Looking Ahead & Behind

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The ability to visually search the road and look for hazards is an essential skill for all smart drivers. Practice the following techniques often with your teen.

Looking Ahead

Drivers should always make sure they can see ahead before starting out and can see ahead at all times while driving. When approaching an intersection, make sure your teen keeps their eyes moving to the right and left to see traffic that may be approaching from either side or stopping suddenly.

Looking Behind

Make sure your teen learns how to do a quick turn of their head to the right to check the blind spot before pulling into traffic or making lane changes. Before backing up, drivers should turn their head to look all the way behind and around the car.

Teach your teen to check the rearview mirror periodically and in the following situations:

• After seeing a sudden change ahead
• Before braking
• While stopped in traffic
• Before and after turning
• Before and after changing lanes

Failure to search ahead, to the side and to the rear are among the top ten causes of teen crashes.

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