Horse wrote:So asking someone to concentrate on the far distance (which they must do to implement any variation of 'thirds') MUST take concentration away from the near distance.
Nobody, who advocates using the "thirds" rule correctly, will ever... "
ask someone to concentrate on the far distance". What we are suggesting is nothing more than a glance whereby, as you emerge from a bend, your eyes follow the limit point to its new static position in front of the next bend, however far away that might be. So, I'll bet good money that when you drive out of a bend your eyes follow the limit point to its next static position however far away that position might be, yes? In other words you will be scanning to the farthest point in the distance. If you're not doing that, then this discussion has no further value. However, I am sure that is what you will be doing, otherwise you wouldn't be a member here
. Once the furthest point has been ascertained, then, regardless of the "thirds" rule, one will continuously scan back to the vehicle, then back to the limit point, then back to vehicle... throwing in a few lateral scans and rear-view mirror checks. The division of the road ahead into three zones is merely an adjunct to that scanning process and consequent gathering of information. If, whoever first introduced you to the "thirds" rule suggested that you needed to... "
concentrate" [I think you've also used the word
"focus" in this regard] on the far distance, then they were misinforming and misleading you and, in all probability, didn't properly understand the technique themselves, maybe?
I'm happy to be disabused of this opinion if you think it's not correct.