Decision making — Kansas Permit Test

Good Kansas decision making starts with good visual search, because if you do not identify other roadway users you cannot begin to make decisions on how to lessen the risk.

You cannot decide about something you have not seen. Looking comes first, always.

Good decision making starts with good visual search.

Once a Kansas driver has identified a risk they are generally limited to changing direction, changing speed, or communicating by signaling or sounding the horn.

There are only three things a car can do about a hazard. Knowing the list makes the choice faster.

Generally, you are limited to changing your direction (moving left or right), changing your speed (slowing, stopping, or speeding up), or communicating (signaling or sounding your horn).

Kansas advises a driver to practice asking themselves What If, for example searching the area, identifying a potential hazard such as a vehicle pulling out of a driveway, and deciding how to minimize the risk.

Rehearsing the answer before it happens means you already have one. That is what experience really is.

Practice asking yourself “What If.”

New Kansas drivers lack the experience for making appropriate decisions in many situations, and making appropriate decisions when driving takes a lot of practice and experience.

The gap is experience, not intelligence. Knowing that is a reason to leave yourself more room.

New drivers lack the experience for making appropriate decisions in many situations.

What does Kansas say good decision making starts with?

A good visual search first. You cannot decide about something you have not seen. Looking comes first, always. Kansas Driving Handbook, p.71: “Good decision making starts with good visual search.”