A defensive driver must always anticipate what another driver could do to cause an accident and then plan an escape route.  In other words a defensive driver must protect those people that refuse to protect themselves.   You see them every day, speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, etc.   It takes a tremendous amount of patience to remember your oath to be a professional and protect these people.   A defensive driver must also protect those people that cannot protect themselves.  This is the passengers in the other vehicle, often this will include children.  When mommy or daddy are not paying attention or simply do not know the hazards of sharing the road with a large CMV, these children are depending on the professional driver to protect them. 

Defensive driving should begin before you start your vehicle.  Reduce your risks, plan ahead.  If possible, plan your trip to avoid rush hour traffic and construction zones.   Adjust your driving to weather, road and traffic conditions.  Your sense of sight is extremely important. Clean your mirrors, windows and windshield during pre-trip inspection and en-route as necessary.   Remove any decals or stickers than may block your view and create a blind spot.  Look ahead at least 8-12 seconds on the open highway and one block in city traffic.  Check your mirrors frequently to see if you are being passed by another vehicle. 

Maintaining a safe following distance not only increases your reaction time, but improves your line of sight.   By observing your surroundings, you can recognize potential hazards.  Leave yourself an escape route in case a problem arises.   Make your presence known to other drivers by using your turn signals, lights or horn.  If they do not look toward you or continue on a collision course, you need to yield or take other steps to avoid them. 

It may appear that defensive driving could be fatiguing since you are constantly looking and planning what action to take.  However, defensive driving actually reduces fatigue since it prevents blank stares or “highway hypnosis” by requiring you to change your field of vision constantly.