How Scanning Ahead Can Make You a Better Driver
You’ve heard the term scanning, but do really know what it is and how to employ it to become a better driver? First things first, scanning is knowing where, when and how to look 360 degrees around the vehicle for signs, signals, roadway markings and potential hazards. Here’s what you need to know to become a better driver.
Proper Scanning:
Scanning refers to checking down the road as well as looking all around your vehicle using your
mirrors. A general rule of thumb is to scan ahead 12-15 seconds in all environments, 1-11⁄2 blocks in city environments and 1⁄4 mile in highway environments. Blind spots and mirrors should be checked every 3-5 seconds before and after changing lanes.
We can’t control what the vehicles behind us do, but we can check our mirrors and blind spots so that we are aware of their actions. If you find that you are being tailgated, reduce your speed and increase your following distance to try to reduce the chances of abrupt braking. If you are not already in the right lane, you may also change lanes to the right and allow for the tailgater to pass you if legal and safe to do so.
Active Communication:
In addition to scanning—communication is important in preparing you to become a better driver.
Communicating means using your directional signals, hazard lights, running lights, high and low
beams, horn and the position of your vehicle to inform other drivers of your intentions. For example, you can communicate by moving your vehicle within your lane or even by changing lanes. Communicating your intentions to others on the road is vital to their safety and yours.
Establish a Cushion of Safety:
The last point—cushion of safety, refers to the entire area around your vehicle (front, sides, rear) that you should try to keep free of other vehicles and pedestrians. To maintain the cushion of safety in front of your vehicle, keep a following distance of 3-5 seconds between your vehicle and others. Check your mirrors regularly and blind spots every 3-5 seconds before and after changing lanes. Becoming a better driver is within you reach when properly utilizing S.C.C.
Practice Makes You a Better Driver
Using S.C.C.—scanning, communicating, and cushion of Safety, will help you become a better driver (or proactive driver) ready to size up any situation. Whether you’re a brand new driver or you have years of experience, take responsibility for your driving responses and actions. The only way you’re going to do that and do that well, is to remain proactive in your approach to driving.
Remember those three words, scanning, communicating, cushion of safety. Apply them on the roadway, whether it’s in adverse conditions, ideal conditions, whether you’re driving in congested areas or on rural roads.
If you’re interested in sharpening your knowledge and becoming a better driver, contact Top Driver today to sign up for an online driving course.
Frequently asked questions
What does scanning mean in driving, and why does it matter?
Scanning is the habit of actively looking 360 degrees around your vehicle for signs, signals, pavement markings, other road users, and potential hazards. It involves checking far down the road as well as using your mirrors to track what's happening to the sides and behind you. Drivers who scan consistently catch problems early, which gives them time to adjust speed or position before a situation becomes dangerous. Most surprises on the road are actually missed cues that a scanning driver would have spotted seconds earlier.
How far ahead should I be looking when I drive?
The general rule is to scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead in any environment. In city driving that works out to roughly one to one and a half blocks ahead. On the highway that's about a quarter mile down the road. Looking that far out lets you see brake lights, lane closures, debris, and traffic build-up early enough to react smoothly instead of slamming the brakes at the last second.
How often should I check my mirrors and blind spots?
Check your mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds while driving normally, and always check both your mirrors and your blind spots before and after a lane change. The blind spot check is the one drivers most often skip, and it's the one most likely to cause a sideswipe. A quick over-the-shoulder glance covers what your mirrors can't, and checking again after the lane change confirms you ended up where you intended.
What does communicating with other drivers actually look like?
Communication means using all the tools your vehicle gives you to signal your intentions. That includes turn signals, hazard lights, running lights, high and low beams, the horn, and even the position of your vehicle within the lane. Edging slightly within your lane can show a driver behind you that you're preparing to move, and a properly timed turn signal tells everyone around you what to expect. The goal is to remove guesswork for the other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians sharing the road with you.
What is a cushion of safety and how do I maintain one?
A cushion of safety is the buffer of empty space you keep around your vehicle on all four sides. In front, that means maintaining a 3 to 5 second following distance to the vehicle ahead. To the sides and rear, that means positioning yourself to avoid being boxed in by other traffic. You can't always control drivers behind you, but you can adjust your speed and lane position to keep clear paths open. If you ever need to swerve or brake hard, a proper cushion gives you somewhere to go.
What should I do if someone is tailgating me?
Don't engage with the tailgater. Instead, reduce your speed slightly and increase your following distance to the vehicle in front of you. The extra space means you won't have to brake suddenly, which is what usually triggers a rear-end collision with a tailgater. If you're not already in the right lane and it's legal and safe to move over, change lanes and let them pass. Brake-checking or speeding up to escape almost always makes the situation worse.
What is the S.C.C. approach Top Driver teaches?
S.C.C. stands for Scanning, Communicating, and Cushion of safety. It's the framework Top Driver instructors use to turn safe driving into a repeatable habit. Scanning keeps you aware of everything happening around the vehicle. Communicating makes your intentions clear to everyone else. The cushion of safety gives you the space and time to react if something goes wrong. Used together, these three habits work in any condition, whether you're a new teen driver or someone with decades of experience.
