How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket With Defensive Driving
When it comes time to learn to drive people tend to just learn the rules of the road and the basic techniques on how to get from point A to point B. In most cases, that’s just fine.
However, just learning the rules and passing the tests doesn’t always make for the best driver. Many drivers start to bend the rules they learned or slip into seemingly harmless, but dangerous, bad habits. This is why learning and applying the concepts of defensive driving is so beneficial for any driver who not only wants to be as safe as possible, but wants to avoid the unnecessary expense of traffic violations.
What is defensive driving?
Defensive driving means using safe driving strategies to address road hazards in a predictable and effective manner. With defensive driving, you can learn to reduce your risks by anticipating situations and making decisions based on their surroundings.
While many driving instruction schools claim to teach it, keep in mind there’s no real standard for what defensive driving really is. However, government approved driving schools tend to teach with defensive driving in mind. Not only that, but you can avoid a traffic ticket when you practice defensive driving. You might also receive the benefit of reduced insurance rates.
Mind over matter
As opposed to strictly being a set of practical driving skills, it’s better to think of defensive driving as a mindset. For all the noise car companies make about safety features, the biggest safety feature is always the driver.
On the road, several things can affect a driver. While some of these are beyond a person’s control. You can overcome most of these psychological factors if you know what to look for and how to handle it.
Defensive driving helps eliminate negative psychological factors such as stress, fatigue, emotional distress and something that sometimes gets the best of us all: road rage. Developing a positive attitude behind the wheel really helps you focus and avoid things like accidentally stepping too hard on the gas or racing through a red light because you’re worried about being late.
When you’re in a better state of mind, it’s easier to avoid a traffic ticket because you won’t be so inclined to break the law.
Things you’ll learn
Driving laws vary by province, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that defensive driving courses will be different depending on your province as well. There are however some basics that you can expect to learn at any defensive driving school that will help keep you on the right side of the law, and possibly avoid a traffic ticket.
Driving under the influence: no they won’t teach you how to do it, but you’ll learn about the laws and consequences surrounding driving with alcohol in your system and just how much it can cost you in all senses of the word.
Collisions: most people’s gut reaction to a collision is to panic and that’s natural. Understanding the forces at work and learning what to do in the event of a collision will keep you calm and improve chances of survival for all involved.
Vehicle safety features: it’s kind of surprising how little some people know about the vehicle they drive. Having a basic understanding of safety features will allow you to keep you and your passengers safe.
Crash prevention techniques: these are probably the most important things you’ll learn. Some simple techniques to keep in mind behind the wheel include:
- How to effectively scan your surroundings
- Knowing your vehicle’s stopping distance
- How to share the road
Traffic violations are an easily avoidable expense that will cost you up front. Over time, when your auto insurance premiums go up, it will cost you more over time. Be safe, drive defensively, and do what you can to avoid a traffic ticket.
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