If another driver near you makes a mistake, you will need time to react to the situation. The only way to be sure you will have enough time to react is to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicles around you. Show
As shown in the diagram below, there are six areas of space around your vehicle you must be able to manage. It is best to keep a space cushion on all sides of your vehicle. Keep A Space Cushion Ahead (4-Second Rule)What is a safe following distance? A 4-second following distance, as shown above in Area 1 of the space-management diagram, will allow you to steer or brake to avoid a hazard safely on the highway, if the pavement is dry.
Sometimes you will need extra space ahead of you. Allow a longer following distance than usual when:
Keep A Space Cushion To The SidesA space cushion to the sides, as shown in Areas 2 and 3 of the space management diagram, will give you room to react, if another vehicle suddenly moves into your lane. These areas are your potential escape paths. Key points to remember are:
You will usually drive in the center of your lane. But sometimes, you will find dangers on both sides of the road. As in the example pictured to the right, there may be parked vehicles to your right and oncoming vehicles to your left. In this case, the best thing to do is to slow down and "split the difference" by steering a middle course between the oncoming vehicles and the parked vehicles. Keep A Space Cushion BehindIn Area 6 in the space management diagram, a driver who is following you has more control over the clear space than you do, but you can help by keeping a steady speed and signaling before you have to slow down for a turn. If you see someone following you too closely (tailgating), move over to the right lane, if possible. If there is no right lane, you can encourage the tailgater to move around you by waiting until the road ahead is clear, then tapping your brakes gently to slowly reduce your speed. Also, look for an escape path to the side when you are preparing to slow down or stop. Finally, pay attention to what is happening in the left-rear and right-rear areas behind you (Areas 4 and 5 of the space management diagram). You need to know how close other vehicles are to your vehicle and how fast they are traveling. These areas are blind spots, always check them by turning your head before changing lanes. Keep Your Vehicle Where It Can Be SeenAvoid driving your vehicle in another driver's blind spot. A blind spot is any place around a vehicle a driver cannot see without moving their head. Here are some good rules to help you avoid this mistake:
Looking AheadThe driver in the picture is in a lane that ends soon. If this driver does not change lanes, the driver may have to make a quick lane change or stop and wait for traffic to clear. To avoid last-minute moves, you must look far enough ahead to see and react to things early. You should be able to identify problem situations 12 to 15 seconds ahead — about one block in the city, or a quarter of a mile at highway speeds. Your ability to handle dangerous traffic situations depends largely on searching for and identifying problems far ahead. Looking far ahead does not mean you should simply stare at the center of the road. You need to continually scan the entire road, including the sides of the road. As you scan the driving scene, watch for:
Looking To The SidesLooking to the sides is especially important at intersections, driveways, shopping center entrances and exits, and highway entrances and exits — any place where one stream of traffic meets another. When you come to an intersection, follow the "left-right-left" rule:
When you enter the intersection, look left and right again. Do not assume other traffic will always stop, even when there is a stop sign or signal. If your view of the cross street is blocked by buildings, shrubs or parked vehicles, move forward slowly until you can see clearly Looking BehindYou must also check traffic behind you as often as possible. This is very important when you are planning to change lanes or back up. Changing lanes includes:
Before you change lanes, give the proper turn signal. Look in your rearview and side mirrors and make sure no one is going to pass you. Do not depend on mirrors or sensors alone, look over your left and right shoulders to make sure no one is in your vehicle's blind spots. Check these spots quickly. Do not take your eyes off of the road ahead for more than a second. On roads with three or more lanes, check all lanes before you make a lane change — someone in another lane may also be planning to move into the same spot where you want to go. Backing UpWhen backing up, always check behind your vehicle — do it before you get in your vehicle. Children or small objects are hard to see from the driver's seat. Before backing up, turn your head so you can see through the rear window. Do not depend on your mirrors or sensors alone. How far should you see when scanning the road?Proper Scanning:
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.
How far in front of you should you scan on an open road?To avoid last minute moves, scan the road 10–15 seconds ahead of your vehicle so you can see hazards early. Constantly staring at the vehicle or road right in front of your vehicle is dangerous. As you scan ahead, be alert for vehicles around you. Use your mirrors.
How far should you want to see in each direction while scanning the road Kentucky?You always want to keep an awareness of 12 to 15 seconds around you in all directions, regardless of your environment. In a city, this looks like one to one and a half blocks. Scanning is critical to maintaining a safe driving practice and involves how, how much and when we check our surroundings.
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