Where to Look, at a Glance

From the NY Driver's Manual, Chapter 8, Chapter 5 and Chapter 7, and the DMV Class D scoring summary.

Central and Peripheral Vision

Central vision is the sharp, narrow part of what you see: use it to read signs, signals and brake lights. Peripheral (side) vision is wider but less sharp: it picks up movement, like a pedestrian stepping off the curb or a car drifting into your lane.

How to Use Your Eyes While Driving

• Look ahead, not down: look well down the road. In the city, that means the next block or two; on highways, much farther. Teaching tip from our instructors, not a DMV rule: if you only ever see the bumper ahead, you are looking too close.
• Keep your eyes moving: the DMV says to check behind you through your mirrors every few seconds, and to notice what is happening at the sides of the road.
• Get the big picture: mirrors, sides and ahead, especially at intersections.

Blind Spots on Right Turns

Check your inside mirror, then your right mirror, then turn your head to the right for cyclists and moped riders, and look into the crosswalk for pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with strollers before you turn. The DMV warns these road users are often hard to see on right turns. See when to yield the right of way and pulling out of a parallel park.

Expect Others to Make Mistakes

Do not assume a driver at a STOP or YIELD sign on a side road will stop. The DMV says it is better to assume they will not. These are the same habits the road test scores; see how the road test is scored.

Alcohol and Visual Perception

Alcohol delays your reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly, and changes your judgment of speed and distance. The DMV says these effects begin with the first drink, and other drugs can have similar effects. Do not drive after drinking. See the NY Driver's Manual, Chapter 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Final Thoughts

Good drivers look far ahead, keep their eyes moving and check mirrors every few seconds, then turn their heads for blind spots before every lane change, pull-out and turn. Related skills: lane position, steering and highway driving. Our instructors in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island coach these habits on real NYC streets. Compare driving packages.

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About the author

Amir writes for Drive Rite Academy, a driving school serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.

Reviewed by

Michael, Professional Driving Instructor at Drive Rite Academy.

How we made this guide

We checked every rule in this guide on the official New York DMV and New York City pages listed below on October 15, 2026. Prices come from Drive Rite's current price list. Rules can change, so check the linked pages before you go. If you spot something out of date, let us know and we will fix it.

Sources: NY DMV, Chapter 8 Defensive Driving; NY DMV, Chapter 5 Intersections and Turns; NY DMV, Chapter 7 Parallel Parking; NY DMV, Class D scoring summary; NY DMV, Chapter 9 Alcohol and Other Drugs.