Effective scanning means constantly moving your eyes and/or your head when driving so that you can detect hazards that may arise ahead, to the sides and behind your vehicle. Research shows that new drivers are not good at scanning. They tend to focus on the road just ahead of their car. The good news is that new drivers get better at scanning with practice. Show This section aims to help you become better at scanning so that you can detect hazards before they become a problem for you and other road users. How to scan for hazards when driving The picture below shows that you need a 360 degrees view (a full circle). This means that you need to look out of the windscreen and the side windows to see what is shaping up ahead and to the sides. You also need to use your mirrors to see what is behind you. But your mirrors can't cover all of the view behind. You always have "blind spots" - areas not covered by your mirrors. To check your blind spots you need to turn your head and look out the side windows. Blind spots will be different on each vehicle that you drive. Vehicle such as vans or trucks often have more blind spots than passenger cars. Checking the blind spots with a head check is vital when you want to change lanes or when reversing. A head check where you look round over your shoulder is shown in the picture below. A scanning routine Look up to 12 seconds ahead. In a 60km/hour zone this means looking up to 200 metres ahead; on a freeway at 90km/hour it is up to 300 metres. The next picture shows what this looks like at 50km/hour. Scanning this far ahead gives you a chance to spot hazards that are shaping up well in advance (eg a broken down truck, an accident, the road narrowing to one lane). You will also have time to avoid them. In heavy traffic, you may not be able to look 12 seconds ahead. But you are likely to be travelling more slowly which helps make up for this. Scanning far enough ahead may mean looking through the windows of vehicles ahead of you to see what is happening. For example, by doing this you will know in advance if a car ahead is braking as you will see the brake lights come on several cars ahead. This gives you more time to brake if you have to. Scanning means that you are not just looking at the vehicle immediately in front of you. Looking ahead also means scanning from side to side for hazards on the roadside or at intersections. Hazards may be parked cars, cyclists or pedestrians. Effective scanning means keeping your eyes and/or your head moving and not concentrating on just one spot. Check your mirrors every 8-10 seconds. Things change behind and beside you when you drive. Unless you check your mirrors you won't know if someone is doing something such as trying to overtake or if there is a police car or ambulance coming up quickly. Check your blind spots. Scanning ahead and checking your mirrors is usually enough when you are driving along in the same lane without turning or changing lanes. However, if you need to turn or diverge right or left, you need to know what is in the blind spots. Head checks enable you to check your blind spots. Summary of scanning routine Here is a dot-point summary of a good scanning routine:
This scanning routine is shown in the next picture. Your scanning routine needs to be constantly repeated as you drive. Of course if you detect a hazard and need to deal with it, this will be your first priority. But once this has passed, you need to return to your scanning routine. Smart scanning Look for change A hazard perception action plan See road hazards (eg pedestrian waiting to cross the road ahead) Think about what might happen (eg pedestrian might walk in front of your car) Think about possible solutions ( eg slow down, change lanes or increase space between your car and pedestrian, sound horn) Do something to remain safe (eg slow down and give the pedestrian more space) This hazard perception process can be summarised as: Scanning is the "see" part of the process. Understanding that these three steps are the basis of good hazard perception can be helpful. Of course, all of this takes place very quickly, sometimes in only a few seconds. This is why you need to practise in real traffic so that hazard perception skills like scanning become automatic. Listening for hazards To help you listen for hazards, it is good not to have the radio or stereo too loud when you are driving. Avoiding fatigue You don't have to drive long distances to get fatigued. Working long hours, partying hard and not getting enough sleep can make you fatigued. The only effective way to avoid fatigue is to get plenty of sleep. Fresh air, coffee and loud music won't work. Do not drive at times when you would normally be asleep. Commencing a trip late at night or early in the morning, or driving through these hours, can be very dangerous. If you do drive long distances, take regular rest breaks at least every two hours. Key points summary: scanning for hazards
Tip: Practice exercises - Scanning for hazards 1. Blind spots on your car Repeat the process again. When your assistant is in a blind spot, try turning your head to do a head check. Can you see them or does part of the car still block them? Once you have completed this process, you will know where the blind spots are on your car and how large they are. You will also know to what extent head checks compensate for them. 2. Scanning routine
Try it with the vehicle stationary at the side of the road. When you are confident that you have the routine worked out, try it in various speed zones. Start with 50km/hour, then progress to faster speed zones. Start on quieter roads, then progress to busier ones. Using the "one-thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three" counting technique, practise estimating what scanning 12 seconds ahead looks like at various speeds. You may be surprised at how far ahead you need to look. 3. Comparing notes on scanning Map out a circular route through a nearby built-up area that will take you about 5-10 minutes to complete. Include traffic lights, Stop signs and areas where you are likely to come across other road users such as pedestrians. Ask your Qualified Supervising Driver to drive the circular route, with you travelling in the passenger seat. Scan the road as though you are driving. As your Qualified Supervising Driver drives the circular route, ask them to tell you where they are looking, what they are looking at and what they consider to be hazards. Questions like "What are you seeing?" and "What are you going to do now?" might be appropriate. This technique is called "commentary driving" and is used by driver trainers and some licence examiners to find out where a driver is looking, what hazards they are seeing and what they plan to do about them. It might be a bit difficult for you and your assistant to do at first, but it gets easier with practice. Are they looking at the same things as you? Did they spot hazards that you don't? Do you agree on what may be hazards? Did they respond to hazards in the way that you would have? When your Qualified Supervising Driver has finished driving the route, stop somewhere safe and talk about it. Once you have talked about how you and the other driver scanned for hazards, swap positions so that you are driving. This time drive the route in the opposite direction. Your Qualified Supervising Driver will be scanning the road as though they were driving. As you drive along the route tell them where you are looking, what you are looking at and what you consider to be hazards. Stop somewhere safe and compare notes. Are you looking at the same things as your Qualified Supervising Driver? Do you spot hazards that your Qualified Supervising Driver didn't? Did you agree on what may be hazards? Did you respond to hazards in the way your Qualified Supervising Driver would have? This technique of practice through comparing your scanning with a more experienced driver is a very useful learning tool. If possible, try it with a range of other Qualified Supervising Drivers who vary in age and driving experience. Use it often to build and refine your scanning skills. You can never get enough scanning practice. When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving you should look answer?When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving you should look: 1) To the right side of the road. 2) As far as your peripheral vision can see.. Increase your following distance.. Flash your brake lights.. Signal the tailgater when it is safe to pass you.. How do you look far ahead when driving?mirrors. A general rule of thumb is to scan ahead 12-15 seconds in all environments, 1-11⁄2 blocks in city environments and 1⁄4 mile in highway environments. Blind spots and mirrors should be checked every 3-5 seconds before and after changing lanes.
What are you supposed to look at when driving?Know What Is Ahead
To avoid last minute moves, scan the road 10–15 seconds ahead of your vehicle so you can see hazards early. Constantly staring at the vehicle or road right in front of your vehicle is dangerous. As you scan ahead, be alert for vehicles around you. Use your mirrors.
Should you always look ahead when you drive?Scanning the road ahead while you're driving is one of the best safety tips you can employ when you're behind the wheel! Generally speaking, you should look ahead 15 to 20 seconds or an eighth of a mile when driving in the.
|