Brit here, with many years driving experience in the UK and Australia, and multiple months driving in the USA and Israel. The depressing thing about "Defensive

Brit here, with many years driving experience in the UK and Australia, and multiple months driving in the USA and Israel. The depressing thing about "Defensive Driving" is that it is essentially good driving sense. Reading about defensive driving, it's clear to me that it is a concept that is expected to be taught in many countries driver education programs - and consequently tested for. And it's definitely missing from most USA state's driver education/testing regime. I've just got back from a week in the USA, and the constant accidents that cause huge traffic congestion is really not a surprise at all given how terrible the state of driving in the bay area is. Driving whilst assuming that other drivers on the road are not going to act consistently is good driving in normal traffic. Do I expect drivers to pull out in front of me, to stop suddenly, etc? Well, yes, if the drivers behaviour has suggested as much. Being observant and watching the behaviour of cars approaching from behind, or cars you are catching up to, gives you clues. More clues come from the conditions, time of day, car, etc.