Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers in America today. Teens, who make up only seven percent of the driving population, account for nearly 25 percent of all traffic accidents. However, new findings indicate that up to 80 percent of these accidents could be avoided with better vision skills.Gauge Visual Acuity
Many drivers are not aware that poor vision could be a source of danger on the road. Here's a simple test to gauge visual acuity:
While driving at 60 mph, begin counting as soon as you can clearly read an overhead freeway sign. If you have 20/20 vision, you should pass directly under the sign by the time you count to 9. If you pass beneath the sign sooner, you should consider visiting your eye doctor.
Be Dynamic
Since the human eye is not designed to process information at 60+ mph, experts agree that practice is needed to improve a driver's ability to clearly see moving objects:
See how quickly you can read signs or license plates by glancing to the side for a split second, then re-focusing straight ahead. Over time, your brain will become accustomed to processing visual information more quickly.
Focus on the Periphery
Peripheral vision is one of the most critical skills drivers use, and can be practiced with a simple drill:
While looking straight ahead, see how many cars you can simultaneously count on either side of you. Then, as your awareness improves, try to use just your peripheral vision to predict when cars approaching from the rear will pass.
Check Your Equipment
For those who require vision correction on the road, studies indicate that contact lenses may be a safer choice than eyeglasses. Drivers who wear contacts have nearly 40 percent better peripheral vision than their counterparts in spectacles. Here's a handy suggestion:
Keep a few spare pairs of high-quality daily disposable contact lenses, like 1-Day Acuvue, stowed in your car's glove compartment. It's a cost-effective way to ensure that you always have a fresh, sterile pair of lenses on-hand. For a free brochure about contact lens options, call 1-888-USE 1 DAY.
Look Down the Road
Unlike experienced drivers, teens tend to focus their attention close to the front of the car. Drivers who look farther down the road tend to spot potential dangers much quicker -- an important difference considering that up to 50 percent of all accidents can be avoided with just a half-second longer to react:
At highway speeds, pick out a fixed object in the horizon and count the seconds until you reach it. If you pass the object before you count to 30, you probably aren't looking far enough down the road. At 60 mph, experts recommend looking one-third of a mile down-freeway.(NAPSI)
