Driving Practices and Defensive Driving
Core Concepts
Defensive driving is a system, not a personality trait. Teach the Smith System style habits: aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and make sure others see you. Following distance is best taught as time, not car lengths: at least three seconds in good conditions, more at night, in rain, or behind large vehicles. Scanning should cycle near-far-mirror roughly every few seconds. Manage space cushions on all four sides and identify escape routes before you need them.
Common Traps
Test questions often present a hazard and ask for the “best” response. The best answer is usually the one that reduces risk earliest - slow down, increase following distance, cover the brake - rather than a dramatic maneuver. Beware of answers that rely on the other driver doing the right thing. Also watch for questions about fatigue: the only real remedy is stopping to rest, not caffeine or an open window. Distinguish hazard perception (seeing it) from hazard response (acting early).
Worked Example
A student asks how far back to follow a large truck at 55 mph. Time-based answer: pick a fixed object the truck passes, then count three seconds; if you reach it sooner, you are too close. In rain, double the gap and add a second for every additional adverse factor. Demonstrate that at 55 mph you travel about 80 feet per second, so three seconds is roughly 240 feet - car-length counts mislead because they shrink with speed.