Welcome to the home site of the easiest Defensive Driving formula to learn, remember, and use. Is it the best? We think so, but you will be the final judge. That's why we have a money back guarantee. Our promise to you, your cash back if our program doesn't live up to your expectations! Here are the 3 steps of the triangle. Apply them in all traffic situations at speeds up to 50* miles per hour:
STEP 1. Scan Three Vehicles Ahead.
Most drivers just watch the vehicle in front of them most of the time. Some look two cars ahead whenever that's possible based on the size of the vehicle they are following. All drivers however, should search ahead a minimum of three vehicles regardless of whether or not they can "find" the third one. This is the secret, you train yourself to look where the third vehicle ahead would most likely be, no matter what obstacles are in your path.
STEP 2. Stay a Minimum of Three Seconds Back of the Vehicle You Are Following.
Fact: It can take up to three seconds to stop safely at speeds up to 50 MPH. Nevertheless, most drivers stay one-second or less behind the vehicle they are following. A minimum three-second cushion would greatly reduce their chances of an accident, plus minimize the damage and injuries when an accident is unavoidable. Here is how to count seconds, which is more accurate than estimating car lengths: First, practice counting (when you're NOT driving) while checking a watch; One-thousand and one, one-thousand and two, one-thousand and three. Do this maybe fifty times to become proficient.
Secondly, and while driving, start to count to three when the back of the vehicle in front of you passes a stationary object such as a road-sign. The front of your vehicle shouldn't reach that road-sign until you have finished the count.
STEP 3. You Have Three Mirrors, Check Each of Them @ a Three Second Interval.
Most drivers check the rear and side areas every eight to twenty seconds. Then, and when they do look, they usually "stare" or look too long into the mirrors; to the possible detriment of their awareness of sudden occurrences in front of them. Therefore a driver should use quick glances every three seconds, into one mirror after the other.
Start with the inside mirror, snap a mental picture similar to clicking a camera's shutter. Then look through the windshield again for a second or two. Meanwhile, your brain will "develop" the view from the mirror, usually in a mini-second, and alert you if there was anything happening that you need to check again. If not, and if everything is OK in front, then glance at the left outside mirror in similar fashion. Check your speedometer on the way to viewing the right outside mirror because you should be glancing at the speedometer after every mirror check.
The pattern should be: mirror - front- speedometer - front - mirror - front - speedometer, etc. In this way you form a triangle movement from the inside mirror to outside left, then the right mirror; and you check your speed three times per cycle, all occurring within 9 to 10 seconds.
* Over 50 MPH: Replace all 3's with 4's; i.e., search a minimum of 4 vehicles ahead, have 4 seconds of following distance, and check a mirror on the average of every 4 seconds.
Weather and/or Vision Problems: Add "one" (1) to the previous numbers, that is; 3's become 4's, and 4's become 5's. Therefore, everything is based on a formula consisting of 3 to 5 vehicles ahead, 3 to 5 seconds behind, and to check each of the three mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds depending on speed and conditions.
