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It means that you look far ahead of the vehicle while you’re driving. To do so, you should look 15 seconds ahead of where the vehicle is at any given time. By always using the Look Ahead principle, you can identify potential hazards early, so you have enough time to react and safely adjust. Look Around It means that you take in entire scene while you’re driving. You must constantly move your head and eyes to see everything around the vehicle. Look Around for other cars, pedestrians, and fixed objects on or near the road, especially if you are making a turn. Look Around means you change your point of focus at least every two seconds. Constant eye movement keeps you alert and aware and helps you use both peripheral and central vision. Look Around also means that you check your mirrors every five to eight seconds to increase your range of vision. Leave Room Make sure there is adequate space around your vehicle. Ideally, you should leave room on all six sides of the vehicle – in the front, the rear, on each side, as well as above and below the vehicle. You can maintain and monitor the space in front of your vehicle by keeping an adequate following distance. Sometimes to maintain room in the rear, you must slow down to motivate a tailgater to move to another lane or back off. You can’t always leave room to your sides, but when you are on the highway, it’s your responsibility to adjust your speed when someone is driving right next to you at the same speed. You also must Leave Room above and below the vehicle. Be on the lookout for low overhead clearances, and remember, they are not always marked with a sign. As there are vehicles with different height clearances within the fleet, make sure you are aware of the height of the vehicle you are operating. Keep an eye out for road conditions or debris that could cause the vehicle to bottom out. Communicate Make sure that other drivers on the road know you’re there and what you intend to do next. Use your headlights, brake lights and turn signals to communicate your intentions to other drivers. Be sure to use your turn signals before turning or changing lanes and always use at least four flashes before taking any action. A friendly tap on the horn is a good way to get someone’s attention, and if possible, you should try to make eye contact. There are many distractions inside and outside of a motorist’s vehicle, and making sure you communicate your intentions well before you take them is one way to ensure other motorists are aware of these intentions. 26 | P a g e – E r i e C o u n t y G o i n g P l a c e s P o l i c y a n d P r o c e d u r e