Driving at night - blind spots

sim2335

I was driving today and saw cyclist through middle mirror but could not see though left before I turned into my road.

However I knew i outpasted him so drove in.

Surely there’s a safer way to turn into my road, should I check blind spot

If I check blind spot I’m not seeing road head is that not dangerous

How should my mirrors be postion, also the small mirrors you can add on to cover blind spot are the worth it.

Also I find it harder to drive at night, then day, is it worth getting better car lights would that help what elese can help.

DanDare999

sim2335 said:

I was driving today and saw cyclist through middle mirror but could not see though left before I turned into my road.

However I knew i outpasted him so drove in.

Surely there’s a safer way to turn into my road, should I check blind spot

If I check blind spot I’m not seeing road head is that not dangerous

How should my mirrors be postion, also the small mirrors you can add on to cover blind spot are the worth it.

Also I find it harder to drive at night, then day, is it worth getting better car lights would that help what elese can help.

What were you taught about blind spots when leaning to drive?

sim2335

Yes I was taught about blind spots when learning to drive.

have not checked them in long time,other then parking and leaving, and totally forgot, about them during actual driving as armed my mirrors cover everything and not had any accidents.


il gona start checking them now more often

DanDare999

sim2335 said:

Yes I was taught about blind spots when learning to drive.

have not checked them in long time,other then parking and leaving, and totally forgot, about them during actual driving as armed my mirrors cover everything and not had any accidents.


il gona start checking them now more often

Obviously not.

ontheroad1970

Is this a wind up?  If not, consider going back to take lessons.  You should be checking blind spots frequently, when changing direction, and definitely when turning into a road when you know there is a cycle around.  

Grey_Critic

ontheroad1970 said:

Is this a wind up?  If not, consider going back to take lessons.  You should be checking blind spots frequently, when changing direction, and definitely when turning into a road when you know there is a cycle around.  

I agree but without getting into long discussions about cyclists it is also important that they take steps to make themselves visible - even then my Grandson who cycles to/from work and is lit up like a Christmas Tree but that did not stop somebody knocking him off his bike.

Richard53

If you're turning and you know your mirrors don't give the full picture, actually turn your head to look over your shoulder. Motorcyclists call this the 'lifesaver', quite rightly. In this case, it's the cyclist's life you are saving. 

I always do a shoulder check before overtaking/pulling out (40+ years of riding bikes) and it's saved my bacon in the car a few times.

daveyjp

There is always the option of not overtaking the cyclist, let them cycle past the junction then you turn in, as I did the other week.

Decision has to be based on road type, speeds and distance to junction.

Flight3287462

What speed were you doing if a ninja cyclist sneaked up on you like that?

zagfles

Adjust your mirrors to eliminate or at least vastly reduce the blind spot. Eg see the links below (swap left and right for US sites as their cars are left hand drive). Once done, get someone to walk around your car and make sure you can see them wherever they are. When I did this found a very small blind spot near the rear corners of the car but could check them by just moving my head a few inches rather than having to do a shoulder check.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots
http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBj89kyTvWo

sim2335

zagfles said:

Adjust your mirrors to eliminate or at least vastly reduce the blind spot. Eg see the links below (swap left and right for US sites as their cars are left hand drive). Once done, get someone to walk around your car and make sure you can see them wherever they are. When I did this found a very small blind spot near the rear corners of the car but could check them by just moving my head a few inches rather than having to do a shoulder check.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots
http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBj89kyTvWo

This is when I stopped checking blind spots.

as I set my mirrors out simlair a mechanic did it.

but now my mirrors are not that good as that was years ago