What does the term ‘defensive driving’ mean?

Defensive driving refers to the practice of operating a vehicle in a manner that prioritizes safety by anticipating potential hazards and making proactive decisions to avoid accidents. This approach involves being aware of your surroundings, predicting the actions of other drivers, and taking necessary precautions, such as maintaining a safe following distance, obeying traffic signs, and adjusting speed according to road conditions.

In this context, it's understood that driving while listening to music may distract a driver from maintaining full attention on the road, which can lead to unanticipated issues. Driving aggressively to get ahead can increase the likelihood of collisions and is counterproductive to the principles of safety. Similarly, the idea of only following the rules when necessary contradicts the consistent application of safe driving practices that are foundational to defensive driving. Therefore, the core aspect of defensive driving is about being vigilant and proactive to ensure safety for oneself and others on the road.