[akash_m]

Hi Guys! Did you ever think how a simple eye contact with the driver in the other car works wonder? You may not know but it is next to impossible driving in traffic conditions or on highways without an ‘Eye contact’. At times it is used for many other purposes too. Here are few types specified below:

1. The side view mirror eye contact: Ever noticed that while overtaking (especially on highways) you honk at the driver of the vehicle ahead of you and he makes an Eye contact with you in his rear view mirror. It is a type of ‘approval’ he gives for you to overtake!
2. The direct eye contact: Mostly used while entering or exiting a roundabout. You tend to look at the driver on your right or left, as the case may be and within split seconds it is decided who crosses first..!The ‘corner of the eye’ eye contact.Usually happens on red light stops between two car drivers stranded side by side. As if telling each other – lets see whose car is faster off this red light!
3. The aggressive ‘Stare’: Usually happens when the car aheaof you commits a mistake like changed lanes suddenly. You tend to stare at him while overtaking as if you would kill him!!
4. The rear view mirror eye contact: Usually done at traffic stops or with the car following you. Often u can catch couples fighting or a lady checking her makeup in the rear car. The couple or the lady suddenly becomes conscious as soon as the eye contact is established with you. The rear view eye contact is more of a time pass or fun in traffic jams.

What say guys….!

[zakaaaaasss]

whatever u've written/observed is all OK therotically (or may be sometimes practically when driving overseas).....out here in India, most of the times it, unknowingly/unintentionally, leads to ROAD RAGE.

[gd1418]

A very interesting observation Akash. We all do, but has been put down in B&W probably for the first time...

Originally Posted by akash_m

Hi Guys! Did you ever think how a simple eye contact with the driver in the other car works wonder?
What say guys….!

[Sam Kapasi]

Have you ever noticed that how women can always tell when you're looking?

The 0.8 second contact: There you'll be driving along and this pretty lady will be walking or driving, doing her own thing and the minute you look at her, that darned intuition tells her you're looking.
She'll look straight at you, making eye contact for exactly 0.8 seconds, before she looks away and you feel like a pervert. But you're not sure why you feel like that.

The "No contact required" contact
You own special lady doesn't even look up at you. She just knows you were looking at some woman(somehow) and whacks you across the shoulder. Hard. Never once takes the eyes off the magazine she's reading in the car.


Amazing.

[Rtech]

Spot on with those observations Akash. It plays a vital role in driving. We need to learn to read what the other driver is about to do. A lot can be said about a driver just by taking a quick look at him/her.

[arunphilip]

@Sam: I second this!

Have you ever noticed that how women can always tell when you're looking?

Too true! It's their 6th sense, I presume.

...before she looks away and you feel like a pervert

Been here too often.

@akash: Great observations, and as gd1418 mentioned, probably the first time it's been put down in writing.

[Mav]

Absolutely and it is part of practical driving test abroad. It is very imperative at intersection to have eye contact with the oncoming driver. I use to follow the same when i use to drive in London and people use to make a point to acknowledge, however as zakaaaaasss pointed out here it can lead to road rage

[Cool Zen]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Have you ever noticed that how women can always tell when you're looking?

The 0.8 second contact: There you'll be driving along and this pretty lady will be walking or driving, doing her own thing and the minute you look at her, that darned intuition tells her you're looking.
She'll look straight at you, making eye contact for exactly 0.8 seconds, before she looks away and you feel like a pervert. But you're not sure why you feel like that.

The "No contact required" contact
You own special lady doesn't even look up at you. She just knows you were looking at some woman(somehow) and whacks you across the shoulder. Hard. Never once takes the eyes off the magazine she's reading in the car.


Amazing.

Really good one...... Distinguished!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steeroid]

Eye-contact is extremely important, more so for motorcyclists. The number of times I've had cars move away to make way here by just staring into their ORVM is amazing - you flash you lights, they dont notice; you hang around their tails, they dont notice you. You look at their eyes ONCE and they move aside.

[esteem_lover]

Well said akash. This is something every driver has experienced but never spoke of.

[Ketan]

I agree, I have experianced this most of the time driving / riding in the traffic (in india) and that helps a lot. Its become a kind of language that we speak and almost all the time the decissions taken are right except there is a newbeee and you know that he is going to mis-judge just by making this eye contact - the same thing happens when you are crossing a road (in india again) - you make the eye contact and both the rider / driver and the person who's crossing the road will mutually decide who's going go first...

[Akshay1234]

at least in bombay i feel most of the eye contact is because of some mistake made by the other driver. or maybe like when a pedestrian is walking across the street. you honk at them. the move out of the way but keep staring at you.

[razor4077]

The one species that is not in the least affected by eye contact is the league of taxi drivers in Kolkata. They have this air of complete apathy and indifference for the world around them. You try to glare at them for cutting you off or blocking you, and they just stare back at you in a zombie-like manner! You shout at them or abuse them, and they just shrug their shoulders nonchalantly, like it's the most prudent thing in the world to cut off someone.
Weird they are!

[rks]

@akash_m, I have to say that I disagree with your points 1. and 2. In these cases, it is *much* more important to watch the "body language" of the other vehicle (which you are either overtaking or approaching at a circle) than make eye contact with the driver, which could take up too much time and be a distraction.

E.g. when overtaking, it is *very* important to watch the overtaken vehicle, including, if possible its front wheel. Often the overtaken vehicle will signal its intentions by slowing down/moving to the left, or else by speeding up and not letting you pass (they also use indicators at times to signal their intentions of letting you pass, which I do not really like). If the vehicle being overtaken moves suddenly in your direction as you are overtaking, an instant response is required from you in order to avert an accident; so it is very important to keep the vehicle in your peripheral vision as you pass it.

Conversely, you can send strong signals to the vehicle you are overtaking/about to overtake by the body language of your vehicle. E.g. move to the right side of the road and make sure the guy can see your vehicle in his rear-view mirror; flash your lights/honk if necessary. I personally find that being decisive and crisp in your moves often sends the right signals. Of course, you should never commit yourself to an overtake until it is clear that you can pass safely.

The same principles apply when reaching a circle; if you have right of way or will reach the circle earlier, you can send a clear signal to the other vehicle by not slowing down initially. At the same time watch the other vehicle like a hawk and be prepared to abort if necessary. Conversely, if the other vehicle has right of way or will reach the circle earlier, send a clear signal to the guy by slowing down. Being decisive often helps, as does being aware that sometimes vehicles (e.g. buses, taxis, lorries) will not respect your right of way. Again making eye contact with the other driver can be too much of a distraction in tight situations.

[Thad E Ginathom]

...and you feel like a pervert....

Not if you get a nice smile you don't!