How to improve my observation
Discussion
I'm looking for some advice on how to improve my observation when driving. Do any IAM observers (for example) have any tips or tricks they "teach" their associates? I am very aware that when I drive, be it pootling around town or cruising on the motorway, I have a terrible habit of staring at the back of the car in front, or if there's no car, just starting down at the road. I have read Road Craft and How To Pass Your Advanced Driving Test (?) so I know the theory of scanning the far/middle/near distance etc..., I just struggle to put it in to practice. Any advice would be much appreciated. The irony is, when I passed my driving test, the examiner commended me for my observations. I think his exact words were "the best observations I've ever seen in a learner driver". What's gone wrong?
Give yourself a specific task to do.
Start with road signs, call out every road sign you see. Keep testing yourself "what was the last road sign I passed."
Add in a little bit of commentary on the road sign. e.g Sign warning of wild animals, woods on either side, no fences, possibility of animals emergin from betwen trees.
When you get the hang of that add in non-official road signs, e.g. Builders development sign, possibility of heavy traffic and mud on road.
The you can add in other observations. Some random simple examples.
1.Wheelie bins out at road side AND recycling boxes, so its bin day and we might see TWO bin lorries.
2. Schoolkids waiting at bus stop on opposite side of road, can expect to see a school bus coming other way, and kids running to bus stop late for school.
3. Approaching left hand bend, hedge and grass clippings on side of road, smell of new mown grass, might expect to see a tractor trimming the verges just round this bend.
4. House roof over to the left across the fields, expect to approach an entrance.
Getting the picture? Review at the end of a drive and think about what you missed. The aim is to take surprises out of the equation.
Can't offer any more specific advice other than concentration and practice. Build up your skills.
However I would be interested to hear how the others do it with someone from scratch.
Start with road signs, call out every road sign you see. Keep testing yourself "what was the last road sign I passed."
Add in a little bit of commentary on the road sign. e.g Sign warning of wild animals, woods on either side, no fences, possibility of animals emergin from betwen trees.
When you get the hang of that add in non-official road signs, e.g. Builders development sign, possibility of heavy traffic and mud on road.
The you can add in other observations. Some random simple examples.
1.Wheelie bins out at road side AND recycling boxes, so its bin day and we might see TWO bin lorries.
2. Schoolkids waiting at bus stop on opposite side of road, can expect to see a school bus coming other way, and kids running to bus stop late for school.
3. Approaching left hand bend, hedge and grass clippings on side of road, smell of new mown grass, might expect to see a tractor trimming the verges just round this bend.
4. House roof over to the left across the fields, expect to approach an entrance.
Getting the picture? Review at the end of a drive and think about what you missed. The aim is to take surprises out of the equation.
Can't offer any more specific advice other than concentration and practice. Build up your skills.
However I would be interested to hear how the others do it with someone from scratch.
I start with showing the Associate how to scan.
Bonnet to horizon, Mirror, horizon to bonnet.
Bonnet to left. Nearside mirror. left to bonnet.
Bonnet to right. Offside mirror. right to bonnet.
Start with this, bouncing the vision around. In reality it is a LOT less formal but the principle is good. Keep that vision bouncing around.
When a hazard emerges - do not stare at the danger...keep the scanning up. As bikers would say - don't look at the crash - look for the escape.
With practice the scanning technique becomes both second nature and a lot less tiring.
Once you have good scanning you need to test that you are both seeing and taking note of what you see...its no good looking on automatic if you don't do anything about it. So...as FiF says..
Shout out (to yourself!) every road sign. Then include every road marking as well. Then include everything near to the road...into as far in the distance as you can.
Prioritise what you see - clearly hazards that emerge near you should interrupt comments on items in the distance.
When you have a plan for everything you see and can approach it using the System - you are an Advanced Driver!
Bonnet to horizon, Mirror, horizon to bonnet.
Bonnet to left. Nearside mirror. left to bonnet.
Bonnet to right. Offside mirror. right to bonnet.
Start with this, bouncing the vision around. In reality it is a LOT less formal but the principle is good. Keep that vision bouncing around.
When a hazard emerges - do not stare at the danger...keep the scanning up. As bikers would say - don't look at the crash - look for the escape.
With practice the scanning technique becomes both second nature and a lot less tiring.
Once you have good scanning you need to test that you are both seeing and taking note of what you see...its no good looking on automatic if you don't do anything about it. So...as FiF says..
Shout out (to yourself!) every road sign. Then include every road marking as well. Then include everything near to the road...into as far in the distance as you can.
Prioritise what you see - clearly hazards that emerge near you should interrupt comments on items in the distance.
When you have a plan for everything you see and can approach it using the System - you are an Advanced Driver!
I agree - commentary - starting from the horizon - really picks your vision up (and necessitates your keeping a larger safety margn around the car, to allow your attention to be distributed).
It's very hard in busy city driving to get a lot of horizon, but there are lotsof cars to look under, side roads to scan, so my observation tends to move to a bit more side-to-side than front to back, but always start off with the furtherst thing you can see and sweep back. Immediate hazards will have been completed in previous sweeps.
Commentary also slows your drive, and makes other people think you are a nutter.
It's very hard in busy city driving to get a lot of horizon, but there are lotsof cars to look under, side roads to scan, so my observation tends to move to a bit more side-to-side than front to back, but always start off with the furtherst thing you can see and sweep back. Immediate hazards will have been completed in previous sweeps.
Commentary also slows your drive, and makes other people think you are a nutter.
7db said:
Commentary also slows your drive, and makes other people think you are a nutter.
but it soon picks up just don't try to say everything you see as correct English as you get tongue tied and left becomes right etc. There used to be any example in one of the IAM books but I’m not sure it is still printed as i haven’t read it for nearly 20 years, i found it just couldn't say all that the narrative said in that detail and still drive the car making reasonable progress.
Passed my test nearly 20 years ago and still occasionally give a commentary to myself, people just think your having an animated conversation on the phone but it does help.:d
The approach I use follows a cycle of surprise, hindsight, foresight. Any time something impacts me that I hadn't anticipated, I try to work out how I could have anticipated it.
So for example after trucks had pulled out in front of me on the motorway a couple of times, I started keeping an eye out for closing gaps. When I found there were still trucks pulling out unexpectedly I started keeping an eye for gradients that could lead to speed changes, and looking out for empty trucks, and so on. When it still happened I came to the conclusion that some trucks will pull out any time. So I avoid being alongside a truck when any of the other clues suggest that the driver may want / need to pull out, but even when there's no obvious reason for them to pull out I make a point of minimising my time alongside, make sure I always have an escape route into the next lane while I'm there, and be prepared to use it. Same for all the other hazards that you encounter. It's not as good as anticipating all conceivable hazards, but it is a very pragmatic approach and means that you quickly learn to anticipitate the hazards that you actualy encounter in your environment. It also means you look for the things that matter, rather than looking for everything and then thinking about whether it affects you. IMO scanning is no good unless you know what you're looking for.
So for example after trucks had pulled out in front of me on the motorway a couple of times, I started keeping an eye out for closing gaps. When I found there were still trucks pulling out unexpectedly I started keeping an eye for gradients that could lead to speed changes, and looking out for empty trucks, and so on. When it still happened I came to the conclusion that some trucks will pull out any time. So I avoid being alongside a truck when any of the other clues suggest that the driver may want / need to pull out, but even when there's no obvious reason for them to pull out I make a point of minimising my time alongside, make sure I always have an escape route into the next lane while I'm there, and be prepared to use it. Same for all the other hazards that you encounter. It's not as good as anticipating all conceivable hazards, but it is a very pragmatic approach and means that you quickly learn to anticipitate the hazards that you actualy encounter in your environment. It also means you look for the things that matter, rather than looking for everything and then thinking about whether it affects you. IMO scanning is no good unless you know what you're looking for.
Thanks for all the advice. I spent a lot of time today driving in town and tried out some of the tips. I find the commentary very helpful, really aids the concentration. But I find the constant scanning very very tiring. I actually developed a headache after a while. I'm driving Glasgow to Edinburgh to Perth tomorrow so I'll practice scanning on the motorway.
hanse cronje said:
Commentary also slows your drive, and makes other people think you are a nutter.
but it soon picks up just don't try to say everything you see as correct English as you get tongue tied and left becomes right etc...i found it just couldn't say all that the narrative said in that detail and still drive the car making reasonable progress.
If you get the chance to see the video of Hugh from Cadence doing a commentary drive (I think Stressed Dave posted it here a while ago), then you will have a good example of someone who can give a perfect full-english narrative with observation, option and action all spoken out clearly like he's reading it from a well written book. Amazing.
Me? I go all Neanderthal - car. tree. rock. ugh.
Re scanning the example I use is imagine you are swimming breast stroke and scan in a similar way to hands and legs go in that swimming style.
Push hands forward = scan out from bonnet to horizon
Pull hands outwards and backwards = widen vision out to the sides and bring vision back to bonnet and either side.
Leg action = Whats happening behind = mirrors and over shoulder if needed.
Hands pulled in ready for the push out to the horizon = in car i.e instruments.
Push hands forward = scan out to horizon again and so on.
The difficult bit is as I think Don mentioned when somebody is operating according to rote and they are in the scanning out at the horizon bit and something more hazardous crops up closer to the car. All about grading, prioritising and equallising hazards.
Yes you should be tired. On a long drive blooming knackered at first.
Push hands forward = scan out from bonnet to horizon
Pull hands outwards and backwards = widen vision out to the sides and bring vision back to bonnet and either side.
Leg action = Whats happening behind = mirrors and over shoulder if needed.
Hands pulled in ready for the push out to the horizon = in car i.e instruments.
Push hands forward = scan out to horizon again and so on.
The difficult bit is as I think Don mentioned when somebody is operating according to rote and they are in the scanning out at the horizon bit and something more hazardous crops up closer to the car. All about grading, prioritising and equallising hazards.
Yes you should be tired. On a long drive blooming knackered at first.
*Definately* try commentary.
This is an instant way to improve your driving and observation instantly. And you can do it anywhere for free! Keep it to the car though, people might think you're mad in Tescos if you try there!
If you can speak quick enough to get the words out in a 30 limit at above 25mph then you're not observing enough!
This is an instant way to improve your driving and observation instantly. And you can do it anywhere for free! Keep it to the car though, people might think you're mad in Tescos if you try there!
If you can speak quick enough to get the words out in a 30 limit at above 25mph then you're not observing enough!
Desmo's right. Even though I was a so-called advanced car driver by the time I took up biking, I learnt a great deal about hazard awareness from taking up motorcycling.
It's a shame more car drivers don't try a 1-day CBT, even if it's purely out of curiousity (with no intention of going on to take up biking). Compulsory Basic Training is a one day course for non-bikers. It's the start of all bike training, but stands in its own right (qualifying you to ride with L-plates). It's a very rewarding day.
Although there is always the danger that you might discover how much more fun it is on two wheels ...
>> Edited by Mark_SV on Thursday 5th January 17:12
It's a shame more car drivers don't try a 1-day CBT, even if it's purely out of curiousity (with no intention of going on to take up biking). Compulsory Basic Training is a one day course for non-bikers. It's the start of all bike training, but stands in its own right (qualifying you to ride with L-plates). It's a very rewarding day.
Although there is always the danger that you might discover how much more fun it is on two wheels
... >> Edited by Mark_SV on Thursday 5th January 17:12
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