Defensive Driving Tips

When approaching an intersection, it is important to look in all directions. You should look ____, _____ and ____ again just before entering the intersection.

left, right, left

Give yourself room to ________.

maneuver In traffic, this involves the speed you are traveling and your lane position. You want to be between the clusters of vehicles in front of and behind you. You also want to choose a lane position that allows you the most options for movement.

Remember, the 2-second rule is a _______ following distance. As your speed increases, so does the time and distance required for you to stop. For example, if you are traveling at 55 mph, you would need almost 7 seconds to stop with perfect brakes and ideal road conditions. So at highway speeds or at any speed when streets and roads are slippery and visibility is reduced, allow a safe distance between you and the next vehicle.

minimum

Look ahead at least __ seconds.

12 This means at a minimum you look ahead to where your vehicle will be 12 seconds from now. To figure how far this is, choose a fixed object in front of you and begin counting, "one thousand one, one thousand two, etc." until the front of your vehicle passes the object. If you have not reached "one thousand twelve," you need to be looking farther ahead. For example, at 30 mph you should see a little over a block ahead.

Stay behind at least _ seconds.

2 If you are driving 40 mph or less, stay at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. This is a minimum following distance. Most driving instructors recommend up to 4 seconds. To figure this, start counting "one thousand one" when the rear of a vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, such as a sign. If you reach the sign before you have counted "one thousand two," you are following too closely.

The 12-second rule allows you to watch traffic patterns and react to changes. When you are driving at freeway speeds you need to look ahead at least __ to __ seconds.

20 to 30