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In this edition of Safety Checks and Skills we're looking at - what we should be looking at.
Which means - when you're driving, what should you be looking out for in the way of hazards?
Where should your eyes be focused in order to give you the best vision of what's happening around you.
Brian - can you give us your thoughts on where we should be looking - when we're driving?
Jess - When you're driving you depend greatly on your eyes to give you a clear, complete and accurate picture of what's going on around you.
You are constantly searching for potential hazards, and a hazard is anything that might cause you to change speed or direction
and that includes potentially dangerous situations that may lead to a crash or injury.
You need to be aware of what's going on all around you all the time.
Of course you need to watch in the direction you're travelling.
What's happening right in front of you as well as what's coming up.
For instance you look at what the car in front of you is doing - but you are also looking as far ahead as possible.
Your best friends when you are driving are your mirrors - and it's really helpful to fall into a pattern when you are using them.
When you-re driving - try this pattern. Check what's happening immediately in front of you.
Then what's happening up the road.
Check your rear view mirror. Check your side mirrors if you need to.
And then back to the road again in front.
Okay, so basically we look directly in front, then out ahead.
The rear view mirror, the side mirrors and then back to the front.
Correct. And once you've fallen into a pattern, you can take all that visual information in very quickly.
A constant pattern of checking your mirrors as well as the road ahead gives you better information.
And once you have better information, you make better driving decisions.
You are more aware of potential hazards and you will respond earlier and that helps you stay safer on the road.
That's a wrap.