Driving is a sensory experience. You depend on your eyes, ears, nose and other senses to identify problems on the road or with your vehicle. Your eyes tend to be the first line of defense. Studies show that failure to observe our surroundings and recognize danger is the greatest single cause of preventable accidents.
Lead vision is the practice of projecting your vision far enough ahead of your vehicle to see situations before they become a threat. It means watching further down the road than you may think is necessary. A few extra seconds can make a huge difference when it comes to avoiding or surviving accidents.
There are specific techniques you can use to improve your lead vision. The Eye-Lead Time technique is particularly effective. Here’s how it works:
- Keep your eyes moving to the front, sides and rear of the vehicle, using mirrors.
- In the city, scan approximately 12 to 15 seconds ahead as you drive, which amounts to about 200 meters or a city block in urban areas.
- On the highway, scan 20 to 30 seconds ahead, which is approximately 750 meters or about as far as you can see.
- Check your mirrors every three to five seconds.
- Always look for movement that may affect you in a negative way, such as cars coming up to an intersection quickly or an animal running along the side of the road. Watch for these and other potential hazards so you have more time to react in the event of a collision.
Source: Greenius
