High School

To avoid sudden "last-minute moves," how far ahead should you look when scanning the road for hazards?

A. 500 feet
B. 4 to 5 seconds
C. 6 to 8 seconds
D. 10 to 15 seconds

Answer :

Final answer:

To avoid sudden maneuvers, a driver should scan the road for hazards by looking ahead 10 to 15 seconds. This provides enough time to react to unfolding situations and maintain safety.

Correct option is D

Explanation:

To avoid sudden "last minute moves," the recommended amount of time to look ahead when scanning the road for hazards is 10 to 15 seconds. This time frame allows a driver to perceive a potential hazard, process the information, and react accordingly, thus ensuring safety on the road. Looking ahead not only includes monitoring the vehicles directly in front of you but also observing the traffic patterns, signals, signs, and road conditions that might affect your driving decisions.

For example, while driving in a town with a speed limit of 60 km/h, if you observe a car 28 meters away from you (the equivalent of 8 car lengths), you would need enough time to determine if it is safe to cross the road or not. Bridget's observation from her classroom window that it takes 3 seconds for cars to travel 50 meters is also a practical example of estimating timing for safety on the road.