Also, I recommend to my students that they get in the habit of the “Bowtie System” of keeping your eyes moving: Look ahead, then glance at the rear-view mirror, back ahead, glance at the left side-view mirror, back ahead, glance down to the instrument panel, back ahead, and then glance to the right side-view mirror. If done correctly, your eyes are seldom away from the path of travel (which includes peripheral vision) and yet you gather all the information needed to drive safely in just a few seconds. This should be repeated every 100-200 feet, since that is the average distance that “new” dangers appear in urban driving.

As to backing up, ALWAYS look out the back window while backing. Each time you turn your head to examine front or sides, your brain must recalculate “where am I?”, which leads to confusion an misreading your distance, speed, and other traffic, especially in parking lots. Remember, many cars now have cameras for “backing up”, but they don’t tell you what is coming from the sides, or at an angle to the camera. USE YOUR EYES!!!