Question: I am about to take my road test for the first time in a few days, which is so exciting. I wanted to refresh my memory on something first, though. How many vision zones are there around a car—and what are they?
Answer: Taking your road test is a big step towards receiving your driver’s license, congratulations. While you’re behind the wheel, you should be aware of six zones of vision.
What are the zones of vision in driving?
The six vision zones in driving include:
- Front: The area visible through your windshield.
- Left front: The area visible through your driver’s side window.
- Right front: The area visible through your front passenger window.
- Rear: The area visible from your rearview mirror (or back windshield).
- Left rear: The area visible in your driver’s side mirror, or by turning over your left shoulder to look out the rear driver’s side window
- Right rear: The area visible in your passenger’s side mirror, or by turning over your right shoulder to look out the rear passenger’s side window
To be a safe and defensive driver, you must always remain aware of all six zones. Pay attention to the other drivers around you and try to anticipate what they may or may not do next.
Zone status
- Open: You can clearly see the area and there are no vehicles in that zone.
- Closed: A vehicle is in the zone or there is an obstruction that prevents you from seeing it clearly.
- Changing: This zone occurs when your situation is changing from open to closed. Another driver may enter or exit the zone, speed limits or lanes may be reduced, or there is an obstruction approaching that will block your line of sight.
Staying aware of each zone and its status makes you more likely to react quickly if a driver acts unexpectedly or a hazard enters your path.
Watching your zones may sound overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be, as your side mirrors and rearview mirror are there to assist you.
Remember, whenever you’re behind the wheel of a car, it is your responsibility to:
- Be vigilant when it comes to your surroundings.
- Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Remain alert at all times.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
