Driving defensively: Enthusiasts share their single most important rule

For me, it's driving off very slowly from a stop, be it at a traffic signal or from the side of a road.

BHPian electric_eel recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am a big fan of defensive driving, I find it the most pleasurable way to drive particularly when the roads are interesting (high range; winding roads). But if I were to pick and highlight a particular precaution that I think has saved me (and other users) a lot of grief it would be this: whenever I start off, whether it is from a traffic stop or the side of a road, I do it as slowly as possible. Granted, this leads to a lot of honking from impatient fools particularly at signals but to hell with them; I don't care nothing about nobody.

Do you have such a favourite rule/precaution for defensive driving? Please let me know.

Here's what BHPian kosjam had to say on the matter:

The cardinal rule I follow is (apologies in advance for the politically incorrect words)

Everybody on the road driving is a FOOL and only my safe driving will lead to a safe accident-free drive.

Obviously, everybody isn't a maniac on the road, but this helps in ensuring I do not leave any chance for a mistake to cause an accident, however minor.

Here's what BHPian Samba had to say on the matter:

When you are starting from a standstill, you need to check the ORVM/IRVM, & when there are no vehicles behind you only then should you start. In case there are vehicles, you need to start fast by not blocking the traffic behind you.

Starting very slowly when the signal turns green by slowing down the whole traffic behind you, how does it make you safe?

What am I missing here?

For defensive driving, for me, there is no single favourite rule. The right rule needs to be applied in the right place.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

No 1 Rule: Slow down sum it up.

This doesn’t mean I drive slowly - in fact, I am reasonably fast and often a bit faster than the mean traffic speed. But in general, I apply defensive driving techniques to slow down in varying situations where many may continue driving at the edge.

It’s applied based on other defensive driving principles. Anticipate, expect the unexpected, etc etc but in each of these cases - [b]slow down[b]. There are many different scenarios when I might apply this. Some examples that come to mind off the top of my head.

• When I’m passing a bigger vehicle, I slow down in case someone runs across me. This especially applies to buses that pull over and park at bus stops.
• On B highways, I will always cut speed when I think there is a cut in the highway or a lane on the left from where people could come.
• Not darting off when the light turns green (I know it’s not “slowing down” but sort of the opposite - don’t start fast)
• Braking well in advance and gradually when coming to a halt so people can catch my brake lights turn on early enough.

Here's what BHPian SS-Traveller had to say on the matter:

This is no defensive driving at all. If anything, this is obstructive and DANGEROUS driving. Let me explain:

Defensive driving is a holistic method to keep both yourself and other road users safe from crashes while keeping the traffic flowing. Yet, here you are, obstructing other (admittedly impatient, and perhaps foolish) drivers from proceeding to their destinations by moving as slowly as possible. Someone can bump into you from behind or from the side, you can initiate road rage, and slow down traffic movement in a chain reaction.

Practise (on an empty road) moving off from a standstill within 3 seconds (this will be from the moment the traffic light turns green), and reaching city cruising speed (say, 40 km/h) within another 5 seconds. Continue to maintain 40 km/h, and not speed up further. Use a stopwatch and a friend beside you to test yourself.

There is no single most important rule of defensive driving. All rules and techniques are equally important!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.