Driving the ideal line consistently is an important part of performance and race driving. But how do you know whether you’re on the right line or not? Or even the line you intended to drive, whether it’s the right/ideal one or not?
One of the trickiest parts of track driving is that you can’t go back and fix something you did wrong, or even check on how you’re doing while you’re doing it until it’s too late to do something about it! Of course, that’s part of the appeal of track driving.
We’re constantly told to look ahead and where we want to go, so how do you know whether we’re clipping past the apex without looking at - and not ahead or where we want to go? We check progress with our peripheral vision.
I’ve spent a lot of time observing drivers, researching vision, talking to vision therapists, and learning from eye tracking technology. Oh, and testing different approaches and techniques myself. On one hand, using our peripheral vision is something we do naturally, and on the other it takes deliberate practice to use it as well as we should. And sure, some people seem to naturally be better at using their peripheral vision than others, but I’d argue that it's because of how they’ve trained themselves, whether they’re aware of that training or not.
Although it may be completely unscientific, it seems to me that drivers who are very good with their peripheral vision have spent a lot of time playing a sport where that's important - sports like squash, racquetball, basketball or hockey. One cannot be a good player of any of these sports unless you have “eyes in the back of your head.” Other sports, such as running, put less stress on our peripheral vision.
Used properly, the second you’ve looked ahead and picked up a reference point that you’re approaching, that forward visual focus should be moving ahead and looking for the next one. But as you’re approaching and passing by the first reference point, you should be aware of how your car is placed in relation to it. Is it where it should be, right next to or on top of that reference? And are you on the intended path or direction in relation to it?
Your reactions are actually quicker when using your peripheral vision than they are when using your central vision acuity (or, foveal vision, that small area we see in perfect detail when focusing on something). Just think about the times you've reacted to something you caught out of the corner of your eye.
In addition to specific vision exercises, deliberately use your peripheral vision while driving on the road; play racquet sports, basketball or hockey; and as you read this article, be aware of what you notice with your peripheral vision. By focusing on not focusing, but rather, using your peripheral vision more, you become more visually aware of what’s going on around you on the track, you’ll be able to check your progress in relation to references at speed. After all, while driving past an apex, you can’t turn your head and look down at it, can you? Well, I guess you could, but who knows where you’d end up after doing that!
Think of your vision as a process of glancing ahead, focusing ahead on where you want to go (there is always some form of reference ahead, even if it’s a wide-open track surface), and then checking your progress peripherally.
And remember, the sooner you recognize that you’re not where you want your car to be, or at the right angle, the sooner you can make an adjustment to your line. The sooner you make that adjustment, the smaller that adjustment needs to be. Ultimately, this will result in fewer offs and spins - and driving faster.
Great post, what is your take on driving in changeable conditions (e.g. a drying track)? Do you use your peripheral vision more in this instance, or scan the circuit directly for places which may provide more grip?
Wonderful post! Peripheral vision is most needed in parking lots. Almost got side flanked last week. Someone pulling out of a space in the low setting sun. She did not see me, I saw her coming. No time to honk, just gas. Saw her in my peripheral vision thank goodness.