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How far should I scan the road around me when driving in the city?
I just moved to my first city and I’m not used to driving here whatsoever. I learned how to drive in wide-open spaces where it’s easy to keep track of what’s around you. What do I need to be focused on while I’m driving in the city?
Pat Roache · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on your move! It sounds like you’re taking great accountability to stay on top of navigating these transitions. You always want to keep an awareness of 12 to 15 seconds around you in all directions, regardless of your environment. In a city, this looks like one to one and a half blocks.
Scanning is critical to maintaining a
safe driving practice
and involves how, how much and when we check our surroundings. Here are some tips for effective scanning:- How: scan ahead, check mirrors and blind spots
- How much: Keep an awareness of 12 to 15 seconds or one to one and a half city blocks around you
- When: check mirrors and blind spots three to five seconds before and after changing lanes
As long as you follow these guidelines, you should get used to driving in the city fairly easily. Now that you have some new tools for your city driving, take some time to
revisit your insurance policy
. The car insurance super app Jerry
is a great tool to find the most affordable car insurance options to match your life changes. It only takes 45 seconds to sign up and the average user saves $887 a year on their insurance rates.MORE: How to find city parking
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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