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How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

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Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#91

Post by amatecha »

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 here in BC, Canada, you will fail your road test if you don't shoulder-check on lane changes and even turns

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#92

Post by mianos »

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.

As an ex motorcyclist I would never make any sort of turn without a glance over my shoulder. You make a mistake on a bike you die. That makes for some good training. I always think everyone should spend a little time in such a vulnerable situation when they learn.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#93

Post by wonnage »

wcarron wrote: post #43
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.

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, whi…

Anyone who's relying on driver assists as their primary safety (rather than just as a backup to their senses) is a bad driver. Bad drivers exist, and aren't going to magically become good drivers if you take away these aids, they'll just cause an accident instead. The NHTSA can provide volumes of actual data to refute your anecdata. https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/driver-assistance-technologi...

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#94

Post by aidenn0 »

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.

And then you crash into the car in front of you that slams on the brakes. In my experience looking over the shoulder for a sufficient length to context switch what I'm seeing robs me of about 1/2 a second of my reaction time to things coming from in front of me. Adjusting the mirrors correctly is far safer IMO.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#95

Post by ketralnis »

deltaecho1338 wrote: post #90
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…

The Car Talk guys used to advocate for this method. I did it for a while, and liked it. Until I almost killed a motorcyclist.

I'm a motorcyclist in a crowded city and sadly this is a multi-daily occurrence

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#96

Post by bluGill »

wcarron wrote: post #70
CharlesW wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. Properly adjusting your mirrors doesn't mean that you never turn your head and look over your shoulder, but that you don't have to do it nearly as often. That's good, because physically turning your head is an incredibly slow and risky operation when compared to a glance.

Physically turning your head in __not__ a risky operation if a driver has given proper following distance to the vehicle in front. Turning to look over your shoulder is only dangerous if you are driving dangerously by following too closely or at an excessive speed difference between your vehicle and surrounding traffic. My personal rule of thumb is at least 1 car length for every 10mph I'm traveling at, so at 70mph >…

The rule by the books is not car lengths, but two seconds. Easier to measure seconds, and cars are difference sizes so less arbitrary. 2 seconds tends to be just slightly longer than your rule.

Those who study human reaction times figure that from the time something happens, you notice and you get your foot physically moved to the brake and push hard enough to make a difference 1.75 seconds have passed. Thus 2 seconds is a minimum.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#98

Post by deltaecho1338 »

ketralnis wrote: post #95
deltaecho1338 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Car Talk guys used to advocate for this method. I did it for a while, and liked it. Until I almost killed a motorcyclist.

I'm a motorcyclist in a crowded city and sadly this is a multi-daily occurrence

Sorry =( As a bike commuter I can relate.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#99

Post by wcarron »

adrr wrote: post #77
wcarron wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. Proper side view mirror alignment results in the car driver able to clearly see the dividing lines for a significant distance behind the car. A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors.

Maybe you should make an article on it. The article diagrams clearly shows a blind spot for lane splitting motorcycles just like every other article on the subject including the youtube videos showing proper alignment mirrors. A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. Just look out of it next time your stuck in stop and go traffic where lane splitting happens.

I wrote: > A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors.

You wrote: > A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror.

These are different things. Rear is for viewing the lane you are in. Side is for viewing things to the rear and side of you.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#100

Post by wcarron »

mianos wrote: post #92
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.

As an ex motorcyclist I would never make any sort of turn without a glance over my shoulder. You make a mistake on a bike you die. That makes for some good training. I always think everyone should spend a little time in such a vulnerable situation when they learn.

Current motorcyclist here! Same shit, man. Mirrors first, then head check. Saved my ass many times so far.

I wish people had to get a license for a moped/motorcycle before a license for a car. It would make the roads a lot safer, I think.

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