Depending on where you live in Ontario, you likely need to drive every day. But driving can be a dangerous activity, and all it can take is a second of taking your eyes off the road or one bad decision to cause an accident. But by practicing different defensive driving tips and techniques, you can help keep Ontario’s streets and highways safer.
As your trusted car insurance brokers, the team at Morison Insurance wants you to be safe when driving. That’s why we’re sharing our top defensive driving techniques and tips that any Ontario driver can practice.
When people think of defence, they tend to conjure images like a sports team working to prevent the opposing team from scoring. Obviously, when driving, you want to avoid making contact with another person or vehicle, so that definition doesn’t really apply to safe driving practices. Instead, when we refer to the defensive driving meaning, we’re referring to the protective decision-making and awareness to enhance road safety.
The defensive driving meaning can refer to a wide range of activities and decisions you undertake, from giving yourself extra time and driving slower when road conditions are less than ideal, to taking a defensive driving course, to signalling when you are changing lanes. A lot of these safe driving tips may seem like common sense to most Ontario drivers, but when you are running late or stuck in some terrible traffic, it’s easy to forget the importance of staying safe when driving. One mistake when operating a motor vehicle can easily lead to immense property damage and bodily injury, so it’s important always to stay alert and follow driver safety and defensive driving tips.
There are many different defensive driving tips to follow, but we’ve outlined some of the most important safe driving tips below. If you have many questions about the defensive driving meaning and ways you can stay safer on the road, talk to your trusted Morison Insurance broker.
Our first defensive driving tip takes place before you even get into the vehicle, and that’s to be prepared. Even if it’s just a trip to the local grocery store, being prepared can help prevent accidents.
For instance, check for bad weather conditions. If snow is forecasted, be sure to allow extra time for driving to your destination, as snowfall can create visibility issues and slippery surfaces. If a lot of snow is forecasted, avoid driving during those times whenever possible. Even if it's warm and sunny outside, bringing sunglasses with you can help prevent sun glare from blinding you at the wrong time. Night driving can also pose challenges due to reduced visibility, so make sure to maintain a greater distance between you and other vehicles.
Another part of this safe driving tip is to know where you are going. Sure, we may know the routes to frequent locations, but for lesser-known places, it’s a good idea to consult a map before starting the car, especially if you need to consider alternative routes due to road construction. Although many modern vehicles come equipped with map apps to help guide you to destinations, they are not 100% infallible. Knowing where you are going can give you the confidence needed to be a safer driver and avoid last-minute lane changes or turns.
Investing in regular vehicle maintenance is another important defensive driving tip, as a poorly maintained vehicle may have issues on the road and not respond the way you need it to.
Windshield wipers are a good example of this defensive driving tip. Broken and old wipers may not sit properly on your car’s windshield, resulting in streaks or spreading the substance across it, which further hampers your field of vision and causes issues when driving. And if there is not enough wiper fluid, you may not have the tools needed to clean off any mud or grime that gets tossed up onto it.
Brake pads are another important part of this defensive driving tip. As time passes, they become worn down due to friction with the brake rotors, and if the pads become too thin, they prevent you from stopping quickly. Depending on your vehicle usage, you may need to have them replaced between 40,000 and 100,000 kilometres, although heavier-use vehicles often need to get them replaced more frequently.
Essentially, by ensuring your vehicle is properly maintained, you can prevent accidents, making it a crucial defensive driving tip for any driver to follow.
Once in the vehicle and driving, an important defensive driving technique to employ is to always scan ahead. This is because, no matter the type of car you drive, the human brain can take 1.5 seconds to react to upcoming hazards. A classic example of this is a pedestrian crossing a road. If you don’t scan ahead, you may not see them in time to stop.
While it is also very important to be aware of your immediate surroundings, scanning ahead can help you drive more safely. Just remember that when employing this safe driving tip, the distance you need to scan ahead for will increase with your speed, as the faster you go, the more stopping and reaction time is required.
Piggybacking on the previous defensive driving technique is to maintain plenty of space around fellow drivers. The same principle for this defensive driving tip applies here: you need time to stop and react to what the drivers around you are doing and traffic patterns, otherwise you may end up in a collision.
While it can be hard to maintain a safe distance in heavy traffic, the second part of this safe driving tip is to watch for other drivers. It’s crucial to pay attention to the drivers surrounding you on all sides. The driver in front of you may stop suddenly, and if you are tailgating, you may not be able to react and come to a stop in time, resulting in a rear-end collision. The erratic driver in the left lane might make a last-minute lane change or swerve into your lane, causing you to have to brake to avoid them. There may be a careless driver behind you who fails to stop, and you need an escape route. Or, there may be a car in your blind spot, and if you change lanes without checking, you could hit it. By employing these defensive driving techniques, you can reduce your risk of a motor vehicle accident.
Properly managing your speed applies whether you are driving through town or down a busy highway. Speed signs are not just suggestions; they're a basic traffic law that represents a safe speed at which you can reasonably respond to obstacles in an area. It’s why heavily populated areas, such as residential neighbourhoods, have lower legal speed limits than long stretches of highways where there’s nothing around for miles.
In 2023, a total of 131 fatalities were associated with speed-related traffic accidents on Ontario roads, and speed was a factor in 21.3% of fatal crashes. By speeding, you not only greatly increase your risk of collisions, but also the risk of having a deadly collision.
In 2025, the Ontario Provincial Police reported 82 highway deaths due to distracted drivers. Staying alert and focused on the task at hand, therefore, is a must-have on any defensive driving tip list.
Not driving distracted includes:
By avoiding these and other activities that result in distracted driving, you can limit distractions and do your part in preventing the risk of accidents and other dangerous situations.
By being alert, proactive, aware of your surroundings, and by practicing these defensive driving tips, you will make the roads safer for everyone involved. Plus, by being a safer driver, your Morison Insurance brokers can find you some safe driving insurance discounts to help you save on your auto insurance premiums.
If you have any questions about what defensive driving is or what driving habits you should get into, contact Morison Insurance. Just give us a call at 1-800-463-8074, or reach out for a free quote online.
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. All
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not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act
upon any information in this article, you do so at your own risk. While the
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