Everyone likes to think they're a safe driver, but you might be surprised how quickly a lapse in judgement can cause a serious collision. There's no room for complacency here, driving needs your full concentration.
You need to be alert to what’s going on around you at all times – looking ahead at how the traffic is moving and being fully aware of what's going on behind you.
So, we've put together three basic tips that can improve your hazard perception while driving, helping you to anticipate potential dangers on the road and be a safer driver.
1. Are you driving too close?
You should always leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front, just in case it suddenly slows down or makes an emergency stop.
The safest rule is to never get closer than the overall stopping distance appropriate to your road conditions, so you have enough time to react to the situation. The Highway Code’s guide on typical stopping distances considers both thinking and braking distances.
In general, you should allow at least a two-second gap when driving on good road surfaces in decent weather. But you should double this (or more) in wet conditions, and be aware that stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer on icy roads.
2. Is it safe to overtake?
Before you consider overtaking another vehicle that isn’t stationary, you should consider whether it’s safe and legal to do so.
Don’t attempt overtaking if:
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There are double white lines in the middle of the road
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The car in front is approaching a pedestrian crossing
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You need to enter a bus lane during its hours of operation
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You can see a ‘no overtaking’ sign
You should also avoid overtaking anywhere you could come into conflict with other road users, especially on a corner, bend, hump bridge or the brow of a hill.
Even when you’re confident the road ahead is sufficiently clear, always check your mirrors to be sure no-one behind you is starting to overtake you. Use your indicators correctly to make your intentions clear, take extra care when overtaking large vehicles, and leave plenty of space when passing vulnerable road users such as cyclists.
3. How’s your speed?
Don’t fool yourself that speeding isn’t dangerous. Britain’s government statistics found that exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast for the road conditions contributed towards 29% of fatal road accidents in 2023 (11% and 18% respectively).
It goes to show that, even if you’re not exceeding the national limit, you should know whether you’re driving at a safe speed for the type of road you’re on and the conditions you're driving in. So, reduce your speed at night, in poor weather conditions, and when the road ahead presents hazards (such as bends).
Remember who you’re sharing the road with, too. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and even horse riders can appear unexpectedly around the next bend, so remain vigilant.
That said, driving too slowly or being hesitant can cause confusion for other road users and lead to a collision.
The best thing you can do is always set out with the conviction that you’ll drive safely and confidently, at the appropriate speed for the road and conditions, and with consideration for those around you. Leave plenty of time for your journey, too, so you're not tempted to drive faster than is sensible.
Oh, and never start a journey without having valid car insurance.
