ADI Part 2 - Scanning

Scanning the road for the hazards you can see . . . and those you can't

Scanning is a method of looking at the road ahead which is well known in the world of Advanced Driving. Scanning, in simple terms, means using your eyes to constantly search the entire view of the road ahead of you, in a non stop search for any kind of hazard. Your eyes should not be allowed to rest, or gaze, on any single area of the scene ahead. You should actively scan every area of the scene, from the things you see near to you, to the very furthest point of vision that you have (cross views).

It's a simple truth that the majority of drivers tend to focus their gaze on a single thing ahead of them. Do you ever find yourself staring at the rear of the car ahead? Almost all drivers, without exception, suffer this form of limited concentration at some time or other. Sadly, for some drivers, it's all they ever do.

Look at this image. This shows a typical road scene and the manner in which a very large number of drivers view it.

Many drivers tend to stare at the rear of the vehicle ahead for some, or even all, of their journey.

They pay very little attention to any other area of the road, or even consider the possibility of other hazards in the world around them.

Let's take a look at exactly the same scene, but this time seen through the eyes of a driver who is practiced in constantly scanning the environment, looking for hazards and potential danger.

As you look at this image, do you notice how your eyes move? Do they seem to move with short, 'jerky' changes in direction as you survey the whole scene?

If so, that's exactly the effect that we're after

Click here to see the image

This constant, never ending search, is exactly what we mean by scanning. When we look at observation links, you'll see how the information you obtain by looking at this picture of the environment around you, can help you to anticipate what may happen just ahead

Obviously, it could be that all of your attention needs to be focused on one area, such as the vehicle ahead, because that could be the priority danger at the time. But this situation is very rare indeed

Even with a vehicle just ahead of us, we should be using the two second rule to leave a safe gap anyway, and so we have ample time to scan the scene ahead. Our peripheral vision and experience will alert us to changes in speed or signals from the vehicle ahead. There is rarely any excuse for not scanning

Up Time, Down Time

It's so easy for human beings to drive along whilst thinking about what they'll do tomorrow, what's on TV tonight, or what they'll wear to go out in later

If you want to get a little technical about this, psychologists refer to our state of concentration at any time, as being in 'up time' or 'down time'

Up time is a state of mind where our concentration is totally committed to what we're doing. In our case, that means the task of driving and seeing hazards

Down time is the opposite. Complete down time is where a person is totally withdrawn within themselves, without a care to what is happening in the outside world

Most of us fall somewhere between the two extremes, and our level of 'upness' changes on a never ending basis

Sadly, some of us are far more in down time than up time. Without question, this 'absent mindedness' is the cause of a huge percentage of the serious or even fatal road collisions that we have each year. If you don't concentrate to find the danger, the danger will find you. Sometimes with absolutely disastrous consequences

All human beings find down time a much easier state of mind to be in, as it requires far less effort for the brain, and the brain finds it a very comfortable experience. Consequently, it's our 'default' way of being.

How many times have you had a conversation with someone, then wondered what they'd said?

How many times have you driven home, and not been able to remember anything about the journey?

Concentrate on concentrating. Look for the danger and you'll find it everywhere.

ADIT Team