Observation and awareness

By the end of this topic you can

• You can adjust your seat and mirrors before driving so you can see properly.
• You can use your mirrors in good time before signalling or changing speed or direction.
• You can check your blind spots over your shoulder when moving off and changing lanes.
• You can scan far ahead, mid-distance and close up, and back again.
• You can act on what you see, not just look.

What you need to know and understand

• Mirrors do not show everything. Blind spots can hide a car, motorcyclist or cyclist.
• Check the mirror and the blind spot over your shoulder before moving off.
• Use the mirrors before you signal, change direction, or slow down or stop.
• Door pillars and passengers can hide pedestrians at junctions and roundabouts.
• The driving test marks whether you take proper observation and react to what you see.
• Keep windows, mirrors and lights clean so nothing blocks your view.

Mirrors, signal, position: where the mirror fits

The Rules of the Road builds most manoeuvres around a simple order: check your mirrors, signal if needed, then change position or speed. The mirror check comes first because you need to know who is behind and beside you before you tell them, or show them, what you are going to do.

Check your interior mirror and the relevant door mirror. A quick look every few seconds keeps your picture of traffic behind you up to date, so a mirror check before a manoeuvre is a confirmation, not a surprise.

Blind spots and how to cover them

A blind spot is an area around the car that you cannot see in the mirrors. The main ones are just behind your shoulders on each side. Cover them like this:

• Moving off from the kerb: look over your right shoulder.
• Changing lanes: look over the shoulder on the side you are moving to.
• Pulling in or turning left near cyclists: check your left mirror and left blind spot.
• At junctions: move your head to see round door pillars, and look right, left and right again.
• Keep the shoulder check quick. A long look over your shoulder takes your eyes off the road ahead.

Looking far, near and all round

Good drivers scan. Look well down the road for traffic lights, queues and junctions, then at the middle distance, then close in front, then the mirrors, and repeat. Watch for clues as well as objects: a ball rolling out, a bus at a stop, a car's reversing lights, a cyclist glancing over their shoulder.

Observation only counts if you act on it. If you see a hazard, adjust your speed or position early.

Common mistakes

• Checking the mirror after signalling instead of before. Mirror first, then signal.
• Skipping the blind spot when moving off. Always look over your right shoulder.
• Looking but not seeing at junctions. Take time to look properly in each direction.
• Staring at the road just in front of the bonnet. Lift your eyes and look further ahead.
• Forgetting the left side. Cyclists and motorcyclists often come up on your inside.

Test yourself: Observation and awareness

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.