Defensive driving course teaches important skills, but sometimes the most valuable lesson is learning to anticipate the specific, common mistakes other drivers make in your local area, like certain merges or intersections. What's a local driving habit you've learned to watch out for?
One local thing to watch out for is drivers rolling through stop signs at small intersections They glance and roll on before traffic is clear which creates unexpected gaps in cross traffic You need to anticipate and brake early
Left turning traffic at busy corridors sometimes ignores pedestrians waiting at crosswalks In those moments I boost following distance and prepare to stop even if the light is green
Be wary of the merging pattern on our freeway entrance ramps Some drivers compute the gap badly and cut in late If I see a car speeding up to slot into a tight space I slow earlier and let them in
Defensive driving course 2025 guide notes that local habits shape risk I watch the ramp ahead for late merges and keep a steady brake pressure so others can merge without a panic stop
Another common issue is drivers who drift into bike lanes or turn lanes without signaling I stay out of their blind spot and use extra mirror checks before pulling away