| Not that we recommend trying it, but you | | | | Keeping your eyes moving prevents this from |
| can't drive very far with your eyes closed | | | | occurring and helps you with your defensive |
| without running off the road or hitting | | | | driving techniques. |
| something! Many other physical impairments | | | | |
| can be overcome in order to drive safely, but | | | | Peripheral Vision |
| impaired vision may be a real handicap in | | | | |
| adopting defensive driving techniques. If you | | | | In addition to scanning conditions directly, |
| drive, the health of your eyes, or sight, | | | | use you peripheral vision to become aware of |
| should be considered paramount. Have regular | | | | situations that may require your direct |
| eye tests and adopt appropriate remedies for | | | | attention. Your peripheral vision picks up |
| any condition which might effect your | | | | movement quickly, but doesn't provide a clear |
| driving, both during the day, and at night. | | | | view. It is your "early warning" vision for |
| | | | defensive driving techniques. |
| Quickly Scan Your Vehicle | | | | |
| | | | It's All Done With Mirrors! |
| Even before getting into the driver's seat, a | | | | |
| quick scan of your vehicle may reveal | | | | Your external and rear view mirrors serve a |
| problems such as a deflated tyre, or external | | | | most useful purpose in employing defensive |
| mirrors knocked out of alignment. Such issues | | | | driving techniques. It is important to check |
| may compromise your ability to implement | | | | your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds while |
| defensive driving techniques once you're | | | | driving, but you also need to know the blind |
| underway. From inside your vehicle you can | | | | spots on your vehicle, which are large often |
| again check your external mirrors and adjust | | | | enough to hide other vehicles. Mirrors also |
| them if necessary. If someone else has driven | | | | will not reveal a vehicle that is changing |
| the vehicle before you, you may also have to | | | | lanes behind you, so it is very important to |
| re-adjust the rear view mirror to suit you. | | | | turn your head and quickly look before making |
| Be aware of any blind spots not covered by | | | | a lane change. |
| your direct vision, or your mirrors. The | | | | |
| external and internal cleanliness of the | | | | Mind Your Eyes! |
| windscreen, side and rear windows is also | | | | |
| something to attend to. When you turn on the | | | | One of the most important aspects of |
| ignition, note what any warning lights such | | | | defensive driving techniques is recognizing |
| as petrol, oil, temperature, etc. may | | | | in advance, or anticipating, impending |
| indicate. It can be very distracting having | | | | hazards before they become a problem for you. |
| to drive some distance worrying about having | | | | Early recognition allows the time you need to |
| enough petrol to make it and constantly | | | | take action avoid trouble. It is vitally |
| looking at the gauge to check. | | | | important that you recognize and become |
| | | | immediately aware of what you see while |
| Pay Attention | | | | driving. By "connecting your mind to your |
| | | | eyes" you can realize the possibility the |
| When driving, pay attention to the traffic | | | | ball rolling across the road may be chased by |
| conditions and the environment around you so | | | | a child, that a vehicle approaching on an |
| you can apply your defensive driving | | | | adjacent roadway may not stop at a cross |
| techniques if you identify a likely hazard. | | | | street, and recognize other potentially |
| Keep you eyes up and look ahead, not just at | | | | hazardous situations. Use your eyes to see, |
| the road or vehicle immediately in front of | | | | and your mind to analyze what you see for |
| you, but further down the road so you can | | | | potential dangers. |
| anticipate. You should be looking about 15-20 | | | | |
| seconds ahead of your vehicle, farther if you | | | | There are other important ways to use your |
| can. This gives you the time to recognize and | | | | vision as a key tool for defensive driving |
| avoid most potential hazards before they | | | | techniques for safe driving. Use appropriate |
| become a problem. | | | | protection for your eyes, such as sunglasses |
| | | | to reduce glare in sunny conditions. Make |
| Actively Scandefensive driving techniques | | | | sure your windscreen wipers provide good |
| require more than just staring passively | | | | visibility in wet conditions. Don't drive at |
| through your windscreen at the road ahead. | | | | all in conditions which severely impact |
| You must actively scan traffic and | | | | visibility for all drivers. |
| environmental conditions at all times. Don't | | | | |
| concentrate on any one thing in your field of | | | | Your vision is perhaps the most important |
| view for more than a second, keep your | | | | tool you have while driving. Use it |
| focused vision moving in a scanning "pattern" | | | | effectively! Look as far down the road as |
| so that you clearly see everything that may | | | | possible, and use a scanning motion to take |
| affect your progress. If you allow your eyes | | | | in and analyze everything that is happening |
| to remain fixed on any one thing, your | | | | around you or close enough to be a hazard. |
| peripheral vision immediately begins to | | | | It's a defensive driving technique you can't |
| narrow down into "tunnel" vision-and you lose | | | | do without! |
| your ability to detect movement to the sides. | | | | |