Defensive Driving Tips for New Drivers: Think Ahead

What defensive driving means

These defensive driving tips for new drivers rest on one idea. Expect other road users to make mistakes, and give yourself time to deal with them. Alberta's Driver's Guide calls this proactive driving. It means spotting hazards early and acting before they turn into danger.

You cannot control what other drivers do. You can control where you look, how fast you go and how much space you keep. Those three choices shape most of what happens around your car.

These defensive driving tips are general safety advice, not a course. Each tip is something you can practise on your next drive, whether you hold a learner's licence or just passed your road test.

Look further ahead than feels normal

New drivers often look just past the hood. That leaves very little time to react. The Driver's Guide suggests looking at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead in the city, about one to one and a half blocks. On rural roads, look 20 to 25 seconds ahead.

Keep your eyes moving

• Scan ahead, then left and right at every intersection.
• Glance at your mirrors every 8 to 12 seconds, about once a block in the city.
• Check your mirrors whenever you plan to slow down or stop.
• Look at your speedometer now and then, so your speed does not creep up.

Know the two kinds of hazards

Some hazards stay in one place: curves, hills, hidden driveways, intersections and merging roads. Others change through the day: children walking to school, cars waiting to turn left, icy patches and emergency vehicles. Learn where the fixed ones are on routes you drive often, and stay ready for the ones that move.

A light that has been green for a while is a "stale" green. Expect it to turn yellow as you arrive, and be ready to stop.

Keep a space cushion around your car

Space gives you time, and time lets you fix a problem. Leave room ahead, behind and on both sides, so you can stop or steer around trouble.

Use the two-second rule

Under normal conditions, stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Pick a fixed point, like a road marking or a shadow. Start counting when the car ahead passes it: "one thousand and one, one thousand and two." If your front bumper reaches the point before you finish, drop back. The rule works at any speed, and bad weather calls for more time.

Stop with room to spare

When you stop behind another car, leave enough space to pull around it without reversing. If someone hits you from behind, you are less likely to be pushed into the car ahead. The extra room also lets you move away from a car sliding on ice behind you.

Let tailgaters pass

If someone follows too closely, ease off a little so they can pass. If they stay behind you, open up more space in front. That gives you both more room to stop.

Never assume what others will do

A turn signal shows a plan, not a promise. A driver may signal and never turn, or turn with no signal at all. Wait until a car actually starts its turn before you pull out in front of it.

• At intersections, try to make eye contact with drivers and people walking.
• Near parked cars, watch for opening doors and children stepping out.
• Behind large vehicles, stay back. If you cannot see both of a truck's side mirrors, you are too close.
• Near cyclists, leave extra room, and do a shoulder check before you turn right.

Always keep an escape route in mind. Ask yourself where you would go if the car ahead stopped suddenly. On a multi-lane road, that might be the lane beside you, so know whether it is clear. If you must swerve, stay on your side of the yellow line if you can.

Remove your own distractions

Defensive driving starts with the person behind the wheel. A calm, focused driver reacts faster.

• Put the phone away. Alberta's distracted driving law bans hand-held phones, texting and entering information into a GPS while driving. The Driver's Guide also advises against calls in hands-free mode.
• Set up before you move. Adjust your seat and mirrors while you are parked.
• Plan your route. Being in the right lane early prevents last-second lane changes.
• Let a missed turn go. Carry on to the next one, and never reverse on a road to get back.
• Rest first. Fatigue slows your reactions and weakens your judgement.

Practise with feedback

Reading defensive driving tips for new drivers is a start, but habits form on the road. A certified instructor can see where your eyes go, how close you follow and when you react late.

At Omni, lessons are one-on-one in our car, with feedback during each lesson. New Class 7 drivers can start with the Full Course. If you already drive and want to sharpen these habits, a brush-up gives you time with an instructor, and our Defensive Driving Course covers them in depth.

For the everyday basics, read our safe driving tips. To master the look over your shoulder before a lane change, see our shoulder check guide.