Unusual Observation Tip
Discussion
Using this method I find myself 'seeing' more of what's going on around me while driving. It works especially well with moving hazards.
What I do is 'see' the road and my surroundings moving past me and I 'see' myself driving a vehicle which is actually stationary, a bit like what you'd see in an arcade game where the road is moving but the car stays in the same spot relative to the arcade machine.
It's actually the opposite of the arcade game - in the game we condition ourselves to reverse the relative movements - we see the car as moving when it really isn't.
Applying this on the road, I find that suddenly everything which I would normally see as stationary is now moving and moving objects are now even more obvious and easier to spot.
It takes a little getting used to - and I probably sound like a crackpot (some would say I am one anyway) - but it really heightens my ability to see all sorts of things which I might normally miss.
Anyone else tried this? I'd feel better knowing I'm not the only crackpot around here...
What I do is 'see' the road and my surroundings moving past me and I 'see' myself driving a vehicle which is actually stationary, a bit like what you'd see in an arcade game where the road is moving but the car stays in the same spot relative to the arcade machine.
It's actually the opposite of the arcade game - in the game we condition ourselves to reverse the relative movements - we see the car as moving when it really isn't.
Applying this on the road, I find that suddenly everything which I would normally see as stationary is now moving and moving objects are now even more obvious and easier to spot.
It takes a little getting used to - and I probably sound like a crackpot (some would say I am one anyway) - but it really heightens my ability to see all sorts of things which I might normally miss.
Anyone else tried this? I'd feel better knowing I'm not the only crackpot around here...
Nigel_O said:
It (kinda) works until you want to consider stationary hazards (for example, a bus that's just pulled over - watch out for pedestrians) - how do you accomodate them? In your example, it's like they're all moving backwards while you stand still.
Yes, and so are the buildings and the lamp posts and so on. The point being, moving objects attract attention more than still ones. This way, everything is moving and so you see more detail with less effort.It sounds a bit like something I used to do as a kid .
Try lying down on the ground on a summer's day ; flat on your back , staring up at the clouds drifting slowly overhead . Sooner or later that surreal moment will come when you are no longer lying static on the ground staring up at moving clouds , but floating serenely at a great height and looking down at an ocean of clouds below .
Until something disturbs you .
Try lying down on the ground on a summer's day ; flat on your back , staring up at the clouds drifting slowly overhead . Sooner or later that surreal moment will come when you are no longer lying static on the ground staring up at moving clouds , but floating serenely at a great height and looking down at an ocean of clouds below .
Until something disturbs you .
A friend was given an unusual observation tip for his motorbike test years ago. When driving through built up areas, to check out as many girls as possible. Stare at their arses, chests - whatever...
Upon taking his test, he got the grumpy examiner who never passes anyone with a clean sheet, an will always give at least one minor for observation to keep new bikers grounded. In this case however - my mate got a clean sheet and a comment that his observations (especially in built up areas) could not be faulted!
Upon taking his test, he got the grumpy examiner who never passes anyone with a clean sheet, an will always give at least one minor for observation to keep new bikers grounded. In this case however - my mate got a clean sheet and a comment that his observations (especially in built up areas) could not be faulted!
This reminds me of being a kid sat in the back of the car in multi-lane traffic, staring vacantly out the side window. As the truck, bus next you moves away first you feel like you're reversing, until it goes past completely and you realise you are actually stationary and the truck, bus has just pulled away first.
(In before the 'Cool Story Bro')
(In before the 'Cool Story Bro')
timbob said:
A friend was given an unusual observation tip for his motorbike test years ago. When driving through built up areas, to check out as many girls as possible. Stare at their arses, chests - whatever..
I, for one, would like to think that I mastered this aspect of observation very early on in my driving career.
Funnily enough I have actually done this once or twice, however I find that when things are moving towards you in an arcade game like manner then the speed becomes almost accepted by the brain and it's tempting to just steer through the obstacles, mocing around on the bottom of your 'screen'.
I also find that you tend to misjudge things like weight transfer if you forget about that it's you that has forward momentum.
I also find that you tend to misjudge things like weight transfer if you forget about that it's you that has forward momentum.
I use this to a limited extent with bends, and I explain it to associates sometimes to help them understand limit point analysis. If you imagine the road coming towards you is a film of some road, you want it to keep playing at a nice steady speed. If it slows down you can speed up, if it speeds up, you need to slow down.
I think the ones I've explained it to understood
I think the ones I've explained it to understood
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