What is the primary purpose of defensive driving?

• A. To reduce risk by recognizing hazards early, maintaining safe following distances, and anticipating other drivers' actions.
• B. To drive at the lowest possible speed to avoid accidents.
• C. To rely on other drivers to avoid hazards.
• D. To focus on your own vehicle and ignore others' actions.

Answer: (A)

Defensive driving is about reducing risk by recognizing hazards early, maintaining a safe following distance, and anticipating what other drivers will do. By scanning the road ahead, using mirrors, signaling in advance, and adjusting speed to match conditions, you create time and space to respond to unexpected moves—like a car braking suddenly, a pedestrian stepping into a crosswalk, or a lane change from another driver. The goal is to keep a cushion of safety so you aren’t pushed into a dangerous situation at the last moment. Driving at the lowest possible speed isn’t always safer and can disrupt traffic flow, while relying on others to avoid hazards ignores the reality that you share the road with many drivers and hazards can arise from their actions. Focusing on your own vehicle while neglecting others leaves you less prepared to react, making defensive driving the prudent approach.