6 Defensive Driving Tips to Remember on New Jersey Highways

Knowing how to protect yourself on the road could prevent you from suffering devastating injuries in a vehicle accident.

While experience and proper focus can ensure that you share the road well with other drivers and pedestrians, you cannot always account for another person’s behavior. Defensive driving helps you adapt quickly to minimize your chances of an accident.

Our car accident attorneys in New Jersey have provided several defensive driving tips that could save your life and make the roads a safer place for everyone.

1. Observe Others

Monitoring other drivers and watching for any abnormal behavior like lane weaving, turns without signaling, and drifting can clue you in to a driver affected by distraction, drowsiness, drugs, or alcohol.

Keeping an eye out can give you the opportunity to provide some extra space or pull over if you notice dangerous behavior.

2. Decrease Distractions

You face a much higher risk for an accident when you are not paying attention because you cannot control the car as easily and will have less reaction time if another driver suddenly swerves.

Because of this, it is illegal to talk or text on a cellphone in New Jersey.

However, it is important to remember that distraction goes far beyond your phone – talking to other passengers, grooming, changing the radio station or updating your GPS destination are all forms of distraction.

3. Always Use Signals

Using signals any time you are planning to turn or change lanes gives other drivers plenty of notice about your intentions.

Lack of signaling causes many more accidents than it should, so make sure you always give other drivers a heads up.

4. Avoid Road Rage

It is tempting to get frustrated when another driver cuts you off or changes lanes without notice, but it is not worth the heightened risk of an accident, assault or injury.

Remain calm and pull over or take the opportunity for a rest stop to stretch your legs if you notice that you are being tailgated or pursued by an aggressive driver.

The same holds true for any reckless driver. If you notice that someone else is indicating lack of attention, let them pass ahead of you.

5. Avoid Blind Spots

Blind spots can be deadly, especially if you are following a semi-truck where it is harder for the driver to spot you.

Make sure that you leave plenty of space in front of and beside you when passing another driver, as this is a common situation that can lead to an accident.

Likewise, when you are getting ready to change lanes or merge, double-check your own blind spots to make sure you did not miss a car.

6. Leave Space

Far too many rear-end accidents happen because improper space was left between two vehicles. Maintaining a safe following distance at all times is one of the best things you can do for defensive driving purposes.

You should maintain a safe traveling distance of two to three seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you so that you have time to react to sudden turns or brake lights.

You can determine your following distance by identifying a fixed object on the side of the road and beginning to count once the back bumper of the vehicle in front of you crosses that mark. If you counted to two or three before your front bumper reached the same mark, you have a safe following distance.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Today

Even when you drive defensively, you cannot always count on others to do the same. No victim should have to pay the price in an accident, which is why you may need to speak with experienced car accident lawyers immediately if you have been hurt.

If you or someone you know has sustained critical injuries caused by another person’s negligence, you need to contact a New Jersey personal injury lawyer from our law firm today.

We provide a free consultation and do not require any payment unless we recover a verdict or settlement on your behalf.

Call (800) 518-0508 and learn more about the options that may be available to you.