What All Drivers Should Know from the Crash Prevention Experts at In Control - Crash Prevention Training (2024)

There is no downside to looking as far down the road as you can.

Many drivers focus on the road only 5 or 8 seconds ahead, when really they should be concentrating 15-20 seconds in front of you (at a minimum!). In practice, this means keeping your eyes UP and concentrating down the road. This gives you the time to recognize and avoid most potential hazards before they become a problem, making you a defensive driver rather than a passive driver. You’ll see buses or construction areas, traffic congestion, truck entrances, mishaps, etc. long before they’re directly in front of you. This technique is also useful for new drivers when learning how to steer. Keeping your eyes focused far down the road (instead of just past the end of the hood) creates visual stability in the roadway. In other words, it helps people center themselves in the road and eliminate the unsteady weaving that is characteristic of a novice driver.

There are other important ways to use your vision as a Defensive Driving tool especially in city driving. Drivers should see, and be mindful of, everything around them on all sides of their car (left, right, and rear) and for several hundred feet ahead (about two blocks). Do this and you’ll be able to see—and avoid—the immediate hazards others don’t notice: balls rolling into the street followed by children, cars about to pull out from a parallel parking spot, pedestrians hidden between vehicles, runaway trucks bearing down on you from behind, etc.

Also, make sure not to concentrate on any one thing in your field of view for more than a second. Your focused field of vision is very narrow, less than 5 feet wide at 100 feet. Everything else you see is first picked up by your peripheral vision, which is effective at picking up motion but doesn’t provide a clear view. If you don’t believe this, try our thumb exercise (see picture).

While your peripheral vision is not very clear or focused, it does detect movement—it serves as your “early warning” vision. If you allow your eyes to remain fixed on any one thing, your peripheral vision immediately begins to narrow down into “tunnel” vision and you lose your ability to detect movement to the sides. Keeping your eyes moving prevents this from occurring.

Your vision is perhaps the most important tool you have while driving. Use it effectively! Look as far down the road as possible, and use a scanning motion to take in and analyze everything that is happening around you, especially things that might become a driving hazard.

What All Drivers Should Know from the Crash Prevention Experts at In Control - Crash Prevention Training (2024)

FAQs

What All Drivers Should Know from the Crash Prevention Experts at In Control - Crash Prevention Training? ›

In the city/urban area, you should look at least two blocks or two traffic signals ahead. In a suburban area, you should look at least three blocks or three traffic signals ahead. In a rural area, you should look at least a quarter of a mile ahead.

What are the crash prevention techniques? ›

Top Ten Tips To Avoid An Accident
  • Develop the right attitude about driving. ...
  • Get as much supervised practice driving as possible. ...
  • ALWAYS wear your safety belt. ...
  • Underage drinking and drug use is illegal. ...
  • Limit your passengers. ...
  • Limit your night driving. ...
  • Keep it slow and safe for starters. ...
  • Train for poor weather conditions.

What precautions can you take as a driver to reduce your risk of crashing? ›

Avoid a collision
  • Slow down and drive to conditions.
  • Drive friendly - yield to other drivers and be courteous.
  • Maintain a safe following distance.
  • Look both ways before you enter an intersection.
  • Signal every turn and lane change.
  • Stop at red lights and stop signs.
  • Don't drive if you've been drinking.

How much ahead should you be aware of when driving? ›

In the city/urban area, you should look at least two blocks or two traffic signals ahead. In a suburban area, you should look at least three blocks or three traffic signals ahead. In a rural area, you should look at least a quarter of a mile ahead.

When should a driver scan for potential hazards? ›

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 is one example of an accident prevention technique drivers awareness? ›

Checking your mirrors periodically, scanning the road ahead, and remaining aware as road hazards and weather conditions change, are all functions of paying attention and avoiding distractions while driving.

What should drivers always do to be safe and responsible? ›

In order to keep focused while driving, you should follow these steps:
  • Keep 100% of your attention on driving at all times – no multi-tasking.
  • Don't use your phone or any other electronic device while driving.
  • Slow down. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.

What are 5 actions a driver can do to stay alert and avoid collisions? ›

Practicing these techniques can help keep you safe on the road.
  • Focus on Driving. Avoid activities such as talking on the phone, texting, eating, and personal grooming. ...
  • Stay Alert. ...
  • Maintain an Appropriate Speed. ...
  • Be Aware of Other People on the Road. ...
  • Maintain a Safe Following Distance. ...
  • Don't be Overconfident.
Nov 9, 2021

What are some signs of an aggressive driver? ›

Examples of aggressive driving behaviors include:
  • Speeding in heavy traffic.
  • Tailgating.
  • Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down.
  • Running red lights.
  • Weaving in and out of traffic.
  • Changing lanes without signaling.
  • Blocking cars attempting to pass or change lanes.

What is the three second rule in driving? ›

A general rule that helps many drivers maintain safe following distances is the “three-second rule.” It requires leaving three seconds of space between your vehicle and the vehicle driving in front of you.

What are 3 driver contributed factors? ›

Examples of driver contributed factors are: Adjusting radio. Being angry. Having blurred vision. Combing hair while driving.

What are the three types of vision? ›

Central vision, peripheral vision, and fringe vision.

What is the best way to talk to other drivers? ›

'Talk' with Your Brakes, Horn and Turn Signals

This means always using a turn signal (even if there are no other vehicles in sight), braking early to alert drivers behind him or her, and reserving the horn for situations that clearly call for it.

How often should a driver check their mirrors? ›

How Often Should You Check Your Mirrors While Driving? You should check your mirrors roughly every 5 to 8 seconds. This includes your rear view mirror (to check what is going on behind you) and your side mirrors (to check what is going on either side of your vehicle).

What are the four principles for minimizing collisions? ›

It's called The LLLC Defensive Driving Principles™, but we just call it “Triple-L-C.” Using the Four Driving Principles of Safety, Look Ahead, Look Around, Leave Room, and Communicate, gives you the time and information you need to avoid an accident and be an all-around better driver.

What is the 3 step crash prevention formula? ›

The 3 primary steps of the DDC collision prevention formulation are to Recognize, Understand, and Act correctly. Understand the protection such that the driving force need to appear out for any risks, hazardous driving, and different viable risks at the road.

What are the four fundamentals of accident prevention? ›

There are four main controls for an effective accident/incident prevention program. Engineering, Administrative, Personal Protective Equipment & Review. (a) Engineering—Causes of accidents, or unsafe conditions, can sometimes be eliminated through the application of engineering controls.

What are the 3 elements of the collision prevention formula? ›

What is the standard collision prevention formula? Be alert, be prepared, act in time. Be alert: never think the other motorist will not make a driving mistake.

What are the five steps of crash recovery? ›

What Are the 5 Steps You Should Follow if You Are Involved in a Car Accident?
  • One: Report the Accident. ...
  • Two: Seek Medical Treatment. ...
  • Three: Notify Insurance Carriers of the Accident. ...
  • Four: Gather Critical Documentation. ...
  • Five: Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney.

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