Scanning means taking in the whole scene 360 degrees around your car. This is a key hazard perception skill that drivers need to use to avoid crashes. You need to scan constantly for hazards when you drive.

Effective scanning means constantly moving your eyes and/or your head when driving so that you can detect hazards that may arise ahead, to the sides and behind your vehicle. Research shows that new drivers are not good at scanning. They tend to focus on the road just ahead of their car. The good news is that new drivers get better at scanning with practice.