What are the three components of defensive driving?

• A. Awareness, Space management, Collision avoidance
• B. Awareness, Hazard recognition, Route planning
• C. Patience, Courtesy, Focus
• D. Visual scanning, Reaction time, Advisory braking

Answer: (A)

In defensive driving, you continuously manage risk by seeing what’s around you, keeping space to react, and taking action to prevent crashes. Awareness means actively scanning the road for potential hazards—vehicles merging, pedestrians, changing weather, blind spots—so you’re not surprised by what happens next. Space management is about preserving a safety cushion: following at a safe distance, staying in a lane position that allows you to react, and adjusting speed to maintain that room. Collision avoidance is the proactive work of reducing risk once a hazard is spotted—slowing or stopping in time, steering to avoid an impact, signaling your intentions clearly, and using the vehicle’s controls to prevent a crash.

The other options miss one of these essential elements or treat a skill as a component. Hazard recognition is part of awareness but doesn’t alone cover the full concept; route planning focuses more on trip logistics than immediate driving risk; and terms like visual scanning, reaction time, and advisory braking describe techniques or responses rather than the three overarching components. So the best answer reflects the three foundational areas that guide safe driving decisions.