How to scan the road with your eyes

You are 100% right, the thing is I want to know it and what my options are,it has saved my bacon several times.

 

Slap on your targeting computer Luke!

 

I'm going on seven years total time in a big rig and I am still working on getting better, at simple things like shifting or steering or checking my mirrors. Recently I have been working on making a HABIT of good posture. I adjust all my mirrors with good posture, but got into a habit of slouching as I drive. That means in order to properly check my mirrors I need to either turn my head side to side, OR sit up properly to see me mirrors at a glance.

I opted to start developing a habit of good posture. I am starting to see much more behind me, even with peripheral vision. That's a big help when I am rounding a curve and need to know if I can change lane to avoid the trucker pulling into the road from a standing start OR slam on the binders.

The best habit I have developed is leaving plenty of room ahead of me. That's room for me to see potholes, brake lights at the crest of the hill, and room for other folks to use.

 

Stay back from other vehicles, even if you know someone is going to fill that gap. Never run nose to tail with another truck, the fuel savings are negligible. Keep your eyes moving, focusing in one direction too long narrows your field of vision. Always try to know where everyone is around you, use the windshield, windows and mirrors. Try not to allow yourself to get boxed in with other trucks, sometimes the right lane is the best place to be as you can dive to the shoulder in an emergency. In a traffic jam, just take it easy. Everyone who thinks they're getting ahead is just going to stop in the next 30 seconds anyway.

 

Always look far ahead. Scan ur eyes back close to the car in front of u to make sure he doesnt do nothing stupid. But its best to keep ur eyes far down the road. Its alot easier to figure out the flow of traffic while looking far ahead... When u look at the car in front of u , u tend to get that brake gas brake gas rhythm going, looking far ahead keeps a good rhythm . thats in traffic. In regular highway just keep scanning far ahead , close, right , left. Just keep an eye on all cars around you and anticipate what they will do. Its easy to recognize traffic patterns after awhile and it will make u a safe driver . not to mention it will save your ### if ur always thinking about your outs, and where to go if something happens. U can tell alot of guys that never goes thru their mind thhats why u see 35 car pileups.....it aint really so much as scanning a certain distance like the cdl manual says to do, its more of just keeping an eye on traffic and the patterns ... There was a post in the heavy haul forum and one of the drivers was talking about how he thinks of all the traffic like his babies and hes the mother hen, protecting them , making sure he doesnt put them in harms way.. Just think about it like that and u will develop good habits as a driver

 

It is a form of battle for me. Maybe I crave that for my mind. When I am bored I'm no good.

The cars and trucks exhibit a form of human behavior. One of them jerks a little bit and back bumper dips as it gains hammer it has my attention Already developing the smash that is coming up. Jacobs is coming on and service has 8 pounds

My wife told me one day that she has thinking that if there was anything out of me in that stupid truck is that I always have more air if I need it.

Bosses don't like that. Smacks of stunting and other wild stuff.

 

It is always best if you are in the lead, looking at everybody else in the mirrors. lol

 

That's why I don't drive casterated trucks.

If I am going to be looking at trailers all day I might as well take a two hour lunch.

 

There is always one faster. lol
I was on 40 crossing Arkansas, burning more than my share of fuel, probably doing 90 or there abouts. I was not paying any attention to my mirrors when a black T800 like to have blown me off the road. I had a little left, but just eased up on the throttle instead, there was no way I could have stayed with him. lol

 

They showed us a film at school. It must have been from the 60's. I swear it somehow programmed me to scan the road ahead properly and check my mirrors fanatically. Scanning the road has been second nature to me since I started driving.