Dopey driver, hope the cylist's on the mend

[midlandsgrimpeur]

That could be the case, but also possible he wasn't doing the conscious looking for things other than cars (which has the same effect as not looking, so is not an excuse). If you're not aware of the 'invisible gorilla' syndrome, where the brain deletes what it considers to be 'noise', it's well worth taking into consideration whenever you can when drivers are making (sub)conscious decisions. It's why it's worth moving out from the side of the road if a car is waiting at a side road: even if you think they've looked at you, the brain can still delete you from their perception. It's why the slogan "Think once, think twice, think bike" was so on the nose.

Had a concrete example of this today. I was cycling on a roundabout, quiet road and no traffic as I approached. I was taking 3rd exit, as I approached 1st exit, two cars were entering via 2nd exit. Obviously both should have waited but car 1 had a bit of a gap and drove ahead. Car 2 (old bloke in his 70's at a guess) just drove straight across my path, didn't even look either side, totally oblivious. Fortunately I was already aware of the potential danger and was looking straight at him so I could see he wasn't even scanning the road. I was already on the brakes and managed to slow and avoid him. Had I not done so, he would have ploughed straight into the side of me at 40mph.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Had a concrete example of this today. I was cycling on a roundabout, quiet road and no traffic as I approached. I was taking 3rd exit, as I approached 1st exit, two cars were entering via 2nd exit. Obviously both should have waited but car 1 had a bit of a gap and drove ahead. Car 2 (old bloke in his 70's at a guess) just drove straight across my path, didn't even look either side, totally oblivious. Fortunately I was already aware of the potential danger and was looking straight at him so I could see he wasn't even scanning the road. I was already on the brakes and managed to slow and avoid him. Had I not done so, he would have ploughed straight into the side of me at 40mph.

Classic example of dangerous driving

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Classic example of dangerous driving

That as well 😉

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

To many times I’ve been going along the main road when a driver, coming out of a side road looks in my direction BUT looks right through you even though I’m staring right into their eyes. I instantly start covering the brakes and hope for the best
I was discussing the smidsy incidents I encounter with a work colleague. He was trying to give out excuses why but kinda agreed with me when I said :
The trouble is to many people when coming out of junctions is that they GLANCE and not LOOK.

They are looking well enough to see cars and lorries

but not well enough to see a bike - including motorbikes in some cases

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I suspect we have all had situation where a driver has missed us but we were expecting a possible problem and automatically avoided it by braking
often without even realising

I also see this on motorways - I sort of notice that someone "might be an idiot" and when they prove me right I have already reacted

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I suspect we have all had situation where a driver has missed us but we were expecting a possible problem and automatically avoided it by braking
often without even realising

I also see this on motorways - I sort of notice that someone "might be an idiot" and when they prove me right I have already reacted

True but it comes from experience I think. New and inexperienced cyclists are particularly vulnerable to this kind of thing as they may not necessarily be anticipating the potential danger.

 

[briantrumpet]

Had a concrete example of this today. I was cycling on a roundabout, quiet road and no traffic as I approached. I was taking 3rd exit, as I approached 1st exit, two cars were entering via 2nd exit. Obviously both should have waited but car 1 had a bit of a gap and drove ahead. Car 2 (old bloke in his 70's at a guess) just drove straight across my path, didn't even look either side, totally oblivious. Fortunately I was already aware of the potential danger and was looking straight at him so I could see he wasn't even scanning the road. I was already on the brakes and managed to slow and avoid him. Had I not done so, he would have ploughed straight into the side of me at 40mph.

This I think is one reason they put up screens on the RH side of carriageways approaching roundabouts, so people are forced to look later - not just scan from some distance back from the entry to the roundabout, but when they are much closer to the white lines. Mind you, by the sound of it, that old boy didn't even bother with an early glance.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

This I think is one reason they put up screens on the RH side of carriageways approaching roundabouts, so people are forced to look later - not just scan from some distance back from the entry to the roundabout, but when they are much closer to the white lines. Mind you, by the sound of it, that old boy didn't even bother with an early glance.

I read somewhere that making people look later means that they slow down far more
if they can see (or think they can) then there is more likelihood that they will enter the roundabout at high speed

 

[briantrumpet]

I read somewhere that making people look later means that they slow down far more
if they can see (or think they can) then there is more likelihood that they will enter the roundabout at high speed

Zackly. I've also been witness to an impressive shunt, where the person second-in-line to entering a roundabout completely failed to multitask (looking ahead and to his/her right), and when the car in front decided to stop at the white line, the failed multitasker went bang into the back of the stopped car in front. Oops.

 

[blackrat]

What about adding rumble strips, or even better, speed bumps, at the entrance of all roundabouts?

 

[matticus]

To many times I’ve been going along the main road when a driver, coming out of a side road looks in my direction BUT looks right through you even though I’m staring right into their eyes. I instantly start covering the brakes and hope for the best

This is why I am deeply sceptical of the whole "eye contact" thing. Unless they see you and wave, then you wave back, and they smile and give an affirmative nod ... I really don't think you can trust it!

(I've just been for a 3rd dental trip resulting from my SMIDSY pre-C*vid - luckily my payout surplus still has several zeroes ... )

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

This is why I am deeply sceptical of the whole "eye contact" thing. Unless they see you and wave, then you wave back, and they smile and give an affirmative nod ... I really don't think you can trust it!

(I've just been for a 3rd dental trip resulting from my SMIDSY pre-C*vid - luckily my payout surplus still has several zeroes ... )

Yes, it can work both ways, sometimes they can look straight at you and you get a clear sense they are going to stop. Other times I have had direct eye contact and the driver still just pulled out straight in front of me!

 

[mjr]

I read somewhere that making people look later means that they slow down far more
if they can see (or think they can) then there is more likelihood that they will enter the roundabout at high speed

Isn't the point of roundabouts that you don't have to stop/nearly-stop if it's clear? I really dislike the peoples who add artificial blinding features like solid fences to roundabout approaches. I suspect the drivers who slow down are nearly all ones who looked properly before. The tossers who didn't look still don't (as they now can't) and leap out across the path of circulating traffic - and now that circulating traffic, including cyclists, can't see the jumper approaching until the last moment either! Well done designers(!) 🤦

Just put more police on the roads and weed out the incompetent and reckless. Don't add blind approaches to junctions.

 

[Alex321]

Isn't the point of roundabouts that you don't have to stop/nearly-stop if it's clear? I really dislike the peoples who add artificial blinding features like solid fences to roundabout approaches. I suspect the drivers who slow down are nearly all ones who looked properly before.

I would be utterly amazed if that were the case. Most of the drivers who don't look properly probably aren't even aare they aren't doing so. They look as they are approaching the roundabout, and think that is enough.

Not being able to do that means most of them WILL look as soon as they can.

There will still be a few plonkers who don't, but far fewer than the number who only gave a cursory look before.,