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How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

pages.cs.wisc.edu

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Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#31

Post by hyperrail »

andrewla wrote: post #26
hyperrail wrote: post #24

[Never mind the next para. See child comment I replied to] In driving school, I was taught to adjust my side mirrors exactly the way described here: rear view mirror points to rear, side mirrors just barely show the side of the car. And still there are blind spots in every car I've driven, no matter how much "fine tuning" I do. This is why blind spot warning systems are a must in any new car I consider buying.

You might have misread this -- the way that you learned is the traditional way. The way described on this page, you do _not_ see your own car at all in the side view mirror.

Ah I see, you're right. I didn't understand what the author meant when he said you have to lean to one side when adjusting that side's mirror.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#32

Post by justtopost »

wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

In newer cars, with huge pillars filled with airbags, this is no longer true.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#33

Post by UI_at_80x24 »

tinbad wrote: post #15
wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

This is an integral part of a driving exam in the Netherlands. You are drilled to look over the shoulder for literally every maneuver (lane switch, turn, etc.) and if you fail to do it even once during the driving exam you will get a fail. In other news: driving test in the US is a complete joke.

Same in Canada (Ontario).

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#34

Post by [deleted] »

criley2 wrote: post #18
wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

Turning your head means not looking forward. You might think it is safe to operate a multi-ton death machine at death speeds while closing your eyes or looking backwards or whatever you're doing except looking forward. But it is not. Learn to use mirrors, so your peripheral vision remains on the most important thing: where you are going. "Turning your head" is an unsafe way to avoid having properly set mirrors. With…

[deleted]

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#35

Post by wcarron »

criley2 wrote: post #18
wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

Turning your head means not looking forward. You might think it is safe to operate a multi-ton death machine at death speeds while closing your eyes or looking backwards or whatever you're doing except looking forward. But it is not. Learn to use mirrors, so your peripheral vision remains on the most important thing: where you are going. "Turning your head" is an unsafe way to avoid having properly set mirrors. With…

Turning your head is completely safe, with one caveat: Proper Following Distance.

A quick, over-the-shoulder check is not dangerous at all if a driver gives the car in front proper following distance. Too many people follow WAY too closely, especially at highway speeds.

Lastly, safe driving includes both actions. Step 1 is to check your mirrors (first rear, the side views). Step 2 is to quickly check over the shoulder. Step 3 is to make the maneuver.

As a motorcyclist, I have to be vastly more aware and defensive than cagers, because a little fender-bender for drivers means injury and even death for riders. It is hammered into you, at any motorcycle safety course (by Moto Police no less, who spend all day riding motorcycles, every day) that you should always check over your shoulder before making lane changes, turns, etc. This is always done after you have already checked your mirrors.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#36

Post by mroche »

tinbad wrote: post #15
wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

This is an integral part of a driving exam in the Netherlands. You are drilled to look over the shoulder for literally every maneuver (lane switch, turn, etc.) and if you fail to do it even once during the driving exam you will get a fail. In other news: driving test in the US is a complete joke.

> In other news: driving test in the US is a complete joke.

Not in all places. It’s highly dependent on who’s proctoring the exam. Some tests are administered by police officers and those can be extremely strict. Other times you get seriously generous people, and that needs to be fixed. Someone I know was the last test of the day for a proctor and they drove over a curb on a turn and still passed. There were quite a few of us baffled by this.

Location also depends on what gets tested. Here in MA pretty much everything gets tested (turn types, merging, all forms of parking, etc) whereas some neighboring states don’t test parallel parking.

In the training program I was at, turning your head was repeatedly drilled-in in every driving/observation session. Making sure you mirrors were set up for optimal maximum coverage was also tested. There was no shortage of not-ending-well stories related to blind spots and not checking all sides repeatedly.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#37

Post by drxzcl »

mattmg83 wrote: post #16

Related concepts, in the Netherlands they taught everyone to open their car door with the right hand, which makes your head turn and improves odds of spotting a cyclist. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/how-to-sa...

I was taught (in the Netherlands) to hold the door with your right hand while you release the latch with the left. The benefit is not only turning the torso to see cyclists, but also holding on to the door in case there's a gust of wind.

The latter has saved the neighbor's car door a number of times.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#38

Post by UI_at_80x24 »

wcarron wrote: post #11

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

I completely agree with you, but technology is encouraging us to 'rely' on it's helpful beeps, alerts, and flashes.

Soon we will have trained an entire generation to 'drive-by-sensors' and not senses.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#40

Post by justtopost »

Havoc wrote: post #12

I can deal with blindspots. What boggles my mind is that some modern cars still have abnormally large ones. Cars with bad crash ratings get shat on but apparently designs with massive blindspots are totally OK.

Indeed. It puzzles me too how an A-pillar large enough to disapear a motorcycle, or group of children, is somehow accepted as safe. Our indescriminate push for safely has taken control from our hands in many contexts it seems.
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