Mint Hill Area Toyota Offers Defensive Driving Tips to Keep Everyone Safer

Apr 24, 2013

Your Mint Hill area Toyota dealership knows that traffic can put anyone on edge. Instead of letting your emotions get the best (or worst) of you, learn to practice these defensive driving tips. They will help you and everyone else on the road stay a little safer.

Tip #1 Look and Listen

You have to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. That means keeping your eyes on the road and your ears open to sounds that might indicate danger. If you have your stereo blasting, you might miss the sound of an approaching siren. Looking and listening are at the core of defensive driving.

Tip #2 Don’t Make Assumptions About Other Drivers

It’s easy to treat other drivers like they aren’t human beings. Instead of reducing them to obstacles or machines, try to remember that you don’t know anything about them. Making assumptions about other drivers is a dangerous thing to do.

What do you really know about that tailgater? Perhaps she’s rushing to the hospital.

Do you know that the person who cut you off did it on purpose? Perhaps he just received bad news and needs to reach his destination quickly.

Admit that you know less than you think. It can work wonders while dealing with other drivers.

Tip #3 Take a Break When You Need It

No one drives perfectly all the time. Feeling tired, distracted, or sick can impact the way you behave in traffic. When you feel like you can’t handle your car responsibly, pull over and take a rest.