Do You See What I See?

Enhanced observation skills and a robust scanning process make for safer driving and are crucial foundations for the advanced driver.

The eyes scan the road scene for potential hazards and actual threats to safety. The earlier you spot road hazards, the more time you have to plan effective reactions and 'inject safety'.

Developing and honing the skill gives the expert driver a significant advantage. With more assessment and thinking time, the driver benefits from more "time and space" to deal with the challenges ahead. Nothing should be coming as a surprise.

Eye Radar

Visual scanning can be likened to your eyes acting as a radar, constantly surveying the road scene for hazards, clues and tell-tales.

Once the radar delivers that stream of risks, the driver can act accordingly and plan for multiple potential scenarios to potentially unfold.

Developing the Skills

Improving observational skills through diligent practice is essential every time you drive. Focus on efficiently, quickly, and actively looking for relevant information in the road environment. With practice, as with all skills it becomes second nature..

As an advanced driver, score yourself on the following criteria:

• How far ahead do you look?
• How often do you use cross-views for early visual information?
• How often do you check your mirrors?
• How often do you check blind spots?
• What clues are you using to inform of potential dangers?

Improving Hazard Recognition

To enhance hazard recognition, consider these analogies:

• Use funnel vision over tunnel vision
• Adopt a football pitch vision rather than a cricket wicket vision
• Using "full beam" eyes rather than "dipped beam."

Matching Speed with Vision

Of course you'll need to up your game as your speed increases. The pace of processing will need to increase, especially on challenging country roads where a new range of dangers may lurk around every bend.

Aim eyes high, keep them moving, don't ignore your peripheral vision and utilise your mirrors and vehicle position to best effect.

Take information from any source you can - your Sat Nav for example isn't just about giving directions, it's a live hint as to what might lurk ahead out of sight.

Seeing Around Corners

Remember the mnemonic "LOUT" - Look Over, Under, Through - for gaining a visual advantage whenever possible. Can you see a horse rider over a wall, feet under cars indicating pedestrians or daytime running lights through a hedge showing what's around a corner.

Mud on the road (tractors), horse poo (probably a horse!), hedge clippings, bin day, cars coming unusually slowly the other way, the smell of a farm or the chime of an ice cream van... they're all hints as to what isn't visible yet.

Information is all around if you look. Challenge yourself, your passengers or children to see the clues from afar and make your driving more engaging and ultimately safer. Remember the driver in front may be comparatively blind compared to your X-Ray vision!