Following distance
The three-second rule is the foundation. Pick a fixed object the car ahead just passed, count one-thousand-one through one-thousand-three, and if you reach the object before three you are too close. In rain, double it to four. In snow or ice, multiply by four to six.
What to do in a skid
When the car begins to skid, take your foot off the gas, do not stomp the brake, and steer gently in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Once traction returns, ease back into normal driving. Hard braking and overcorrection are the two mistakes that turn a recoverable skid into a crash.
Drowsy and impaired driving
Drowsy driving impairs judgment and reaction time as much as alcohol. Cool air, loud music, and coffee delay sleep but do not prevent it. The only fix is to pull over to a safe place, take a 20-minute nap, or change drivers. For alcohol, the under-21 zero-tolerance rule means any measurable amount can suspend your license. Plan a ride home in advance.
Sharing the road
Motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are smaller and harder to see than cars. Increase following distance for motorcycles to four seconds. Check blind spots before every turn or lane change. At intersections, pause and look twice — once for cars, once for everything smaller.