http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Why motorists don't see you. en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:42:57 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93549 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:07:08 +0000 mgj 93549@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was taught in Father Ted also where Dougal has 'small, far away' explained again to him. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93395 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:51:18 +0000 Darkerside 93395@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@min - think that's a little unfair, surely what the article is saying is you might think that you're looking properly, but unless you're aware of this effect you will potentially be ineffective. The 'near, middle, far' bit is particularly key; it's taught in response driving partly for the reasons given in the article. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93394 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:39:05 +0000 slowcoach 93394@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another reason why road users don't see motorcyclists (and maybe cyclists) properly was explained at Road Safety Scotland's <a href="http://www.road-safety.org.uk/about-us/annual-seminars/">Annual Seminar</a> by the TRL Head of Transport Psychology in a <a href="http://www.road-safety.org.uk/downloads/resources/shaun-helman---why-does-everyone-think-motorcyclists-arrive-late/">presentation</a>. Motorcyclists (and cyclists) look further away than other vehicles because they are smaller. They might also be travelling faster than others expect, so even if they have seen the cyclist, drivers may have subconciously discounted the arrival of the cyclists. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93385 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:35:38 +0000 Roibeard 93385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Min <em>Rather a longwinded way to tell us what we already knew - they don't look properly.</em></p> <p>@kaputnik - what he said...</p> <p>I viewed at as "why we can <strong>never</strong> get people to look properly". Driving is too ubiquitous to expect "fighter pilot" standards, so we need to stop putting hope in modifying drivers and start protecting vulnerable road users from drivers (drivers already being protected from themselves and other drivers by standard traffic- and vehicle-engineering).</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93375 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:11:12 +0000 kaputnik 93375@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With the addition of some details on reaction times and stopping distances, this article could equally be redrafted into something along the lines of "why the untrained human being is not safely capable of controlling a motor vehicle at speeds in excess of 70mph in an unpredictable environment" - a longwinded way of saying why increasing motorway speed limits isn't a great idea and why decreasing urban speed limits is. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93374 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:05:53 +0000 steveo 93374@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The boris bikes run a kind of re-light at all times. I think... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93373 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:58:15 +0000 wee folding bike 93373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think Boris Bikes already have lights on all the time.</p> <p>One of my Bromptons nearly does because I leave the Edelux on sensor. It's got a German back light so it doesn't flash. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93370 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:41:58 +0000 AKen 93370@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Very interesting in the context of the flashing-light vs steady-light debate. Flashing lights all day anyone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93367 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:25:33 +0000 steveo 93367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Quite so... you see, but you do not observe." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93363 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:12:28 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 93363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well yes, but there's also very interesting stuff on 'how' to look properly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93362 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:11:18 +0000 Min 93362@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Rather a longwinded way to tell us what we already knew - they don't look properly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93361 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:09:39 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 93361@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Very. A motorcyclist friend of mine pointed me in the direction of Motorcycle News on this. It does give good reasons for SMIDSY existing (but also backs up that people need to pay more attention than they currently do!). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9063#post-93359 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:03:29 +0000 Baldcyclist 93359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting...</p> <p><a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/" rel="nofollow">http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/</a> </p>