Which describes defensive driving?

• A. Proactive driving that anticipates hazards, maintains safe space, and travels at a prudent speed.
• B. Aggressive driving to reach destinations faster.
• C. Always yielding to pedestrians.
• D. Driving as close as possible to the vehicle in front.

Answer: (A)

Defensive driving means being proactive to avoid crashes by looking ahead, anticipating hazards, keeping a safe following distance, and using a speed appropriate to conditions. This mindset and these behaviors reduce the chance of surprises and give you time to react, which is why the description that matches this idea—proactive driving that anticipates hazards, maintains safe space, and travels at a prudent speed—is the best choice.

In everyday practice, that looks like scanning the road ahead for other vehicles, pedestrians, or changes in traffic, leaving enough space behind the car in front, and slowing down for curves, rain, or poor road surfaces. It’s about controlling risk rather than chasing speed or trying to outpace others.

Less appropriate descriptions would be rushing or pushy driving to reach a destination faster, which increases risk; always yielding to pedestrians without regard to the situation can create unsafe gaps or confusion; and driving as close as possible to the vehicle in front is tailgating, which is dangerous and not defensive.