Look Well Ahead
o Identify best route
o Have enough gas
o Estimate time to destination
o Listen to traffic reports
o Study a map
o Set your GPS
o Noting time of day
o Awareness of special events
o Where are the construction zones?
o Make correct lane choices early
o Do this with parked cars we can see inside
o Helps others to see us better even in bright daylight
o Turning these on before driving away can reduce collisions by up to 20%
o Do this even if you have automatic daytime running lights
o If someone looks at you but doesn’t see you, this might help
o Mirror – Stop
o Honk - Move
o Walk around vehicle before entering
o Check for damage to car
o Look for objects on ground in blind area
o Note any fluid leaks
o Glance at direction front wheels are pointed
o Do this before entering any intersection
o Re-establishes MELT, MAINTAIN (following distance) when starting up at intersections even if 3rd, 4th, 5th or more in line
o Use of Signals/Brake Lights/Headlights/Horn…..
o Because of the huge blind area behind a vehicle we use this Sub-Habit
o Helps us reduce the chances of backing over stuff
o Do this when faced with a single parking stall/dead end driveway that one cannot drive through
o Cover the brake
o Cover the horn
o Lane of Least Resistance
o Lane that offers the best visibility, best flow, best safety
o Adjusting speed to provide space
o Adjusting speed early when traffic ahead is slowing
o Changing lanes early for bicycles/other slow road users
o Quick ½ second glance at issues, instruments/gauges
o Helps keep us awake
o Keeps us from staring at problems/distractions
o Used when passing/being passed by another vehicle
o Moving away from beside another vehicle within 3 seconds
o Ground view and cover horn when passing/being passed
o When I cannot stop safely for an amber light
o Judgement call based on my speed, road conditions and the vehicles behind me
o Applied whenever approaching a stale green light
o Minimum safe following distance in city of 2 Seconds
o Minimum safe following distance on highway of 3 seconds
o Minimum safe following distance on highway on-ramps of 4 seconds
o Go with the flow of traffic (within reason)
o Check here every 5-8 seconds
o Glance here before slowing down
o Glance here before and after turning
o Monitor this when stopped
o Open space beside you that can be used as an escape route
o Always drive next to open space
o Looking for 2 clear lanes before turning onto a new street
o Placing your vehicles to help you/others spot problems easier
o Enter intersections only when there is space to exit
o Doing the ‘S’ Approach when turning left at a large intersection with offset turning lanes
o looking 12-15 seconds ahead in the city (about 2 city blocks)
o Looking 20-30 seconds ahead on the highway (about 1 Km)
o Helps keep us driving straight
o Helps to spot problems well in advance
o Last thing we do before coming off brake and moving car in any direction
o Used to detect motion
o Looking for feet/movement in front of vehicles
o Noticing angle of front wheel of occupied car
o Do this when one cannot see inside parked car
o Do this when passing/being passed/have vehicles approaching
o Notice any change in distance between oncoming cars front wheel and lane markings
o Notice speed/direction of another vehicles front wheel
o Noting movement of another vehicle relative to fixed objects
o Do this when approaching a red light
o When you have a red light, check mirror, slow early, leave 3-4 car lengths open in front when no traffic behind and monitor mirror, creep forward as cars behind slow leaving a minimum of 1 car length, plan escape.
o Know what is happening 360 degrees around your vehicle.
o Blind spot/360 checks are part of this
o Predict outcome if other road users move or continue along present course
o Solve problems faced by other road users and ask “ how does this affect me”