What is the best strategy to avoid a collision on the road?

Keeping a safe following distance and being aware of your surroundings is essential for avoiding collisions on the road. A safe following distance provides you with ample time to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions, such as the vehicle in front of you braking unexpectedly. This practice gives you a buffer to stop safely without risking a rear-end collision.

Moreover, staying aware of your surroundings—including monitoring lane changes, signaling vehicles, pedestrian movements, and road conditions—enables you to make informed decisions. By consistently scanning the environment, you can anticipate potential hazards and respond appropriately, which significantly increases your chances of avoiding accidents.

While maintaining a constant speed is important for stability, it does not account for the dynamic nature of traffic where speed adjustments are often required. Using your phone to navigate can distract from driving tasks, which increases the risk of an accident. Driving only in familiar areas might give a false sense of security, as new situations can arise even in known locations. Thus, the combination of a safe following distance and heightened situational awareness is the most effective strategy for collision avoidance.