How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot” • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#141

Post by vvillena » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:37 PM UTC

wcarron wrote: post #60

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> manual transmission vehicle Why? I get that there is going to be a lot of missing sensors, but the automatic transmission is now so ubiquitous that it makes no sense to require you not to. I understand it's a nice additional skill, but in the modern era it in no way proves/disproves one's ability to function on the roadway. In fact, once these sensors all become as equally ubiquitous, there will be very little argu…

Because a manual transmission makes you engage more with the car. You must control it more actively, thus teaching drivers to focus on and observe the car and road rather than waiting for directives from sensors like blind-spot detection lights. An automatic mentally allows the driver to feel and operate more like a passenger than a pilot. Manual trans prevents this. It's not about some pretentious "feel" like porsch…

As a driver of both types of cars, this is completely false, in my experience. Having a clutch pedal doesn't make drivers more aware or capable. On the contrary, it's a small cognitive load that can be freed, then put somewhere else.

A bad driver isn't thwarted by a stick shift. They'll do the bare minimum to keep the car on the road. These drivers are notoriously bad at selecting gears, so they usually solve that issue buying diesel-powered cars with a more forgiving power curve.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#142

Post by mstade » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:38 PM UTC

My driving instructor in Sweden gave me a rhyme to remember. It consisted of only three words: blicken, pilen, filen. It literally translates to: the view, the signal, the lane – in that order. Basically you always look through the mirrors first and take a glance to the side your changing lanes into to cover the blind spot, then if it's safe you turn on the signal, and then you switch lanes. It's not entirely accurate, since you need to keep an eye on things all the time, but it's helped me develop a routine that's pretty much impossible to break these days. It's almost like I scan still hear him, 10+ years later. He was a great instructor.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#143

Post by InitialLastName » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:39 PM UTC

mveety wrote: post #108

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 is fantastic advice. The only thing I can really add is you should be keeping track of what’s around you, don’t look just before a lane change. Having good situational awareness is the most important thing when driving.

Biking, I'm perpetually baffled by the people who drive up behind me, overtake me, and seem to forget I'm there before they even finish passing me.

The worst case is when they expect to turn right soon; I consistently have drivers half-overtake me and then start moving towards me, or turn right across a bike lane without looking.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#144

Post by johnbrodie » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:39 PM UTC

danjayh wrote: post #136

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…

Agree that extra caution is needed for pedestrians and bicycles. Having said that, I never understood why bicycles aren't required to ride on the sidewalks in areas that have them. The threat posed by a car to a bike is much greater than the threat posed by a bike to a pedestrian, therefore, to maximize safety bikes should be on the sidewalk. As far as motorcycles are concerned - I think they're a bad idea in general…

Updated how? If I'm on a motorcycle and get hit, it should be assumed to be my fault?

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#145

Post by seshagiric » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:40 PM UTC

I like how some new cars automatically switch on side cameras the moment you turn on the indicators. Safety Features like these should be mandatory in all vehicles just like seat belts.

On a side note I follow the practice described in the article and found it quite useful.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#146

Post by thomasz » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:41 PM UTC

wcarron wrote: post #60

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> manual transmission vehicle Why? I get that there is going to be a lot of missing sensors, but the automatic transmission is now so ubiquitous that it makes no sense to require you not to. I understand it's a nice additional skill, but in the modern era it in no way proves/disproves one's ability to function on the roadway. In fact, once these sensors all become as equally ubiquitous, there will be very little argu…

Because a manual transmission makes you engage more with the car. You must control it more actively, thus teaching drivers to focus on and observe the car and road rather than waiting for directives from sensors like blind-spot detection lights. An automatic mentally allows the driver to feel and operate more like a passenger than a pilot. Manual trans prevents this. It's not about some pretentious "feel" like porsch…

It's just one additional thing that requires brain cycles which would be better spent on situational awareness.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#147

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:41 PM UTC

wcarron wrote: post #100

mianos wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

[deleted]

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#148

Post by OxO4 » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:42 PM UTC

Fun fact: European driver-side mirrors actually have a larger FOV than their US counterparts. It took me a while to get used to that when I moved to the US. I ended up buying some small blind spot mirrors that can be stuck onto the car's mirrors. I've been pretty happy with that solution (in combination with looking over my shoulder).

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#149

Post by InitialLastName » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:42 PM UTC

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.

I failed my (US) driver's test because, while I looked over my shoulder to check my blind spot, the proctor judged that the window was too fogged up for me to be able to see.

Granted, I should have known better how to work the defrost function in the car.

Re: How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

#150

Post by danjayh » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 10:43 PM UTC

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.

Take a look at some of the late-model cars with gigantic A, B, and/or C pillars -- in many of these, head-checks are not as effective as in older cars. The Cadillac ELR, Nissan Leaf, Infiniti QX80, Lexus GS F, etc. All have gigantic C pillars and/or headrests that block rearward visibility, which results in blind spots the size of Texas if you rely on head-checks. Now take a look at some older cars, maybe a 2012 Ford Escape. Awesome visibility. The dual pushes for improved structural rigidity and strength (small overlap crash tests, anyone?) and swoopier designs are causing many new cars to move in the wrong direction on visibility.