Who's really at fault?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Naf wrote: »

I discovered that an overtaking Fiat 500 fits perfectly into my blind spot. I take so much extra time to check and double check even when I pull out to overtake on the motorway. I rarely overtake on anything smaller than a dual carriageway.

As a cyclist you discover that people look but do not see. It is an unfortunate fact of life that the brain has a different idea of the world than what is actually out there. Glances are especially dangerous as the brain simply makes stuff up from what it has gleaned elsewhere - when the eye is moving the brain switches off its input, you actually need to stop and look deliberately to actually see, yet your brain will create the illusion that you are seeing continuously as you move your eyes.

It is one reason why the fabled "man look" happens - you scan around for something but you don't see in the detail that you think you are seeing - your imagination fills in the gaps.

Naf

IanMSpencer wrote: »

As a cyclist you discover that people look but do not see. It is an unfortunate fact of life that the brain has a different idea of the world than what is actually out there. Glances are especially dangerous as the brain simply makes stuff up from what it has gleaned elsewhere - when the eye is moving the brain switches off its input, you actually need to stop and look deliberately to actually see, yet your brain will create the illusion that you are seeing continuously as you move your eyes.

It is one reason why the fabled "man look" happens - you scan around for something but you don't see in the detail that you think you are seeing - your imagination fills in the gaps.

So true. I sometimes used to catch myself doing exactly this because I'd learned to go through the motions in order to pass my test. Now I make sure to look deliberately. I also try to check early then check again after a decent space of time so things have time to get out of my blind spot again.

Car_54

Naf wrote: »

So true. I sometimes used to catch myself doing exactly this because I'd learned to go through the motions in order to pass my test.

And that's exactly why the examiners aren't fooled by those who "go through the motions" and have been advised to "make sure they see you look" and move their heads accordingly.

They can tell what you've seen - as opposed to looked at - from your subsequent actions (or lack thereof!).