The practice of watching for hazards and preparing for them is called what?

• A. Defensive driving
• B. Aggressive driving
• C. Reactive driving
• D. Distracted driving

Answer: (A)

Defensive driving is the practice of watching for hazards and preparing for them. For CDL drivers, this means scanning the road ahead, checking mirrors, and maintaining a safe following distance so you can slow down or change lanes smoothly if conditions change. It’s about anticipating other vehicles’ actions, pedestrians, weather, or road hazards, and adjusting speed, position, and space to prevent crashes before they occur. This proactive mindset lowers risk in all driving environments, from city streets to interstates and work zones. Other approaches involve taking more risks (aggressive driving), waiting to react only after a hazard appears (reactive driving), or not paying attention at all (distracted driving), none of which prevent problems the way proactive defensive driving does.