Purpose

To provide the student with the basic concepts needed to use time and eye-use patterns.

Duration: 60 minutes.

(A) Introduction to Time

Learning Objectives

Performance Objectives

1. Count up to 30 and be within 3 seconds either way (3 times successively).
2. Actively participate in discussions and group work.
3. Be able to understand and deal with blind spots.
4. Be able to understand and use all available means at their disposal, including vision, hearing , touch, and motion to drive smoothly and safely. These are important for developing a "feel" of the vehicle on the road surface.

Knowledge Objectives

Know how to:

• measure time to a fixed object;
• measure following time;
• measure approach time; and,
• measure braking time.

Teaching Points

1. By using time you can increase the accuracy of your judgments.
2. You now have a measure against which you can check your estimates.

Content

1. Technique for estimating time to a fixed object - see Driver's Handbook.
2. Technique for estimating following time - see Driver's Handbook.
3. Technique for estimating approach time.
4. Technique for measuring braking time.

Instructional Approaches

• Explain using diagrams.
• Have students practise counting time and check each other for accuracy using a watch (NUM).
• Use videos to develop the process for estimating each of the different uses of time measurement.

(B) Introduction to Eye Use

Learning Objectives

Performance Objectives

Actively participate in discussions and group work.

Knowledge Objectives

Know:

• the difference between foveal and peripheral vision and understand that a considerable amount of information in the driving task comes from peripheral vision, and
• the limits of foveal and peripheral vision.

Understand:

• how the eye "fixates";
• the term "tunnel vision";
• that the brain functions like a time-sampling computer; if the visual field is sampled at the wrong time, then the information will be missed;
• the impairing effects of fatigue, alcohol, drugs etc. on the visual system and visual sampling,
• what is meant by "looking up";
• what is meant by "referencing down";
• what is meant by "sweeping" with the eyes;
• what is meant by "filling in the gap"; and,
• what is meant by appropriate mirror use.

Teaching Points

1. If you do not look in the right place, not only will you miss with your foveal vision but you will miss with your peripheral vision.
2. Any impairment of the visual system dramatically impairs driving.

Content

Information on eye use - see Driver's Handbook.

Instructional Approaches

• Solicit student responses and fill in the gaps.
• Use slides or overhead transparencies or videos to present your information.
• Have a student group obtain the information and make a presentation to the class.

Support Requirements

Materials

• Diagrams, videos/movies

Equipment

• VCR, slide, or overhead projector
• some way of measuring time in seconds (watch)

Notes: