What are the three searching ranges in driving?

Perceptions and

Effective Searching

Vermont Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association Driver Risk Prevention Curriculum

Vermont Department of Education
Driver Education Programs

See With Your Mind

What do you see?

In order to see with the mind now must understand what one is looking at. Don’t give it away at this point.

The Key to Perception

Is Ask the Right Question

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Can You Find the Baby?

To Perceive With the Mind

Tell the Eyes What to Look For

Search and Evaluate the Target Area

Where do you find targets?

Yes! As far ahead as you can see in the center of the lane.

Where is the target area?

Yes! It is the space to the left and right of the target

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Searching Target Area to Target Area

• Find the LOS-POT Conditions of Your Destination that can have an affect on your targeting path.
• Curve, Van

6 Seconds Later

• New Target Area Opening up

Photos Copyright – NIDB 2005

Targeting Path

Searching Target Area to Target Area

• Use Your Central Vision To Find LOS-POT Conditions That Can Affect Your Targeting Path

• Use Your Fringe Vision to Monitor Your Position and Control Your Surroundings

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Photos Copyright – NIDB 2005

Use lower fringe vision to see reference point in relationship to the roadway.

After identifying a vehicle in rearview mirror, Use upper fringe vision to monitor changes in the mirror, it will cue you to direct your central vision there for accurate update.

After seeing a zone change to the left or right of your path of travel with the central vision, Use fringe vision to monitor it. This frees your central vision to make other zone checks.

The Average Driver…

Only looks 3-5 seconds ahead of the car!

Photo Copyright – NIDB 2005

According to NHTSA, more than 80 percent of all crashes could be avoided if drivers had only one additional second of time.

Searching to the Target Area

• Gives Drivers12, 15, 30 seconds of time or more!

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• Time they need to gain valuable information and make reduced risk decisions

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Photo Copyright – NIDB 2005

Activity
Measuring Space in Seconds

Count …

One Thousand One

One Thousand Two

One Thousand Three

One Thousand Four

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Measuring Space in Time

Help Drivers to:

• Find the best information
• Control their approach to intersections
• Timing turns and selecting a safe gaps
• Follow and get control when being followed
• Control their approach to curves

Three Searching Ranges

• Search the Target Area – Find the LOS-POT conditions of your destination
• Search & Evaluate the 15 Second Range – Solve problems while 15 seconds away
• Control the 4 Second Danger Zone – Make sure your solutions still work, your car is about to occupy that zone.

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Three Searching Ranges

• Control the 4 Second Danger Zone

• Solve problems 15 seconds away

• Find LOS-POT Zone Conditions

Zone Conditions

• Open Zone
• No LOS Information Blockages
• No POT Restrictions
• 4 second following
• 12 seconds visual lead
• Closed Zone
• Any LOS-POT Blockages or Restrictions
• Changing Zone
• Worsening conditions

Examples of LOS-POT’s

• Hill Crest = Closed Front Zone, LOS
• Red Traffic Light = Closed Front Zone, POT
• A Bicyclist to the Right = Closed Right-Front Zone, POT
• Oncoming Traffic = Closed Left-Front Zone, POT
• Car Parked to the Right = Closed Right-Front Zone, LOS-POT
• Truck Following Too Close = Closed Rear Zone, LOS-POT

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Closed Zones

LOS Blockages? POT Restrictions?

Yes! The red car is the left front zone could

conceal a car to the rear. The van and car

restrict our ability to occupy that space.

Closed Zones

Is the Left Front Zone Open or Closed?

Yes! Closed.

Can’t Occupy that space & car could be concealing a vehicle in it’s rear

Closed Zones

LOS Blockages?

POT Restrictions?

Yes! The white truck and building in the left front zone block our view of the intersection. The white van and oncoming car restricts our ability to occupy that space.

Closed Zone

Is The Right Front Zone Open or Closed?

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Yes! Closed.

How is Your Front Zone?

Open! No LOS-POT Problems

Students may notice the hill crest in the target area. Hooray! That is considered a closed zone. However at this point in time open zone conditions exist: Open Zone = No LOS Information Blockages, No POT Restrictions, 4 seconds following time & 12 seconds visual lead.

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• Curve in target area is an LOS blockage
• Van in right front zone is an LOS-POT, it affects our targeting path and blocks our view of school crossing

What LOS-POT conditions do you see in the target area and 15 second ranges?

Photo Copyright - NIDB

Bushes block our view of the driveways in the left and right front zones!

What LOS-POT conditions must you control in your 4-Second Danger Zone?

Photo Copyright - NIDB

What is your best lane position option?

What is your best speed control option?

Is your right front zone open or closed?

Yes! Closed. Why?

Photo Copyright - NIDB

The right front zone is closed, the van restricts our path and blocks our view – Lane position 2 is the best option at this point. It gives us the best view of the driveway on the right and the best separation from the van. Applying the brake to get the best information regarding the conditions at the school crossing is required.

What LOS-POT conditions do you see in the target area and 15 second ranges?

• Hill Crest in target area is an LOS blockage
• The traffic light is a POT restriction
• Oncoming car in left front zone and parked cars in the right front zone are POT restrictions. They reduce our lane position options

What LOS-POT conditions must you control in your 4-Second Danger Zone?

Building on the left blocks our view of the intersection!

The left front zone is closed, the cars restrict our path and parked cars may blocks our view – Lane position 1 is the best option at this point and applying the brake to get the best information regarding the conditions at the school crossing is required.

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What are the conditions of your right and left front zones – Open or Closed?

What is your best lane position option?

What is your best speed control option? Closed!

The left front zone is closed, the cars restrict our path and parked cars may blocks our view – Lane position 1 is the best option at this point. Covering the brake and searching the intersection at a 45 degree view to get the best information regarding the conditions at the intersection is required.

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15 Searching Principles

• Locate your target area; evaluate its condition; determine best approach speed and lane positioning.
• After evaluating the target area, visualize your targeting path.
• Search for LOS-POT zone changes that can or do affect your approach to the target area.
• When you arrive into the target area, search for your new target area.
• When the target area is a curve or a hill crest, search through the curve or over the hill crest for the status of your POT.

15 Searching Principles Cont.

• When approaching an intersection, look for open left, front and right zones before entering.
• Before turning the steering wheel, turn your head in that direction to search for an open zone.
• Before changing lateral positioning, make an over-the-shoulder check and/or check the convex mirror.
• Visualize the space your vehicle will occupy at least 12-15 seconds ahead.
• Before entering your 4-second danger zone, reevaluate the condition of your path-of-travel.

15 Searching Principles Cont.

• Check the rear zone before, during, and after taking a braking action.
• When you see a closed front zone, check the rear zone for options.
• When an LOS-POT zone change is seen, check the opposite zones for additional information and an escape path.
• When you see a closed right-front zone, check the left-front and/or left-rear zones for options.
• When you see a closed left-front zone, check the right-front and/or right-rear zones for options.

Summary

Accurate Perception is Knowing Where to

Look and What to Look For

• Ask The Right Questions
• Search for LOS-POT Restrictions
• When You Find Problems to Solve…

Use Zone Control!