Final answer:
Defensive driving involves being alert to driving conditions and preparing for potential hazards to maintain safety on the road. It incorporates elements of physics relating to motion and safety features as well as the ability to read the landscape for potential dangers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Being constantly aware of driving conditions, planning ahead, anticipating dangers, and taking the right action to avoid obstacles or other vehicles is known as defensive driving. Defensive driving is critical for ensuring safety on the road by reacting quickly to potential hazards, like a skateboarder appearing suddenly or driving behavior changing when a police car is nearby. Knowledge of physics can be applied to driving scenarios, such as understanding impulse and its relation to safety features like seat belts and airbags. Additionally, reading the landscape and recognizing visual cues can help drivers assess their environment and make safer decisions on the road.