LEAVE ROOM

The Four Safe Defensive Driving Principles

L . L . L . C.

#3 – LEAVE ROOM

*Have an escape path available should an emergency arise. Always keep an open area of space, a space cushion, around your vehicle. Do not be cornered into an accident: Leave yourself an out.

To avoid a collision with the vehicle ahead, follow these tips:

• Stay back. Keep at least a two-second following distance.

•Stay alert for the actions of the driver ahead of you. Watch for his intentions - turn signals, brake lights, drifting to the right or left in preparation of a turn, etc., and react appropriately.

Lane changing is another challenging driving situation. These safety tips will help you change lanes safely:

•Plan ahead so you have plenty of time to change lanes.

•Before changing lanes, check your rear view and side mirrors and blind spots.

•Use your turn signal to indicate your intentions.

•Keep a safe distance between the vehicle in front of you and the vehicle behind you.

•Avoid slowing down or speeding up dramatically. However, be sure to match your speed to the speed of traffic in the lane you are moving into.

•Do not cross more than one lane at a time.

•Turn off your turn signal after changing lanes.

When merging into highway traffic, you must simultaneously scan the highway for an opening and adjust your speed to match the speed of the traffic on the highway. Follow these safety tips to merge safely into highway traffic:

•Allow an adequate gap between your vehicle, the vehicle that passes the ramp in front of you and the vehicle behind you.

•Do not stop on the on ramp unless it is absolutely necessary. If you stop, it will take longer to reach the speed of the traffic on the highway. You may also set off a chain reaction of collision with the vehicles behind you.

•Turn on your signal light as you merge. Use your rear view and side mirrors, and look over your shoulder to make sure that no traffic is in your blind spot or moving to the right of your lane. CLICK HERE FOR MORE - *Adapted from Saudi Aramco Loss Prevention and Panorama

Here a video made by Film Australia 1973. Directed by Peter Johnson.