Safe Speed Forums

There's a well known effect where the brain 'fills in the gaps' of what you are seeing. If your vision is partially obscured by something outside your focus, or you only take a quick glance not long enough to recognise everything, I believe you can be left with the impression that you have seen the whole scene, when you haven't.

I've also got personal experience of 'tunnel vision' where I completely failed to see somebody in a bright dayglow tabard holding a red flag out well within my field of view, because the scene contained lots of other dayglow items (the hi-vis tabard lost its impact) and I was concentrating on something directly in front of me. Being visible isn't enough to ensure something is noticed, making yourself stand out more would increase the proportion of people who notice you at first glance.

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Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

Absolutely. When was the last time any of us experienced the retinal blind spot without performing a 'special test'?

But if you shut one eye and look around there's a big hole in your vision and it's TOTALLY imperceptible.

(I present this in the case as an example of the effect that greenv8s mentions.)

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I think the way we learn to drive is a bigger contribution than bad vehicle design - though I accept it plays its part.

For example on the approach to a junction - most drivers (who haven't done any advanced stuff) will take the task in two bites:

1 - stop at the junction and get in the right gear - the focus will be aiming to stop at the line, having gone down the gears and got into first ready.

2 - check its clear and go - look right, left right again and go if its clear.

what the rider sees is a a car driver (1) stopping because he's seen me and then when hes closer for no apparent reason (2) pulling into his path.

the reality is the motorist stopped because they are approaching a junction not because they'd seen the rider.

when doing 2 - its always worth look long enough to allow you to look in at least 2 (prefereably) 3 spots - ie scan the road not just gaze.

that way you are seeing and not just looking

Why is there any debate on this? We have a choice and it's being eroded all the time. Lights on or lights off, legally it is still the riders CHOICE. A while ago there was talk of making daytrime headlights mandatory for cars. where is your conspicuity then? It was argued that pedestrians would be able to distinguish between parked and moving vehicles. A better solution IMO would be to use ethnic cleansing to remove anyone that couldn't distinguish between moving and stationary.

Since I first hit the road in 1979 I have never used headlights in any other situation than in poor visibillity or at night. In that time I can count the SMIWFL's on no more than both hands. The last close one had his window open and was told "I ought to beat the crap out of your mrs and rape you" Being male myself the look on his face was a picture but I'm sure he got the picture.

It's about choice. If you feel safer with them on, great. if you have reservations about daytime lights and their effectiveness and dont use them, great.

There is something much more dangerous looming. ISA, the speed control which gives you the joy of a vibrating seat (ooh err mrs) and the shutting of YOUR throttle if you don't slow down to the speed limit or below. The more electronic gizmo's that come about affecting biking the more I like my old bikes. I will however fight to protect your biking liberty and not bitch and whine about it after doing nothing but bitch and whine because 'they' are trying to foist another piece of draconian BS on us.

sorry if that seems like a rant and this my first post and all but you're already divided on something so simple. Help each other to preserve our freedom of choice. save the poke in the chest for them that matter. Use MAG, use BMF, use FEMA.

I've just bought a hi-vis tabard to wear over my leathers. The wife's pleased as she thinks I'll be safer on the bike. I'll just watch carefully whilst I'm out on the bike and try and assess whether there are less SMIDSYs or not!

..

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Q. Are you a stupid fascist with limited reading skills or are you just a retard?