Driving Tips - Fluid Search Pattern
Fluid Search Pattern - Most of the time a beginning driver tends to focus only on what is front and, unfortunately, that focus often lasts longer than two seconds and becomes a fixed stare. Since we addressed "breaking the fixed stare" with the last article, this time we are going to discuss how to make a "Fluid Search Pattern". Often I have observed how search patterns become stilted.
"Look left, look center, look right, look left again." While in theory this sounds good, I've seen student's almost get dizzy from trying to look quickly and then quickly look again. Granted, when traffic is intense, it may be necessary to make sure you're on your toes and ready for anything - almost to the point of where you are leaning slightly forward, moving your eyes every half-second or more because so much is going on around you simultaneously. But in light or modest traffic, you can be attentive and scan effectively without feeling like you're holding your breath.
Three things you can do to help you make your search pattern more fluid:
Of course, at any time you may interrupt your figure eight search to dispose of and respond to what is going on in the traffic scene. What you can gain by practicing the figure eight search pattern is a more comfortable movement of your eyes, the pattern of moving your eyes every few seconds (which breaks the fixed stare) and the sense of controlling the space around your vehicle.
That's all for now Folks,
Patrick Barrett
Driver Ed in a Box
"Look left, look center, look right, look left again." While in theory this sounds good, I've seen student's almost get dizzy from trying to look quickly and then quickly look again. Granted, when traffic is intense, it may be necessary to make sure you're on your toes and ready for anything - almost to the point of where you are leaning slightly forward, moving your eyes every half-second or more because so much is going on around you simultaneously. But in light or modest traffic, you can be attentive and scan effectively without feeling like you're holding your breath.
Three things you can do to help you make your search pattern more fluid:
- Increase your following distance - this gives you more time to read and respond to what is going on ahead. If you have at least four or five seconds, you significantly increase your odds to control the situation.
- Target farther ahead. You'll discover that this goes hand in hand with increasing your following distance.
- Conduct your search pattern in flowing movements - eliminate the jerkiness. You can do this at intersections by imagining that you are "sweeping" the intersection to make sure that it is clear to go. As you sweep left to right and right to left, you notice any threats not only from the sides but also in the center. Also, you can use a figure-eight pattern for your normal search. You look to the front, then scan to the left (up ahead), then sweep to the right (again, still up ahead), then glance in the inside rearview mirror, then to the left outside mirror, then to right outside mirror, then back up front. Drawn from an overview this pattern creates a figure eight.
Of course, at any time you may interrupt your figure eight search to dispose of and respond to what is going on in the traffic scene. What you can gain by practicing the figure eight search pattern is a more comfortable movement of your eyes, the pattern of moving your eyes every few seconds (which breaks the fixed stare) and the sense of controlling the space around your vehicle.
That's all for now Folks,
Patrick Barrett
Driver Ed in a Box