Interesting...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Why motorists don't see you.
(13 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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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!).
Posted 12 years ago # -
Rather a longwinded way to tell us what we already knew - they don't look properly.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Well yes, but there's also very interesting stuff on 'how' to look properly.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Quite so... you see, but you do not observe."
Posted 12 years ago # -
Very interesting in the context of the flashing-light vs steady-light debate. Flashing lights all day anyone?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think Boris Bikes already have lights on all the time.
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.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The boris bikes run a kind of re-light at all times. I think...
Posted 12 years ago # -
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.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Min Rather a longwinded way to tell us what we already knew - they don't look properly.
@kaputnik - what he said...
I viewed at as "why we can never 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).
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
Another reason why road users don't see motorcyclists (and maybe cyclists) properly was explained at Road Safety Scotland's Annual Seminar by the TRL Head of Transport Psychology in a presentation. 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.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@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.
Posted 12 years ago # -
It was taught in Father Ted also where Dougal has 'small, far away' explained again to him.
Posted 12 years ago #
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