Russ_H wrote:Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:I sort of agree with GJD - it is slightly less necessary with lane changing, but that doesn't stop me doing it. Once you've found a motorcyclist in your blind spot whom you were previously unaware of, you are made cautious for ever more. There's always a slight doubt in my mind, no matter how closely I've looked at the mirrors. Obviously others have banished that doubt, and are happy that their mirrors show everything.
Who here has actually done a systematic blind spot check on their car(s)? It's something I know I should do, but have never done.
I often do a demonstration of this. I have the student sit in the driving seat in their normal position, with mirrors adjusted in their usual way. The window is down so that we can easily speak to each other. I stand beside the car, just behind the driver, on the offside, and ask the student scan his or her mirrors. It is rare that they can see me, even though I'm only two or three feet away. It is also possible to demonstrate the blindspot that exists on the nearside of the vehicle. The need for all round checks in car parks, for example, can then be addressed. It also raises the issue of effective mirror adjustment.
Mostly, I do this to reinforce the need for blind spot checks before moving away from rest, but the idea can be extended to moving blind spot checks.
I rarely hear of car instructors doing this, but it is fairly widespread among motorcycle instructors. I strongly recommend it.
OK, so I just went to the car with a portable post (4"x4", just over 3' high) and placed it " beside the car, just behind the driver, on the offside", it was clearly visible in my mirror. I noted where the ground was not visible and moved the post to there, then when I looked in my mirror the post was not there - instead it was directly in sight out of the corner of my eye (have I just performed a 'shoulder check' I wonder?).
I then moved it to halfway between the two previous points; not in direct sight, it was wholly visible on the edge of my mirror. I moved it again away from the car (towards the mirror edge) by about 8" to try to find this 'blind spot' - with the result that it was visible (just) in the mirror and also by direct sight as I looked at the mirror.
My conclusion is that I cannot 'lose from sight' an object half the size of a small adult. If I were to manoevre my car in a school playground with children present
it would be necessary for safety to have someone acting as 'banksman' - but I knew that anyway (directly in front and directly underneath the rear window it would be easy to 'lose' a small person). I cannot find this 'blind spot' where it is possible to lose a 'cycle.
OTOH there are blind spots either side looking forwards in which it is possible (if I don't move my head and indeed shoulders) to 'lose' a small truck
. Still, the movement ensures I don't stiffen up too much
.