SMIDSY off-shoot thread

Not sure if this is the place to put this thread. But I have a question. From various posts it seems that the woman in question was turning right into the lane occupied by the biker. She did not see him until it was too late as there was a van turning right into the lane she came from, blocking the bike from view.

If we'd (motorbikers) have pulled into a lane of traffic without peeping and creeping instead of pulling straight across during our tests, we'd have failed our test. Why is this not so for cars, which would imply driving without due care as teh very least.

Also can someone who has done their cage test recently let us if the newer cage tests are about as stringent as bike tests, because there was a lot more road craft in my bike test then my cage test 11 years ago.

[Fallout]

Interestingly I failed my first cage test for almost this exact reason. I was on this junction turning right, having just crossed to the middle. A van was turning into the slip road and was blocking the view of a car behind that was tailgating him. I started to pull out then spotted the other car, stopped safely, but ended up blocking the slip road meaning the van had to wait for me. It was never dangerous because I saw the car before I pulled out, but I suppose it was dangerous enough to fail me. 0 minor, 1 major!

I think there is a vast difference in the tuition, unless I had a good instructor for the bike and bad for the car.
My bike instructor was genuinely interested in biking and riding. He was always telling us to have a plan, always look as far as you can see and pointing out road positioning. He was teaching us to ride, not to just pass the test.

The car instructor was some old dude, just had me driving over tests routes. Nothing on planing ahead, nothing about anticipating other road users. This might explain why most car drivers seem to look no further than a few meters infront of their bonnet and drive around like headless chickens.

I've seen drivers seem shocked when a massive horse just 'appears' in front of their car and almost drive into it, where as I'd spotted it a good minute before.

[dizzyblonde]

I think the sheer volumes of car learners these days, somehow dilutes tuition. I passed my driving test in 2010 whilst pregnant. I was lucky to have an instructor who also rode motorcycles and was very in tune with my perceptions of the road from 7 yrs experience in the saddle. He was though, an old school instructor, in his 50s. A lot of instructors these days are a lot younger. It could quite possibly be something to do with it, maybe not.

[Kirkybhoy]

as someone who teaches driving most weekends, I think most instructor do actually teach people to "pass the test" as that is what they are paying for, unfortunately due to spiralling prices most people do not go on to pass plus or more advanced lessons. As I am not paid by the the individual and teaching driving is part of my Job I try to teach people to drive safely rathr than just pass the test( I don't want their death on my conscience because I put them forward for test ) .

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

Not sure if this is the place to put this thread. But I have a question. From various posts it seems that the woman in question was turning right into the lane occupied by the biker. She did not see him until it was too late as there was a van turning right into the lane she came from, blocking the bike from view.

If nothing else, learn from this.

Beware vans especially, you can't see over them.

Don't just sizzle up the inside (no comment on accident starting this thread BTW) as they may not have registered your presence before you are lost to view behind the vehicle in the filter lane/turning across.

I've had many moments like this when slowing down/pinning the throttle and taking a far left riding position has avoided any incident or near miss.

If approaching the "blind spot" behind the vehicle then taking a further right position can help you remain in view for longer but take care the car emerging doesn't take this as a signal that you are also turning right.

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

If nothing else, learn from this.

Beware vans especially, you can't see over them.

Don't just sizzle up the inside (no comment on accident starting this thread BTW) as they may not have registered your presence before you are lost to view behind the vehicle in the filter lane/turning across.

I've had many moments like this when slowing down/pinning the throttle and taking a far left riding position has avoided any incident or near miss.

If approaching the "blind spot" behind the vehicle then taking a further right position can help you remain in view for longer but take care the car emerging doesn't take this as a signal that you are also turning right.

Or in simple terms, assume everyone at a junction is going to pull out and kill you.

^No light-hearted marlarky there. Deadly serious!

[yorkie_chris]

Aye, an easy assumption to make, a harder assumption to act on successfully.

Originally Posted by punkyp

This might explain why most car drivers seem to look no further than a few meters infront of their bonnet and drive around like headless chickens.

I've seen drivers seem shocked when a massive horse just 'appears' in front of their car and almost drive into it, where as I'd spotted it a good minute before.

the reason for this is we as humans were not designed for the speeds made possible by motorised transport

the faster we go the further ahead we need to look

our eyes have a natural focal distance, which is suitable only for walking or running speed

a driver who is not consciously thinking about looking further ahead will naturally bring his eyes to rest, and not react to things further ahead than, a few metres in front of his bonnet (about 22 yds actually)

to focus on something significantly closer or further away requires eye muscle effort, and this is why a long day of motorway driving or a long day at a computer screen makes our eyes tired

unfortunately most people drive on autopilot and put in no concious effort, and this means their eyes are in a natural relaxed state, and they dont look very far ahead

[ChrisCurvyS]

I'm always scanning ahead to junctions and if there's something there or even just approaching, I'll lose a lot of speed and dial in a bit of front brake - often dropping way below the speed limit but not enough to make the driver get impatient and pull out anyway. I then make a little escape plan for where I'll go if he does pull out - don't forget, bikes can fit into very small gaps on the road so braking isn't your only option.

Touch wood, it's kept me safe so far and I probably get properly SMIDSYd at least once a week, particularly in the dark as I think the SV headlights look like a car in the distance.

If I could give every new rider two safety tips from personal experience - expect people to pull out on you at every junction and never sit alongside other vehicles on motorways etc.

What does everybody else do at junctions?