When it comes to being on the road, you know that you’re a good driver but sometimes the other people on the road are distracted and aren’t paying attention to the road so they might cause accidents. While you can’t control what other drivers do, you can control how you react to them on the road. The best way to prepare yourself for what might happen on the road is to adapt some defensive driving techniques, and potentially anticipate what other drivers might do. Here’s how to become a defensive driver.

Control Speed

As you’re driving along, you might see situations where you think it’s obvious how another driver should react but that doesn’t mean they will react that way. You should never assume anything with how another driver will react or drive, so be prepared to other drivers to do almost anything. Don’t expect drivers to have the same thought process as you, or leave the same safe distance you do.

Be Aware

Every so often as you’re driving around you should just check your mirrors to see how many cars are around you. Are there any cars in your blind spot? Is there another vehicle following too close? Making sure you know where other vehicles are relative to you will help if you should need to make a lane change suddenly. Know what’s around you.

Be Prepared

While we never want to think that we could be stranded on the side of the road with a broken down vehicle, it can happen. By keeping extra blankets, some bottled water and maybe some non-perishable snacks in the trunk of your car you are prepared for anything that might come your way. You should also perform regular maintenance on your vehicle so that it’s in top shape for road trips or even just daily driving. Making sure you know your vehicle has been well maintained and checked over by a mechanic you trust will give you the trust you need to be driving on the road.

Avoid Distractions

As a defensive driver, you should make sure you put away all cell phones and other media devices. Many accidents have occurred because drivers are trying to text or get directions to their destination. To make sure you aren’t one of those drivers, you need to pay attention to the road. Hands free devices that are voice activated may be helpful if you need to call someone, but any distractions you can eliminate while driving will make sure you’re paying attention and are aware of what’s going on around you.