As many new drivers will come to learn, there are a lot of idiots on the road. People drive carelessly, aggressively, emotionally, and are often distracted by phones, passengers, or just life in general. When it comes to avoiding these risky drivers, anticipation is key.

The first rule of anticipation? Give yourself plenty of time and space to watch, see and react. The farther your following distance, the bigger the picture. If you are tailgating the vehicle in front of you, all you can see is their bumper. However, if you hang back a few more car lengths you will be able to see the road ahead and the traffic ahead. You will be able to estimate the speed of traffic overall, as well as be able to spot any drivers traveling drastically slow or dangerously fast and manoeuvre around them. Plus, the bigger the cushion the more time you have to react to quick stops and emergency situations.

The second rule of anticipation: see everything. Don’t just focus on the car in front of you. Know what is going on a mile down the road, check your mirrors and blind spots, and keep a visual of the traffic all around you. Take note of any risky drivers, like maybe a car coming up from behind that is weaving in and out of traffic or a large truck riding your bumper. Besides weavers and tailgaters, also keep an eye out for drivers who are swerving (either due to distraction, fatigue or intoxication). These are all vehicles you will want to avoid and/or pass with extreme caution.

Finally, know that most drivers don’t follow the law all the time. They will turn without warning, change lanes without blinkers, cut people off in traffic, ignore yield signs, forget right-of-way rules, and sometimes even run right through stop signs and red lights. To anticipate this behavior it is important to follow the first two rules mentioned here, and then make judgments based on the other driver’s actions, speed and behavior.

Anticipation is an art. Mastering it will allow you to navigate the nation’s roads without incident and live a nice, safe life as a responsible driver.