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How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

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Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#41

Post by LeoPanthera »

UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #38
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.

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

I honestly believe that driver safety will approve more rapidly when that happens than ever before.

I trust silicon more than I trust meat.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#42

Post by baddox »

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.

Then again, in my US driving test I was penalized (I still passed the test) for not looking over my shoulder before one lane change. It was a two-lane one-way road with zero traffic. There's no way a car could've gotten there without me seeing it in my mirrors unless it had been dropped from the air into my blind spot. I'm definitely not still bitter.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#43

Post by wcarron »

UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #38
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.

Over-reliance on technology is a plague on driving quality. This is actually why I (and I realize this isn't realistic) think that new drivers should be required to learn to driv and pass the driving test using a manual transmission vehicle without driver aids such as blind-spot detection, lane-assist, assistive braking, etc.

Each year, cars become more and more insulated and isolated from the reality of driving, which is incredibly dangerous. Technology is exascerbating(sp?) this problem. As you say, driving via sensors rather than senses.

People must understand _what_ the car is doing in order to really know how to drive safely and competently. Lower-tech cars force people into this.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#44

Post by m1n1 »

ummonk wrote: post #25

There are smaller things (bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians) that can sneak into the gap between the side and rearview mirror views here. And colliding with one of those is much more likely to cause serious injury or death than colliding with a car. It's a much better idea to make sure your side and rear mirrors have complete coverage (i.e. no gaps) at the back, and actually turning your head to check the blind spot…

This, and the other comments that say turning your head is still necessary.

I tried what the link suggests and had many instances where a motorcycle zipped by close to my car -- I didn't notice them until [what would have been] too late because I couldn't see the area next to my car easily that way. Now I have my mirrors adjusted so I can see motorcycles better, and I turn my head to check the remainder.

All humans are legally blind in their peripheral vision just a few degrees off-axis, so I make sure to focus where I claim to be checking.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#46

Post by jacobolus »

baddox wrote: post #42
tinbad wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Then again, in my US driving test I was penalized (I still passed the test) for not looking over my shoulder before one lane change. It was a two-lane one-way road with zero traffic. There's no way a car could've gotten there without me seeing it in my mirrors unless it had been dropped from the air into my blind spot. I'm definitely not still bitter.

In my California driver test, I was penalized for not looking over my shoulder dramatically enough (a slight head turn and a glance over my shoulder out the side window was not sufficient apparently) when switching into a left turn lane which was carved out of the median island and couldn’t possibly have had anyone driving up to the left.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#47

Post by wcarron »

LeoPanthera wrote: post #41
UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> Soon we will have trained an entire generation to 'drive-by-sensors' and not senses. I honestly believe that driver safety will approve more rapidly when that happens than ever before. I trust silicon more than I trust meat.

> I trust silicon more than I trust meat.

I'm halfway onboard with you. The difference is in what I trust it to do. I trust meat more than silicon when meat is driving attentively and safely. There are many drivers out there with fantastic control of their vehicle, especially in bad situations.

The other half is that I don't trust meat to actually drive attentively and safely. I trust silicon to actually drive safely, unlike people.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#49

Post by karmakaze »

Side mirrors are called that either because they're mounted on the sides, or to see what's beside you. Specifically they're not there so you can see the sides of your own car.

As mentioned in other comments, what you seen in side mirrors are for situational awareness. When performing a manoeuvre, turn your head around to get the best view.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#50

Post by Loughla »

oliveshell wrote: post #30
tinbad wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

For what it’s worth, it’s like that in much of the U.S. too— at least in my state (North Carolina), you’ll certainly fail the test if you change lanes without checking your blind spot. Driving tests vary state to state, though. And I agree with you that overall, driver education in the U.S. is woeful. I didn’t even have to parallel park for mine! Meanwhile Scandinavians have to prove they can recover from a slide to…

I think it's about context. Scandinavians have snow and Ice, so it's more likely they'll skid.

I never had to parallel park, either, for my test, but I also will never parallel park unless I travel 4+ hours away from my home.

I did have to prove I could control/stop a skid on gravel, and make a decision on whether to pull onto the soft shoulder or pass or stop or whatever on a narrow lane. Because there is much gravel and huge machinery moving around here on back roads.

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