Using Your Senses While Driving (Besides Vision)
A large majority of the information you gather while driving is received through your eyes, such as the cars around you, traffic lights and signals, road construction, street signs, and so much more. Even though your sense of sight is crucial, you will still need to depend on other senses to identify any potential dangers and to drive as safely as possible.
Hearing
Your sense of hearing can alert you to the sounds of vehicle horns, train whistles, emergency-vehicle sirens, and engines and braking of vehicles. You can also get early warning of mechanical problems by listening for unusual noises from your car. Do not turn up the music too loud in your car; you may miss these important warning signs.
Smell
Your sense of smell can identify an overheated engine or overheated brakes. Smelling exhaust fumes inside your vehicle can warn you of the presence of a dangerous issue. If you start to smell something unusual from your car, take it in to the nearest maintenance shop so that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible.
Touch
Your sense of touch may not seem like an obvious one, but it plays a role in your ability to drive safely. You should always drive with both hands touching the wheel to give you maximum stability and control. Placing both hands on the wheel can also help you sense mechanical issues such as a poorly balanced tire or a tire that is deflating.
Using all of your senses will ensure that you are staying focused on the road in order to get to your destination safely. All of your senses work together to give you clues as to what’s going on around you. If you ever feel that something isn’t right with your vehicle, don’t hesitate to get it checked out.
Frequently asked questions
Why does driving depend on more than just sight?
Vision provides most of the information you use while driving (other cars, signals, signs, lane lines), but your other senses fill in critical gaps. Hearing catches threats you can't see yet, smell catches mechanical problems before they become breakdowns, and touch keeps you connected to how the car is behaving. Drivers who rely only on vision miss early warnings that could have prevented a crash or a costly repair. Defensive driving is a multi-sense activity.
What sounds should I be listening for while driving?
Vehicle horns, train whistles, emergency vehicle sirens, and the engines or brakes of nearby cars are the obvious ones, they tell you something nearby needs your attention. Beyond traffic, listen to your own car. Unusual noises like grinding, squealing, knocking, or clunking are early warnings of mechanical problems. To hear any of this, keep the music at a moderate volume, blasting the stereo masks both traffic sounds and the symptoms your car is trying to tell you about.
What smells should make me pull over and check my car?
Hot, sweet coolant smell can mean an overheated engine. A sharp, burning odor often points to overheated brakes, especially after a long downhill or hard stops. Most importantly, smelling exhaust fumes inside the cabin is a serious warning, carbon monoxide is odorless but exhaust gases that accompany it aren't, and a leak into the interior can be deadly. If you notice any unusual smell from the car, get it to a maintenance shop as soon as possible.
How does my sense of touch help me drive?
Touch keeps you tuned in to how the car feels. Always drive with both hands on the wheel, it gives you maximum stability and control, and it lets you feel feedback the car is sending through the steering. Vibrations can indicate a poorly balanced tire, a deflating tire, suspension issues, or brake problems. A car that suddenly pulls to one side is telling you something through the steering wheel that you might miss if you were driving one-handed.
What should I do if I notice something feels off with my car?
Don't ignore it and hope it goes away. A new noise, an unusual smell, a vibration, or a change in how the steering feels is the car telling you something needs attention. Catching the issue early almost always means a cheaper, simpler fix than waiting until something fails on the road. Get it checked at a maintenance shop as soon as you can. Using your senses while driving is the difference between a small repair and a roadside breakdown.
