Defensive driving
by Ann Arnott
Defensive Driving
It’s easier than you think
If a child darts out from the sidewalk in front of your car, on another car swerves too sharply in front of you, what do you do? If you’re like most people, you slam on the brakes. Unfortunately, that’s the worst reaction, because if the rear wheels lock, you’ll go into a spin. If the front wheels lock, you’ll lose all steering.
Whether you’re unsure about how to handle an emergency driving situation or common driving conditions, you can become a safer, more confident driver simply by adopting defensive-driving techniques. Mastering the wheel is not difficult if you follow the advice of our driving experts.
Avoiding Obstacles is Easy
In the scenario above, with the child and the swerving car, the word from our experts is: Don’t slam on the brakes; rather, steer around the obstacle if at all possible. According to Frank Kenel, staff director of traffic safety for the American Automobile Association (AAA), you should steer in the direction from which the hazard (the child or veering auto) came.
“Most people don’t realize that making a lane change {or steering around an object} takes only half a turn on the wheel,” says Bob Bondurant, professional race-car driver for 14 years, consultant to the Ford Motor Company and owner of a high-performance driving school. Many drivers aren’t aware that “today’s cars have improved over those they learned to drive in, even if that was just a few years ago.” For instance, side mirrors are now designed so they can be adjusted to reduce the “blind spot,” a visually obscured area that can limit a driver’s range of vision during a lane change.
If you can’t steer around the obstacle and must brake, don’t jump on the pedal. Apply gradual pressure. If any wheel starts to lock, ease back on the pedal by relaxing your leg muscles. Then press softly again. (As anti-lock brake systems {ABSs} become more and more prevalent, this braking technique will become obsolete. The ABSs make it possible to stop more quickly, with complete control.)
Bad Weather Doesn’t Mean Unsafe Driving
Decreased visibility and traction (stopping power) are the main problems in bad weather. The first thing to do in rain, snow, fog or ice is to slow down. Then remember the following: * Drive with your lights on so others can see you–even if you think you can see them. * Don’t drive if you can’t see clearly through front and rear windows and mirrors. * Make sure headlights are clean. Dirty headlights can cause loss of as much as 90 percent of illumination, according to the AAA. * Check the condition of the tires. In rain, a driver of a car with worn tires can easily lose control if the vehicle hydroplanes (when tires rest on a cushion of water instead of on the road).
You Can Control Skidding
When your car is skidding, you must once again resist the temptation to step on the brakes. Doing so is likely to lock the wheels and make you lose all steering control. Instead try to: * Ease off the gas pedal. * Focus your eyes on where you want the car to go, instead of heeding the confusing advice about “steering into the skid.” * Point the car’s nose in the direction in which you are looking, and start steering while keeping your hands in the three- and nine-o’clock position. Your arms will automatically follow your eyes and bring you out of the skid. * Once you’ve regained control, brake gently to stop.
Don’t Overlook the Basics
According to Kathy Rude, part of a husband–wife driving team who conduct performance driving clinics for Audi of America, the way you sit in a car seat affects your reflex ability: * Your back should be upright and pressed securely against the seat for support. * Your buttocks should be firmly planted into the seat base. * Your arms should be relaxed and slightly bent while your hands grip the steering wheel. * Your legs should be bent enough so you can fully depress the foot pedals with the balls of your feet. * Your left foot should have a secure footrest whenever it’s not needed for driving operations. * Both of your hands should be on the steering wheel, at the three- and nine-o’clock positions. “Don’t just drape one hand over the wheel and rest the other on an armrest or window,” cautions Lyn St. James, one of the foremost female racing drivers and a consultant to the Ford Motor Company. “If a sudden response is required, one arm tenses up before you can get the second one in place, and you tend to overreact.” * Always keep your seat belt snugly fastened against your hips and chest, not just for protection in the event of an accident, but also to help hold you in a proper position for comfortable driving and better control of the car.
Use Your Eyes
Just seeing objects is not enough, according to our experts. You must consciously look around you at all times. Be sure to: * Be aware of the vehicle in front of you, as well as those six or seven positions up the line for clues that might spell the need for evasive action. * Watch for drivers who are looking around, talking, fiddling with car controls or reading the paper–signs that they might make a sudden movement. * At intersections, always keep your eyes moving from the open to the blind side of your vision. * Never take a familiar route for granted. Many accidents happen at familiar intersections where drivers tend to react automatically.
Using these easy-to-follow tips will make your driving life safer and more pleasurable.
Ann Arnott is an automotives writer living in New York City.
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