5s and 25s for Situational Awareness

gbucknell
Jan 1
4 min read

5s and 25s: The 10-Second Habit That Cuts Risk in Everyday Life

Most accidents and “bad moments” don’t happen because people are stupid. They happen because we’re human.

We rush. We scroll. We daydream. We walk from one environment into another (car to carpark, street to shop, home to driveway) and our brain is still back in the last place.

That’s where 5s and 25s comes in: a simple, repeatable scan you can use at everyday transition points to sharpen situational awareness (SA), reduce surprises, and make better choices earlier — when it’s easy.

This isn’t about paranoia. It’s about minimising risk with calm, practical habits.

What “5s and 25s” actually mean

Think of it as two bubbles of awareness:

5s: your close-in zone — what’s within a few steps (roughly ~5 metres).

This is where trips, bumps, and fast problems live.
25s: your mid-range zone — what’s further out (roughly ~25 metres).

This is where you spot developing situations early enough to avoid them.

The distances aren’t magic. They’re a reminder to scan near and far, not just stare straight ahead.

If you want a simple rhythm:

Pause (half a beat)
Near (5s)
Far (25s)
Choose (best path / best position / best timing)

That’s it.

Why it works (and why civilians need it too)

Most people think “situational awareness” is a tactical thing. But the biggest wins for everyday people are boring and brilliant:

Fewer slips, trips, and falls
Better driving and parking decisions
Less chance of getting cornered in a bad spot
More confident navigation through crowds
Earlier recognition of “this feels off”
Faster access to help when something goes wrong

It’s the same principle as bushcraft: you don’t wait until you’re cold and wet to think about shelter. You notice the wind before you’re hypothermic.

The civilian version: where to use 5s and 25s

Use it at transition points — moments where people commonly switch off:

Carparks and street parking

5s: puddles, broken glass, blind spots between cars, people too close to your door
25s: where the foot traffic is moving, darker corners, groups lingering, best-lit route to the entrance

Fuel stations, ATMs, entrances

5s: who is within arm’s reach, who’s crowding, your personal space
25s: exits, staff, cameras, bottlenecks, and any spot you don’t want to get stuck in

Public transport platforms and stops

5s: edge hazards, people rushing, unpredictable movement
25s: where to stand for visibility, which carriage area is calmer, where help is

Cafes, pubs, events, gigs

5s: your table position, bags, wires, spills, who is too close
25s: exits, security/staff points, crowd flow, the “pinch points” where things get messy

Home arrival and departure

5s: trip hazards at the door, dogs, kids, clutter, keys ready (don’t fumble)
25s: unfamiliar vehicles, shadows, someone loitering, best approach path

Trails and outdoors (bonus)

5s: footing, snake habitat, branches, loose rock
25s: terrain changes, weather building, route decisions, escape options

What you’re looking for: hazards, patterns, and “does this fit?”

5s and 25s isn’t “spot the villain.” It’s three practical checks:

1) Hazards

Things that can hurt you accidentally:

slippery surfaces
traffic movement
unstable ground
poor lighting
obstacles and clutter

2) Patterns

How the environment is behaving:

where people are flowing
where it’s congested
where drivers are impatient
where crowds surge or stop

3) Anomalies

Anything that doesn’t match the pattern:

someone standing where nobody stands
a car idling where cars don’t idle
a person moving against the flow, watching rather than participating
a doorway that feels like a trap because it narrows and blocks exits

Anomalies don’t mean danger. They mean pay attention and create options.

The single best outcome: options

The goal is not to “handle” a problem. The goal is to avoid the problem.

5s and 25s helps you make small choices that keep your options open:

choose the brighter path
don’t walk between tightly parked cars if you can avoid it
don’t get boxed into a corner table
stand where you can see and be seen
move earlier, not later

In bushcraft terms: you’re building margin.

A simple 10-second routine you can practise today

Next time you transition (car → carpark, street → shop, train → platform):

Stop for one breath
5s scan (near): feet, hands, immediate space, nearest exit
25s scan (far): flow of people/vehicles, choke points, help points
Decide: best route + best position + best timing

Do it quietly. No drama. You’ll be shocked how quickly it becomes automatic.

Make it a skill: three drills for civilians

Drill 1: “Exit and Enter”

Every time you exit a car or enter a building for a week:

do one 5s scan
do one 25s scan
identify one safe route and one alternate

Drill 2: “Find Two Exits”

In any venue (cafe, shop, event):

identify the closest exit
identify the best exit (not always the closest)

This builds calm confidence.

Drill 3: “Pattern and One Weird Thing”

In a public place:

notice the general pattern (flow, noise, movement)
identify one anomaly (not suspicious—just different)

This teaches your brain to see without overreacting.

The mindset: calm, kind, and switched on

Situational awareness doesn’t mean judging people. It means: