Rear radar - any good?

[Ajax Bay]

Cars shouldn’t be overtaking you where there [are] solid double white lines unless of course you were travelling at less than 10mph.

Ack off topic (rear radars)
That's what Rule 129 says (straying into 'no noisy straps, no hat' @mjr expertise here). However I suggest most of us would prefer a vehicle to pass when it's safe to do so rather than hover behind us even at >10mph within reason, and do so giving decent space rather than trying to pass but not cross the white line which results in a close pass, dangerous to the cyclist.
Personally if I'm going downhill at speed say 25+mph I will adopt the primary position (middle of the lane) whatever the line markings are, for my safety (and manoeuvre space if an impatient lunatic goes for the pass, white lines or not).

Rule 129 "Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less."

 

[mjr]

Thats probably why the resulting speeded up flash rate has not lead to anyone being challenged on having a light with a variable flash rate.

Nah, unless it strobes or something else silly, I don't think the police care as long as it's a reddish light.

 

[HLaB]

Maybe also tells the driver that you have seen them (even without eye contact). A lot of my cycling is on narrower/single track roads so I do end-up pulling in to let cars pass (when convenient) - I'd rather have a happy driver in front of me than a frustrated driver behind me. Of course a lot depends on the nature of the roads and where there is space (roads wide enough) the driver behind can wait for clear visibility ahead. Just on narrower roads with fair distance to any opportunity for a safe pass I'll make the effort.

Eye contact is weird. For some drivers its wrongly interpreted as 'the cyclist has saw me and Ive a green light to go', whereas other drivers interpret it better, eg you're glancing right because you want to turn right and they hold back :-/

 

[freiston]

Eye contact is weird. For some drivers its wrongly interpreted as 'the cyclist has saw me and Ive a green light to go', whereas other drivers interpret it better, eg you're glancing right because you want to turn right and they hold back :-/

This in buckets. I'm pretty sure that when a driver clocks my face, they can see it clearly but more often than not, if I look at them, what I see is a mirror-like piece of glass or a dark abyss - no face. For all I know, the driver has attempted to communicate with me and expects me to comply with their "communicated" intention or for me to understand their offer/request and comply.

Sometimes I think it is more dangerous to seek or appear to have made eye contact than it is to purposefully avoid it. I have heard that some "advanced" driving tuition promotes making eye contact but in reality, my experience is that seeking eye contact is usually a failed endeavour but the risk of assumed (but failed) communication is increased.

That aside, a glance over the shoulder, imho, is more likely to make the driver more aware or appreciative of your presence and possibly also make them more cautious and accommodating/less 2gung-ho". I also find that a wobble outwards often appears to get positive results too - I'm sure it has made some drivers brake and wait for a safer opportunity to pass rather than continue with their planned pass if I had remained straight without a wobble.

 

[blackrat]

"Simple test: find suitable long downhill and acquire sufficient speed for wind noise 'from straps'. Here comes the dodgy bit: achieve appropriate balance, let go of handlebars to unclip and remove helmet; realise the straps weren't causing the noise at all. Attempt to put helmet back on."
Anyone attempting that stupid action would be far too dumb to be riding on the road.

 

[mjr]

Simple test: find suitable long downhill and [...]

Sorry, I don't understand 'long' and 'downhill' together like that. Greetings from the fens!

 

[Adam4868]

Never thought I'd like or bother with a rear radar thingy....but got bought a Varia as a present a year or so ago and wouldn't be without it now.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I actually did this helmet strap noise test once. Well, not exactly this test since I'm not [that] stupid. I stopped to remove my helmet, stowed it, then carried on at a similar speed. This was down Great Dun Fell so plenty of time to consider the difference in wind noise levels. For what it's worth, there was a slight decrease in noise when not wearing the helmet, but it was still pretty noisy. My helmet is nominally 'road aero' and has close-fitting straps, so that may help.

Great Dun Fell is also a splendid venue for bedding in new disk rotors / pads :-)

 

[Bristolian]

This in buckets. I'm pretty sure that when a driver clocks my face, they can see it clearly but more often than not, if I look at them, what I see is a mirror-like piece of glass or a dark abyss - no face. For all I know, the driver has attempted to communicate with me and expects me to comply with their "communicated" intention or for me to understand their offer/request and comply.

Sometimes I think it is more dangerous to seek or appear to have made eye contact than it is to purposefully avoid it. I have heard that some "advanced" driving tuition promotes making eye contact but in reality, my experience is that seeking eye contact is usually a failed endeavour but the risk of assumed (but failed) communication is increased.

That aside, a glance over the shoulder, imho, is more likely to make the driver more aware or appreciative of your presence and possibly also make them more cautious and accommodating/less 2gung-ho". I also find that a wobble outwards often appears to get positive results too - I'm sure it has made some drivers brake and wait for a safer opportunity to pass rather than continue with their planned pass if I had remained straight without a wobble.

When looking back you are generally looking at an angle through the windscreen, which is typically slanted towards the roof and curved from side to side creating lots of reflections. I overcome this by wearing polarised glasses which virtually eliminate this problem.

IAM Roadsmart associates (and indeed RoSPA trainees) are indeed taught to get eye contact with other drivers where possible. The difference here is that we generally emphasise this when approaching a junction or roundabout where you will be looking into the other car via the side windows rather than the windscreen. The issue of reflections is then much reduced.

Many advanced drivers also feel that making eye contact can be mis-read by the other driver and I have seen that happen. On balance, though, I feel it is safer than not. YMMV and I know that @Drago has a different view.

 

[lazybloke]

Well, not exactly this test since I'm not [that] stupid.

Come on, live a little!

 

[Ajax Bay]

This sparked a memory of wind reduction opportunities, only if one wears a hat and has the necessary straps.
Cat Ears AirStreamz Slim – about 6cm long, wraps round each strap

 

[lazybloke]

This sparked a memory of wind reduction opportunities, only if one wears a hat and has the necessary straps.
Cat Ears AirStreamz Slim – about 6cm long, wraps round each strap

Modelled on Elvis?

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Saying you don;t need it is rather like saying you never need a collision avoidance system because you should always be looking

It is not essential - but it is extra information which should not be treated as totally replacing the look backwards
but adding to it

 

[mjr]

Saying you don;t need it is rather like saying you never need a collision avoidance system because you should always be looking

It is not essential - but it is extra information which should not be treated as totally replacing the look backwards
but adding to it

I think we agree that it's not essential and can provide extra information, but like I wrote back on page one, it's not worth it.

Page one also links to the earlier thread where most of this was already covered. So what are we adding? 🤷

 

[Mr Celine]

When looking back you are generally looking at an angle through the windscreen, which is typically slanted towards the roof and curved from side to side creating lots of reflections. I overcome this by wearing polarised glasses which virtually eliminate this problem.

IAM Roadsmart associates (and indeed RoSPA trainees) are indeed taught to get eye contact with other drivers where possible. The difference here is that we generally emphasise this when approaching a junction or roundabout where you will be looking into the other car via the side windows rather than the windscreen. The issue of reflections is then much reduced.

Many advanced drivers also feel that making eye contact can be mis-read by the other driver and I have seen that happen. On balance, though, I feel it is safer than not. YMMV and I know that @Drago has a different view.

I find it bizarre that people think they can make eye contact with a person in another vehicle when both are moving at different velocities and seen through tinted windscreens, sun glasses etc. If you can discern which direction they are looking in it wouldn't tell you any more than that, just as an indicator does nothing more than tell you it works.
When approaching a junction or roundabout I make eye contact with the front wheels of any approaching vehicles. The vast majority of vehicles steer from the front, the vehicle is going to travel in the direction the wheels are pointing regardless of where the driver is looking.