What does defensive driving mean?

• A. Staying in your lane at all times
• B. Driving defensively means keeping you and other road users safe by expecting others' actions, hazards, and responding appropriately with safe habits
• C. Driving dangerously to surprise other drivers
• D. Always driving slower than the speed of traffic

Answer: (B)

Defensive driving is about preventing crashes by being proactive: you expect that other drivers, pedestrians, or hazards might appear unexpectedly and you respond with safe, careful habits. This means routinely scanning the road, maintaining a safe following distance, signaling intentions, and adjusting speed and position for conditions like weather, visibility, and road work. By recognizing potential problems early and giving yourself space to react, you reduce the chance of a collision and keep everyone safer.

Staying in your lane is part of safe driving, but defensive driving covers more—anticipating actions and hazards, not just staying put. Driving dangerously to surprise others and always driving slower than the flow of traffic aren’t reasonable or safe strategies; defensive driving aims for steady, prudent actions that protect you and others.