How to use peripheral vision for safe defensive driving

Peripheral vision is the sight that occurs just beyond the centre of our gaze, typically as we look straight ahead what we directly observe is with 10 to 20 degrees of our line of sight. However just outside and around that direct line of sight we can detect other objects and this is what is known as the peripheral vision. When the vision is stimulated by movement or flashing lights, this causes us to turn our head to look fully at the object, which is why our car indicator lights flash instead of remaining static.

As human beings we do have the widest range of vision when we are remaining still but this changes when we move at speed, and we are not really designed to go faster than around 15. We don’t have eyes in the back of our head (unless we are high school teachers or astute mothers) so when motoring, making the most of our peripheral vision is a skill taught by our driving school instructors. It is certainly part of defensive driving course techniques and ensures that we make the roads safer for ourselves as well as other highway users.

Driving schools in Perth and Fremantle teach the rudimentary methods of defensive driving and also ensure that students practice using their peripheral vision to gain a fuller awareness of what is happening around them when they drive. Sitting back in the driver’s seat is a good way to start, because it allows you to make the most of your peripheral vision. The driver’s range of vision widens and includes the passengers, as well as the driver’s window.

Another easy tip is to make sure you are not squinting or narrowing your eyes, so wearing appropriate eye wear or prescription sunglasses to deflect the glare will make the most of your peripheral vision. Driving instructors will advise you not just to focus on the one spot ahead, but to keep scanning the road with your eyes and checking your mirror. This is something that will be observed during the driving test as well as it enables you to get the bigger picture of what is happening to the front, back and sides of your vehicle. If you use this scanning technique, then you will soon find out that your eyes catch the movement of a car closing in on the rear or to the side of you.

Other sudden movements, beyond your control, can also be detected, allowing you to avoid any potential hazards such as a dog running across the road or a car cutting across you to change lanes. Constant monitoring of your surroundings will help you to formulate what is known as an “escape plan” so if someone does brake suddenly due to an unforeseen obstacle in their way, you will have noted that the lane to the side of you is free so you can quickly move into it to avoid a collision. Driving schools in Joondalup, Perth and Fremantle can help in educating you to make full use of your peripheral vision, which is an extremely useful tool to have when driving ourselves and our passengers safely from one place to the next. Speak to a Western Suburbs Driving School instructor today.