Roadwise States Washington Driving lessons Searching and scanning around you Washington driving lesson · The Driver
Searching and scanning around you A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit The Driver
Checkpoint questions 4
Source pages 87, 88, 89 You gather the information for every decision by searching and scanning. Look far ahead, to the sides, and behind, and drive at a speed that gives your eyes time to do the work. The earlier you spot trouble, the less you'll need to brake or swerve.
Visual search vs. scanning Visual searching is using your eyes to actively check your surroundings. Scanning adds moving your head, neck, and body to see as much as possible.
Handbook p. 87 ↗ Know the rule
Travel at a speed that supports your ability to search and scan effectively.
Handbook p. 88 ↗ Scan to the front for: Traffic you'll need to steer around, and blockages that could hide a pedestrian, bicyclist, or vehicle Feet, wheels, shadows, and movement in, under, and around parked vehicles What's happening beyond the vehicle in front of you Handbook p. 88 ↗ Know the rule
Looking ahead helps you avoid last-minute braking or sudden turning and swerving.
Handbook p. 88 ↗ Scan to the side: At intersections, watch for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from left and right Watch for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road Where foliage or objects block your view, watch for movement Before turning, check side mirrors and over your shoulder for bicyclists or pedestrians Handbook p. 88 ↗ Check behind you when you: Change lanes Turn across a bicycle lane Slow down Back up Drive down a long or steep hill Handbook p. 88 ↗ Know the rule
Check behind more often in heavy traffic. If someone is following too closely or coming up too fast, you'll have time to change lanes, tap your brakes, speed up, or slow down.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ Put it into practice
Driving past a row of parked cars, you notice small feet under a van. Slow down and be ready to stop: a child may step out from in front of it.
A useful reminder Scanning isn't just eyes: it means moving your head, neck, and body too.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
When should you check traffic behind you, according to the handbook's scanning guidance? Only once at the start of a trip Only if you hear a horn When changing lanes, turning across a bike lane, or driving down a steep hill Only before parking Answer: When changing lanes, turning across a bike lane, or driving down a steep hill
You should check behind you when changing lanes, turning across a bicycle lane, slowing, backing, or on a long or steep hill.
Handbook p. 88 ↗ How is scanning different from visual searching? It uses only your mirrors It adds moving your head, neck, and body It means looking only far ahead It relies on peripheral vision alone Answer: It adds moving your head, neck, and body
Visual searching uses your eyes; scanning also moves your head, neck, and body so you see as much as possible.
Handbook p. 87 ↗ Driving past a row of parked cars, what should you watch for in, under, and around them? Expired tabs and plates Open fuel doors and flat tires Brake lights and exhaust only Feet, wheels, shadows, and movement Answer: Feet, wheels, shadows, and movement
Scanning to the front includes feet, wheels, shadows, and movement around parked vehicles that could hide a person.
Handbook p. 88 ↗ You should check traffic behind you more often when traffic is heavy. True False Answer: True
The guide says to check more often in heavy traffic so you have time to react to someone following too closely.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ Previous lesson Distracted driving and paying attention Next lesson Respect, responsibility, and the environment About the source Roadwise’s Washington course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 87, 88, 89. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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