i am sick , a man died in front of me

Nix · 3 Mar 2006 at 01:25

Dace said:
The best advice I ever had when I passed my bike test was "always be paranoid of everyone else all of the time".

Even so, I've been travelling along at 30mph and had a car pull out from a sidestreet and avoiding sideswiping me by about 10cm. On a daily basis lorries and vans will 'miss me' and pull out while I'm going around roundabouts (this is early AM with my headlights on).

Oh, and today I had some Jackass hightop van driver running up my arse so I couldnt see the outside lane which I needed to get into.

Don't mean to be paranoid mate, but be careful yea? Sounds like you've had a couple of close calls already.

Treefrog · 3 Mar 2006 at 01:34

Dace said:
The best advice I ever had when I passed my bike test was "always be paranoid of everyone else all of the time".

Even so, I've been travelling along at 30mph and had a car pull out from a sidestreet and avoiding sideswiping me by about 10cm. On a daily basis lorries and vans will 'miss me' and pull out while I'm going around roundabouts (this is early AM with my headlights on).

Oh, and today I had some Jackass hightop van driver running up my arse so I couldnt see the outside lane which I needed to get into.

Good advice.

Usually looking in the wrong place, or only sparing a quick glance. Try riding with full beam on if they can't see a dipped one - your life is worth a damn sight more than a couple of seconds annoyance to them.

Tailgating is bad mmkay, but weren't you able to move over a little to see the lane, or was the van driver likely to try to squeeze past on the inside if you did that?

And btw, it's not paranoia - they really are out to get us!

dirtydog · 3 Mar 2006 at 03:13

Treefrog said:
Maybe drivers of dark cars should be forced to drive with their headlights on so other road users can see them?

It's funny you should say that - I drive a dark coloured car and I am aware that it is less visible than lighter colours. I also use my headlights on winter mornings even when it is bright sunshine, because of the low sun - but a lot of drivers cannot wait to turn their lights off at the earliest opportunity. They don't seem to grasp the concept that lights are just as much so that you can be seen, as for you to see with.

Zip · 3 Mar 2006 at 03:18

dirtydog said:
It's funny you should say that - I drive a dark coloured car and I am aware that it is less visible than lighter colours. I also use my headlights on winter mornings even when it is bright sunshine, because of the low sun - but a lot of drivers cannot wait to turn their lights off at the earliest opportunity. They don't seem to grasp the concept that lights are just as much so that you can be seen, as for you to see with.

I drive a white car and if there is any sign of visibility loss due to the weather or smoke i turn my lights on aswell.

Every one who rides a bike should have to have there lights on imo, for there own safety and the safety of others.
And people in cars shouldn't be so afraid to have there lights on and shouldn't be so quick to turn them off.

Iraklis F.C. · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:28

it is a standard in recently built bikes , headlights are always on and cannot be switched off .

Takhisis · 3 Mar 2006 at 07:33

Iraklis F.C. said:
it is a standard in recently built bikes , headlights are always on and cannot be switched off .

Thank you for saying that - I had it in my head that some makes at least always had their lights on but wasn't 100% sure if I was right or if I'd just dreamt it

Treefrog · 4 Mar 2006 at 12:39

dirtydog said:
It's funny you should say that - I drive a dark coloured car and I am aware that it is less visible than lighter colours. I also use my headlights on winter mornings even when it is bright sunshine, because of the low sun - but a lot of drivers cannot wait to turn their lights off at the earliest opportunity. They don't seem to grasp the concept that lights are just as much so that you can be seen, as for you to see with.

I just wish everyone put as much thought into their driving as you do DD - both bikers and cagers alike.

Edit: And you Zip.

The main problem I have with compusory headlight use is that: i) TRRL tests showed that people tend to underestimate the speed of an oncoming vehicle with headlights on by up to 50%, which means that they are more likely to pull out believing that it is safe to do so when it isn't, and ii) by putting the onus on the bike to have its headlight on, it transfers responsibility from the person who should be making sure that it's safe to execute a manouevre. AFAIK this doesn't apply in any other area, like someone indicating to turn and carrying straight on for example, or vice versa.