Many adolescents and pre-teens cannot wait for the day when they are able to drive a car. Like a rite of passage, many teenagers are certain to get their learner's permit, go through driver's education and take the driver's test. Having said that, the education doesn't stop once they get their license as there is more to learn as soon as they drive on the street. Regardless of how good people get at driving, there's a couple of things that a driver has little command over. A very important factor is the amount of control do you have over whether something breaks in your car. Another aspect you have no command is definitely the other drivers around you.

That's why the best thing to do when you first learn to drive is going to be defensive. You'll want to develop a special skill that can protect people in your car and assist you to anticipate moves by other drivers. It is probably in your best interest to attend a class for defensive driving than learning it on your own. Handling or protecting against car mishaps are some of the things that you will be taught in this type of class. If you are driving defensively, you practice defensive actions to keep from having an accident. To be sure your passengers are safe, you should be fully aware of the conditions on the road and the drivers around you.

To be a competent defensive driver, you should do a number of things, starting with being aware of any possible end result. Anticipation is extremely important to learning to be a great defensive driver. You'll almost have a sixth sense if you pay close attention to what is going on around you, like sensing that someone is going to pull in front of you. Always carry out groundwork in checking out the oil, water, tire pressure, gas and set your mirrors and lights properly. Make sure to see that you have your essential documents in your car and that they are current plus be sure to always have your driver's license.

When you drive defensively, you will need to stay relaxed and recognize that people will make errors in judgement and so will you. It's very important that you don't get caught in road rage when things around you start to get hairy and do your best to stay away from those who seem to have road rage. When you are making the choice to be a defensive driver, it is a shrewd decision to drive a brightly colored car. Shades that give you a significantly better chance of staying far removed from an accident are red, orange, yellow, and others just as bright.

A good tip to remember, and of course obvious, is always to drive with your lights on at night. A good rule of thumb is to remain no less than three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you, unless the conditions are bad, then stay five seconds behind. {These are definitely some of the best defensive driving tips, but there are many more.