It’s kind of fascinating how many of us never really know what’s going on around us.  When it comes to driving, it can even be a bit scary.

So what exactly is Situational Awareness?  Uhmm.  Knowing what’s going on around us.

For a soldier in combat, Situational Awareness is everything.  Why?  Because if they don’t know what’s going on around them, that something they don’t know about – can kill them.  They have drones taking pictures, aircraft on the radio and of course, their eyeballs.  With Situational Awareness they have advantage.  Without it?  ‘Nuff said.

Fighter pilots have all kinds of good stuff to assist their situational awareness.  Heads up displays, radio, radar arrays and of course, their eyeballs.

Race car drivers have spotters to tell them what’s going on around them.  They listen to them on their radios and of course, they have their eyeballs.

These professionals fine tune their ability to know what’s going on around them.  If they don’t, they can get really dead, really fast.  One or two lethal encounters with the unknown and Situational Awareness fast becomes Automatic Instinct.

I once watched two Marines walking by a row of stores.  They were going to have to turn a blind corner to get where they were going.  One of the guys had a full chest of medals.  The other, was less endowed – an obvious new recruit.  As they approached the blind corner, the rookie simply swung around it and kept on walking.  The veteran took an “ever so quick” peak around the corner before proceeding.  “Hmmm,” I thought to myself, kind of amused.  “Instinctive Situational Awareness” – at work!

Ever surprise a vet or a soldier with your presence?  Instant reaction?  His Situational Awareness broke down and he suddenly realizes he’s at risk.  The adrenaline flows.

For most of our everyday driving, (and basic living), our Situational Awareness is pretty much left to our eyeballs.  For the more finely tuned types, hearing will also play a part. Ears can actually do a lot of “looking around.”  But for drivers?  Yup, it’s pretty much our eyeballs and our Rear View Mirrors.

Think everyone has built in Situational Awareness?  Not so sure?  Spend a little time with a shopping cart in any major store.  I often cruise around the isles, and sure enough, someone will be parked in the middle of the isle, with tunnel vision focus on the shelves of offerings.  I’ll pull up to them, rev up my shopping cart a few times but nope!  They haven’t got a clue I’m even there.  I often just stand there and wait to see how long it will take them to realize someone is there and they’re blocking said isle.

Eventually, sometimes, they’ll finally realize I’m there and mumble a barely audible “Oops, Sorry.”  Sorry?  I could have been an international terrorist ready to slit their throat and they simply would have never seen it coming!  It fascinates me.  They simply have ZERO Situational Awareness.  I often wonder if they drive in the same cocoon.  In combat, they’d be dead in a day.

Fortunately, most of these shopping card types, will never face a serious threat and their total lack of awareness won’t be much of a danger to them.  As drivers, however, it is kind of nice to know what’s going on around us.  Danger can be anywhere.

Where am I headed?  Who’s there?  Who’s coming up on me from behind?  Which lane is she in?  How is he driving?  Is there a driver behind me when I’m in the fast lane – who wants to go faster?  Is he going to swerve around me and cut me off to get by?  Can I safely change lanes to get out of his way?  If I’m doing seventy plus and she wants to do ninety, I’ll be happy to accommodate her.  But, hmmm.  I’ve at least got to know she’s there!

How many times have we followed someone moving slowly in the passing lane?  We sit there waiting for her to move (together with the forty or so cars stacked up behind us) but it quickly becomes obvious she doesn’t have even the remotest clue we’re behind her.  In fact, she really doesn’t notice much of anything if it’s not going on within twenty feet of her front windshield.  Not really very good.  Definitely not very safe!

Where is the threat?  We simply won’t know if we don’t develop our Situational Awareness and when we’re driving, there’s always a threat out there somewhere.  It’s kind of nice to know where it is.

If you are a driver who never really pays attention to anything but the bumper in front of you, try taking a look around.  Try to expand your Situational Awareness.  It could very well save your life!