5. Take a middle-to-late apex.
The apex is the area where the car is closest to the inside edge of the road. When you're getting off the freeway, at the point you are halfway around that off-ramp, you want to be closest to the inside edge of the turn. "The tendency is to hug the inside immediately when you get off the inside," Bondurant explains. "And if you do that, then halfway around the corner, centrifugal force wants to push you off the road and send you into the guard rail."

6. Use the three and nine hand position, and adjust according to the road.
As you turn into a corner, the front wheels don't turn evenly. The inside wheel will always turn more than the outside wheel, which helps to steer the car into the corner. "Say you're on a mountain road, turning, and you've got your hands in the three and nine position," Bondurant says. "Take the inside hand and move it up to one o'clock, that helps steer the car into the corner."

7. Use trailing brakes.
Trailing brake means to ease off the brake pedal as you turn into the corner. Do all of your hard braking in a straight line, Bob advises. As you turn into a corner, trail out of the brake. "Usually I'll trail the brake about halfway into the corner," Bondurant says. "When the car feels comfortable, move back to the throttle."

8. Scan ahead for possible problems.
Going down the highway, look 15-20 car lengths ahead, especially in traffic. If you see brake lights going on, ease off the gas so you don't suddenly have to slam the breaks. Go through all three mirrors, and look through the rear window of the car ahead. "Is that person on the phone? Looking at the passenger most of the time talking? Is he reading? Or drinking water?" If so, Bondurant says to gently change lanes and get by them. "They're not paying attention," Bondurant says. "If traffic stops in front of them, they'll slam the brakes on and collect you on their rear bumper!"

9. Practice quick lane changes.
If you want to avoid an accident, here's a crucial point to remember: The car turns better than it stops. At 50 mph to 60 mph, it only takes a quarter to a half turn (maximum) of the steering wheel to make a lane change. "Roll off the gas, visualize the weight transfer forward on the front tires and turn the wheel," Bondurant says. Midway through that lane change, gently ease on the gas to transfer the weight on the rear wheels so you don't spin out. "We call it lift, turn and squeeze," Bondurant explains. "Lift off the gas, turn gently, squeeze on the gas. You can get by someone much quicker than trying to jam the brakes on."

10. Enjoy driving the car.
Don't overstep your own limits. "If you're driving too fast and you get the old pucker factor, you'll get yourself out of control," Bondurant says. "You want to be smooth and enjoy driving the car."

01 · 02