Blind Spot

triggerthat

triggerthat

triggerthat

Soldato
Joined
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London
I've been driving for a few months now and I have had no accidents (touch wood). I was driving along with my dad and he said its not wise to look over your shoulder (always keep your eyes on the road) when changing lanes or in any situations for that matter. Whereas I have been told by my previous instructor to check your blind spots (by looking over your shoulder) which I don't entirely argree with.

How is it meant to be done?

Cheers.
 
Always look over your shoulder :)

The blind spot is the area which is not covered by your mirrors. Although many mirrors have sections which cover this now... But looking is always the best idea imo.
 
You should always check your blind spot, use your brain if your close to a car infront on the motorway or someone is braking looking over your shoulder aint the best idea, a quick glance is all it takes.
 
Your dad couldn't be more wrong. Checking your blindspot is VERY important and in my opinion there isn't enough emphasis put on it in lessons and tests.

Obviously dont look over your shoulder and stare, have a quick but efficient look and return your eyes ahead if necessary. If you're driving so close to someone in front that a momentary glance over your shoulder will have you into the back of them if they brake then you are driving too close.

If you were on a motorbike and didn't check your blindspot, you'd be dead in no time.
 
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I think you should always check your blindspot before you change lanes / manouver.
What I generally do is:
Make sure road is clear in front of you, and you don't see anything likely happening in the coming seconds.
Check your mirrors.
Signal
Check blindspot for motorbikes + any other object that may not show up in the mirror check.
Move.
 
L0rdMike said:
You should drive looking in your blind spot all the time.
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All the time? ;)

Always glance over your shooulder, if i hadnt done it, i would have crashed loads of times by now.
 
i've got blindspot mirrors on my car

but when i didn't have them i always took a glance - theres a reason motorcyclists call it their lifesaver!

you'll notice very quickly if theres something in the way
 
There should always be enough time for a quick glance over your shoulder, if not then youre probably driving too fast for the conditions.
 
Even if your mirrors have those sections designed to eliminate blindspots, I would still look over your shoulder before changing lanes.
 
The VX has a huge blind spot, mainly a problem reversing and pulling out into traffic. Join a dual carriageway is fine as with foot down you're always going faster than the majority of the traffic flow so almost all the time no one will catch you by surprise.
 
Yup, always always always check your blind spot, some cars have bigger blind spots than others so I suppose it differes a little, but I check whenever im not 100% sure that its clear, quick check over the shoulder does no harm.
 
Muncher said:
The VX has a huge blind spot, mainly a problem reversing and pulling out into traffic. Join a dual carriageway is fine as with foot down you're always going faster than the majority of the traffic flow so almost all the time no one will catch you by surprise.
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Same ere, almost side swiped an astra first time on the motorway in the mx, with the hoodup you have a huge spot that you can't see into!
 
Just do it. Always check your mirrors before any manouvere of course, but checking over your shoulders will probably feel clumsy at first but keep at it and before long you'll have it in muscle memory and you can see instantly if anything is in your blind spot. then you can decide whether it is good or not. And by then you'll probably have found that it has saved you from pulling out into something else more than enough times to convince you.
 
The first and only time i didnt check my blindspot when overtaking nearly resulted in me wiping out an Audi that was in my blindspot. I reacted just in time as i saw something out corner of my eye at the last moment.

Like some other ppl have said, there isnt enough emphasis placed on it in lessons and tests. Its a lifesaver!
 
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Can your dad drive. :confused:

I always look over my shoulder when im about to pull out onto the motorway etc... from the slip-road, or changing lanes, bloody suicide if you dont, you'll take someone out.
 
triggerthat said:
Maybe he just can sense if it is clear to move.
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See if there is a light sabre under the seat in your dads car, or an X wing fighter in the garage, if there isnt, then trust me, look over your shoulder when checking your blindspot, you will probably learn the hard way if you dont
 
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