How to develop X-Ray vision

There are often lots of hazards to look for on the road; many of these hazards can be difficult to see because obstacles block your view.

Practicing 'X-ray vision' helps you learn how to see hazards even when obstacles appear to be in your way.

Activity: Develop X-Ray vision

Before applying it to driving, practice what it feels like to use X-ray vision:

Hold your hand up in front of your face, with your fingers spread apart, and study it closely. Without moving your head, look through your fingers and hand to the view behind. Notice how you can see right through the obstacle (your hand) and how aware you become of what’s behind it.
Now, go back to studying your hand. This time, to see more, move your head and eyes around it, under it, and over it.

Look for obstacles that block your view of hazards and name them. For example, there will be parts of your car that block your view, such as other passengers, the car’s roof pillars or the rear vision mirror.
Now, identify obstacles outside the car, like parked vehicles, power poles, bushes, fences, buildings, road signs, telephone boxes, trucks, and lots more.
Look hard and see if you can see through, around, under or over the obstacles. You will find that you can see pedestrians when you look through the windscreens of parked cars or under parked vehicles, or other cars when you look through trees or bushes. It's amazing what can be seen when you sharpen this skill.
Often drivers say after a crash “All of a sudden they were in front of me, I had no warning!” These drivers were probably not looking for hazards that could enter their crash avoidance space. You can do better.