Blind Spots

[Markymark]

Couple of points

Got a fright the day I pcked up my Q5 (yeah, I'm an Audi driver, hate me!). I was about to swicth lanes, checked mirror, checked blind spot, indicated, started to pull out, got beeped. Some guy in a ferrari, about 12 inches up from the ground was in my blind spot but much lower than I expected as the car is so high up and couldn';t see him down there. Have got used to it know but its a 3d world out there and the blind spots will vary dpending on the drivers' poisiotn including height

Secondly, posted on here before abouyt my trip to the bus garage and found out that the bus I sat it had a lovely view along side the bus, but if yuo more than around 4 ft out from the back of the bus, you could not be seen.
Meaning giving a bus a nice wide berth as you overtake and they can't see you.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/205.html

http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/

 

[Lee_M]

The lifesaver look is well named by those of a motorbike persuasion, particularly as it is their own life they will be saving. (like it or not humans are self centered so car drivers who are 'safe' will never have the same instincutal self preservation need to look over their shoulders.) Is there also something called 'lifesaver positioning' which is defined by not putting yourself where a driver might not be able to see you. If you do that you are putting your safety in someone elses hands. If you can't not put yourself in such a position (i.e. If you can't get alongside their drivers window straight away), then drop back and wait for a safer opportunity. Or just join the queue.

agreed, your first rule must be to not out yourself in a stupid place, but my comment was based ont eh comment that seemed to say " i have a blind spot so cant see where Im moving" to which my immediate thought was " so dont move there then, have a look over your shoulder first"

 

[markharry66]

(yeah, I'm an Audi driver, hate me!)

Do you want cig and blind fold to face firing squad.
Cycling in london its difficult to check everything when everything comes at you from different directions.
Almost impossible to in safe competent manner i would imagine.

 

[JayBear]

agreed, your first rule must be to not out yourself in a stupid place, but my comment was based ont eh comment that seemed to say " i have a blind spot so cant see where Im moving" to which my immediate thought was " so dont move there then, have a look over your shoulder first"

Yep, thats a very good immediate thought, that is the ideal. Though In my experience expecting ideals on the road is a pretty good way of getting yourself into trouble on the road unfortunately. As I'm sure is the experience of almost everyone else.

 

[Lee_M]

Yep, thats a very good immediate thought, that is the ideal. Though In my experience expecting ideals on the road is a pretty good way of getting yourself into trouble on the road unfortunately. As I'm sure is the experience of almost everyone else.

As I think I've said elsewhere, I never expect the ideal, I expect the opposite, I was commenting on the excuse given elsewhere that "ooh I cant see in my vehicle. so don't sit in my blind spot!" with no apparent consideration of making sure you can check

 

[Cycling Dan]

Simple answer, get a convertible :P

 

[Boris Bajic]

Simple answer, get a convertible :P

This is a very good solution. My wife drives (on nice days) a tiny Italian roadster from the early '60s. Top down, the only things above your sixth rib are the windscreen, the top of the wheel and the dash-mounted mirror.

It has no wing mirrors or door mirrors, but in terms of visibility it is almost a bicycle. No blind spots and you can see, hear and smell everything.

Flat out it gets to about 65mph, but it feels like 165mph. That is a safe car.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Front 'A' pillar on my Berlingo can easily hide a car. Particularly noticeable when driving in France as, approaching a roundabout, the left pillar exactly tracks traffic already on the 'bout.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Front 'A' pillar on my Berlingo can easily hide a car. Particularly noticeable when driving in France as, approaching a roundabout, the left pillar exactly tracks traffic already on the 'bout.

I have noticed this when driving in Foreign. They do things the wrong way round. They are a rum lot and it's best they stay over there in Foreign, where they're from.

I've noticed that many of them have their cars adapted to allow the passenger to drive. This may be because of the issue you raise about visibility.

In my car the passenger is a woman, to whom I happen to be married.

Dear God! If they gave her the wheel, anything might happen!

This is the UKIP thread, isn't it?