Defensive Driving: Tips to Stay Safe on Minnesota Roads

Key Takeaways

• Defensive driving means staying alert, anticipating potential hazards and proactively responding to other drivers' behavior.
• Building these habits can drastically reduce the chances of an accident.
• The more drivers practice defensive driving, the safer our roads will be.

What Is Defensive Driving?

Every time you get behind the wheel, you’re taking safety – and the safety of others – into your own hands. But what happens when an unforeseen hazard pops up? That’s where defensive driving comes in.

Defensive driving means adopting safe habits to protect yourself on the road. It’s all about driving proactively rather than reactively. It goes beyond simply following traffic laws, too. (Though that is an essential aspect of defensive driving.) Key elements of defensive driving include:

• Staying alert: Defensive drivers constantly scan the road ahead and around their vehicle to identify potential risks, such as distracted drivers, road obstacles, or sudden stops​.
• Anticipating other drivers’ mistakes: Rather than assuming other drivers will always follow the rules, defensive drivers expect and prepare for others to make errors, such as failing to yield or running a red light.
• Adapting to changes: When sharing the road with reckless drivers or other hazards, a defensive driver will be prepared to react quickly and appropriately.

Defensive drivers can significantly reduce the chances of being involved in an accident by focusing on these principles. Let’s take a closer look at the top tips for defensive driving.

5 Tips to Become a Defensive Driver

1. Follow the Rules of the Road

Obeying the rules of the road is key to defensive driving. Speed limits, stop signs, and traffic lights are all there to keep you safe. Ignoring these rules can easily lead to an accident – not to mention costly fines.

Stay up to date on Minnesota’s traffic laws, including common concerns like:

• Right-of-way laws
• Impaired driving laws
• Rules for pedestrians and cyclists

That way, you can ensure you’re doing your part to keep Minnesota’s roads safe for everyone.

2. Stay Focused

The dangers of distracted driving are real. In Minnesota, one out of every nine car accidents involves a distracted driver. Distractions can come from various sources, such as:

• Using a smartphone
• Talking to passengers
• Eating
• Adjusting the radio
• Daydreaming

Regardless, you are putting yourself and others in danger any time you take your attention off the road. Always keep your mind on the task at hand.

3. Maintain a Safe Following Distance

Keeping a safe gap between your car and the vehicle ahead is crucial to avoid rear-end collisions. The three-second rule is a valuable guideline for avoiding this:

1. Pick a fixed point on the road.
2. As soon the car in front of you passes it, start counting.
3. You're too close if you pass the same point within three seconds of the vehicle in front.

In poor weather or heavy traffic (or at higher speeds), you’ll want to increase this distance to ensure you always have room to stop if necessary.

4. Watch for Dangerous Drivers

Just because you follow the rules of the road doesn’t mean everyone else will. Staying vigilant for signs of negligent or aggressive drivers can help prevent a disaster. Common warning signs include:

• Speeding
• Erratic driving
• Weaving through traffic
• Drifting between lanes
• Sudden braking

These could be signs that a driver may be distracted, under the influence, or aggressive.

5. Respond Appropriately

When you do see signs of a dangerous driver, be ready to respond accordingly. You can’t control anyone else’s actions, but you can minimize the danger. If you see another driver behaving recklessly, maintain a safe distance and be prepared to slow down or take evasive action. If a driver’s actions seem particularly dangerous, pull over and report them to the authorities​.

Remember: Reacting in anger only increases the likelihood of accidents. Do your best to remain calm and avoid road rage. If someone cuts you off or drives recklessly, let it go and focus on driving safely​. Protecting yourself is always more important than getting back at reckless or inconsiderate drivers.

Reacting to Dangerous Drivers: What Should You Do?

Now that we’ve looked at the broad tips for road safety let’s look at what to do if you encounter certain types of dangerous drivers.

Distracted Drivers

These days, the roads are full of drivers who are more focused on their phone, GPS, or entertainment center than what’s outside of their vehicle – like you, for example. Keep an eye open for drivers who are:

• Going much faster or slower than the flow of traffic 
• Needlessly or erratically changing speeds
• Stopping longer than needed at a traffic light or stop sign
• Drifting
• Moving unpredictably

They could be fatigued or drunk but are more likely preoccupied with their tech or other distractions. If you notice the telltale symptoms of a distracted driver, you should:

• Assume that they're entirely unaware of what’s going on around them
• Give them a wide berth
• Get away from them if possible

Your goal here is to minimize the risk their obliviousness poses to you. If right-of-way is an issue, yield to them. There is a better time to make a point. Instead, it’s time to play it safe.

Impaired Drivers

Law enforcement has taken bold measures to try to cut down on drunk driving, but it remains a common threat. Tragically, approximately 20% of Minnesota’s traffic fatalities in 2020 were linked to impaired drivers​.

The signs of a drunk driver are much the same as a distracted driver: erratic driving, random changes in speeds, and disregard for the rules of the road. Here’s how you should respond:

• Create distance between yourself and the impaired driver.
• Do not attempt to stop the vehicle or intervene in any way. The police, EMTs, or other emergency services will be better trained and equipped to handle the situation.
• If possible, take note of the car’s make, model, color, and license plate. Doing this will allow you to report them accurately to law enforcement.

Pull over somewhere safe, call 911, and report the incident as soon as you're out of immediate danger. You’ve done your part. The proper authorities will take it from there.

Tailgaters

Tailgating is more than just annoying – it’s dangerous. If you have to brake with a tailgater close behind you, they may not have time to react safely. You could have an accident on your hands. So what should you do?

• First, don’t slam on your brakes. While brake checking can be tempting, it’s also very dangerous for everyone involved—including you.
• Take a breath and remain calm.
• Stay focused, keep your hands on the wheel, and pay as much attention to the road ahead as to the danger behind you.

Unfortunately, tailgaters don’t usually give up on their own. Time for one of the harder rules in many road safety situations: put your ego aside and let them “win.” If necessary (and possible), make room for the tailgater to pass you. Once given an opportunity, they may leave you alone.

If that isn’t an option, you might need to slow down. Make sure you do this slowly enough that the tailgater has time to react without causing a crash. Use your brakes, too. The tailgater is probably watching for your brake lights, and if they don’t see them, they may not realize you’re slowing down until it's too late.

Hopefully, once you’ve created a way for them to pass safely or have slowed down sufficiently, they’ll pass by.

Help Keep Minnesota’s Roads Safe

Following these defensive driving tips can protect yourself and others on the road. However, no matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen.

If you or someone you know is injured in a car accident, you may have a right to compensation – and we can help you get it. At SiebenCarey, our team has managed thousands of car accident claims. We are the only law firm in Minnesota with a 70-year history of guarding the rights of injury victims.

When you partner with SiebenCarey, you’ll get the full benefit of:

• Decades of professional experience in Minnesota personal injury law
• A proven record of successful claims, adding up to many millions of dollars in compensation won through settlements and verdicts
• Award-winning attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and more
• Comprehensive legal resources, including on-staff paralegals and investigators
• The “Know Your Rights” guarantee of personal help and clear communication
  

Schedule your free consultation today, and we’ll be happy to help you in any way we can.