Save on Repairs: 10 Tips for Defensive Driving

When you drive a Land Rover SUV, it can feel like you own the road. You're positioned higher in the driver's seat than many other cars on the road, staring down at smaller vehicles and motorcycles you could easily crush without scratching paint job. This feeling can be a little misleading, and even dangerous, however. And it could easily lead to a car accident and the need to perform expensive repairs or purchase new Land Rover parts.

Maintaining a mindset that you need to protect yourself, your family, and other drivers on the road can help you avoid being involved in many accidents. The best way to put this mindset into action is with defensive driving.

Avoid Repairing Land Rover Parts: Defensive Driving Tips

• Don't Trust the Eyesight of Other Drivers- When you're in a large car like a Land Rover, you automatically assume everyone can see you coming. This isn't the case. Other drivers can become distracted, intoxicated, or be unable to see properly in bad weather. Always assume drivers won't react correctly to the manoeuvres you make on motorway. By making this assumption, you can plan defensive steps to take and avoid an accident.

• Turn Indicators may not Pass a Polygraph- To defend this tip, let me tell you a story many individuals have probably lived themselves. My grandfather used to surprise me with random road trips. Sometimes we'd go out for ice cream, other times we'd find a lake and fish for hours. There were plenty of times, however, when Grandpa would forget to turn up his hearing aid before we got on the motorway. This not only made conversation difficult, but it meant he was unable to hear the tick of the indicator when it remained on for miles after his last turn. This happens often on the road, and now that you're behind the steering wheel, you need to understand indicators don't always mean an individual is turning or changing lanes. Don't trust them; pulling out in front of these individuals or attempting to pass them can result in a visit to your local mechanic for repairs to car parts.

• Not Everyone is Courteous- In life, we tend to expect more from people than they are often willing to give. This is especially true on the road. Don't assume a driver is going to be courteous and let you overtake another car, change lanes, or even let you through a gap when the road becomes too narrow. Trust your own judgement and watch out.

• Do be Courteous- With that being said, you don't want to be seen as one of those types of drivers. Try to be as courteous as possible. If you're in the right lane, it should be because you're attempting to overtake another car or driving faster than the vehicles in the left lane. If a car is attempting to pull out of their driveway onto a busy roadway, stop and let them. Be polite and be nice. It'll come back to you.

• Don't Stop too Close- When a car in front of you stops at a traffic light or because of congestion in traffic, be careful of how close you stop behind them. Leave yourself some room to manoeuvre. This will not only help you get out from behind them if their engine decides to stall, but will give you the opportunity to quickly move out of the way if a driver behind you isn't paying attention and doesn't stop in time.

• Don't Attempt to Beat the Light- This is common sense, but in our fast-paced world, many forget that their schedule isn't as important as their life. When the light turns from green to amber, don't speed up and try to make it through the intersection. If you hit someone or someone hits you, you could have to face thousands of pounds in repair bills and have to replace numerous car parts. You may also cause injuries and face fines.

• Look up- While you may be concerned with what's happening right in front of you when you're driving, you should also consider what is ahead down the road. Look up every once in a while and evaluate the condition of traffic ahead of you. Are they slipping and sliding on ice? Is there an accident you should be aware of? Will you have to make a sudden stop? Knowing what is coming can help prevent an accident. If the car in front of you is larger than your Land Rover and you have trouble seeing over them, back off a little so you can look around them.

• Give Lorries a Break- Lorries are big. They are HEAVY. And they can't stop quickly- at all. If you cut one off or slam on your brakes with one behind you, you'll likely be buying a new car- not replacing car parts. Be courteous around these drivers and understand that they can't do the things you can do in your smaller vehicle.

• Limit Your Distractions- No, I'm not saying you should always leave the kids at home or that you should take that audio book back to the library immediately. But you should do everything you can to reduce the number of distractions you face in the car. Maybe this means asking your teenager to wait until you get home to tell you about their day or not answer the phone while you're driving. Any steps you can take are steps that may help prevent an accident.

• Your Rear-view Mirror Isn't a Crystal Ball- Every car has a blind spot or two, and when you're changing lanes, it's essential to check this area for other cars. Don't trust your rear-view mirror to do all the work, or even your side mirrors. These can't give you a clear view of the blind spot and may cause you to hit another driver. Turn your head and check before making any changes to lane you are in.

Want to save as much as possible on car repairs and replacement car parts? Avoid getting into a car accident by using these defensive driving tips.