Geometrical traffic hazards

On 5/2/2020 3:32 AM, wrote:
On Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5:45:12 PM UTC+2, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/30/2020 11:42 PM, James wrote:
On 1/5/20 11:45 am, Radey Shouman wrote:
Interesting video, and article, on a rural crossroads (intersection) in
England that has been the site of two cycling deaths.Â* Nice, flat,
straight, open roads that intersect at a moderate but not right angle.
One road now has a stop sign (apparently a rarity in the UK), the other
does not.

Motorists, and probably cyclists, although that is not stated, routinely
cruise through the stop sign without slowing down.Â* On several occasions
they have collided with cyclists traveling on the through road.Â* Why?
According to the article, it's mostly a case of "constant bearing,
decreasing range" keeping the cyclist in the motorist's A-pillar blind
spot right up to the point of collision, while the cyclist, feeling
secure in his right of way, would have to look behind him in order to
see the motorist.

https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01...ling-cyclists/


https://youtu.be/SYeeTvitvFU




Great video.

UK insurance has known about the increased risk of wide A pillars for a
long time.

https://www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/about-us/news/insurance-news/2011/09/23/blind-spot-crashes-increase-by-50-over-two-years


Wide A pillars came about to strengthen the roof structure such that car
occupants are better protected in the event of a crash where the car
rolls over.

I have written to the Australian federal member in charge of the
Australian vehicle design rules, complaining that wide A pillars should
fail the "Forward Field of View" requirement.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01521

So far the replies have been little more than crickets.

I've been very aware of the visibility problem inherent with thick A
pillars, as well as other visibility problems with modern cars.

A few years ago I finally sold my 1990 Honda station wagon. That car
design got some attention for allowing a driver to spot an egg on the
roadway just a few feet in front of the front bumper. In fact, the hood
slanted so much it was hard to see from the driver's seat. The car's
greenhouse was huge, and the A pillars were slim.

By contrast, I'm constantly craning my neck to look past the A pillar in
our new-ish Mazda. And despite constantly checking windows and mirrors
while backing up and turning at less than 1 mph, I managed to bump into
a post that stayed in my blind spot during the entire backing process.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

Our 2014 lacks those electronics. I'd thought about adding an
aftermarket rear camera but didn't do it. Hence the bump.

I still haven't added that camera. I guess I'm an optimist.


--
- Frank Krygowski

On Sat, 2 May 2020 11:13:50 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 5/1/2020 9:24 PM, John B. wrote:
On Fri, 1 May 2020 11:45:07 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 4/30/2020 11:42 PM, James wrote:
On 1/5/20 11:45 am, Radey Shouman wrote:
Interesting video, and article, on a rural crossroads (intersection) in
England that has been the site of two cycling deaths.* Nice, flat,
straight, open roads that intersect at a moderate but not right angle.
One road now has a stop sign (apparently a rarity in the UK), the other
does not.

Motorists, and probably cyclists, although that is not stated, routinely
cruise through the stop sign without slowing down.* On several occasions
they have collided with cyclists traveling on the through road.* Why?
According to the article, it's mostly a case of "constant bearing,
decreasing range" keeping the cyclist in the motorist's A-pillar blind
spot right up to the point of collision, while the cyclist, feeling
secure in his right of way, would have to look behind him in order to
see the motorist.

https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01...ling-cyclists/


https://youtu.be/SYeeTvitvFU




Great video.

UK insurance has known about the increased risk of wide A pillars for a
long time.

https://www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/about-us/news/insurance-news/2011/09/23/blind-spot-crashes-increase-by-50-over-two-years


Wide A pillars came about to strengthen the roof structure such that car
occupants are better protected in the event of a crash where the car
rolls over.

I have written to the Australian federal member in charge of the
Australian vehicle design rules, complaining that wide A pillars should
fail the "Forward Field of View" requirement.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01521

So far the replies have been little more than crickets.

I've been very aware of the visibility problem inherent with thick A
pillars, as well as other visibility problems with modern cars.

A few years ago I finally sold my 1990 Honda station wagon. That car
design got some attention for allowing a driver to spot an egg on the
roadway just a few feet in front of the front bumper. In fact, the hood
slanted so much it was hard to see from the driver's seat. The car's
greenhouse was huge, and the A pillars were slim.

By contrast, I'm constantly craning my neck to look past the A pillar in
our new-ish Mazda. And despite constantly checking windows and mirrors
while backing up and turning at less than 1 mph, I managed to bump into
a post that stayed in my blind spot during the entire backing process.

Perhaps I am unique in this day and age, but I learned to drive,
driving a tractor and when you backed the Manure spreader into the
side of the barn using an excuse like, "Oh, but I couldn't see" just
didn't work. The reply would have been , "then why didn't you get off
and look?"

I suspect the difference is that when you backed the manure spreader
into the barn and busted the siding your father had to pay to fix it
and today you dent someone's fender and the insurance pays :-)

I think a bigger difference was, when I've driven a tractor, I _could_
see. Visibility was excellent.

But that was back before tractors had enclosed cabs with heating, air
conditioning, back massagers, sound systems and whatever else they now have.

I don't know what you were using your tractor for but I can assure you
that if you were, oh for instance, hauling a loaded hay wagon you
couldn't see behind you without getting off and looking.

My mentioning the manure spreader was deliberate as the top of the
"shredder" bar(s) was about the height of the tractor seat and thus
your view of what was close behind was rather limited. For example
https://tinyurl.com/yd2obl3m
--
cheers,

John B.

On Sat, 02 May 2020 00:32:55 -0700, lou.holtman wrote:


Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

IME, these do not overcome a basic inability in the skill of reversing.
Some people just do not have the mental skill to ever reverse anything.

Never volunteer to help with unloading when it involves amateur drivers
reversing to a loading dock.

On Sun, 3 May 2020 02:38:25 -0000 (UTC), news18
wrote:

On Sat, 02 May 2020 00:32:55 -0700, lou.holtman wrote:


Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

IME, these do not overcome a basic inability in the skill of reversing.
Some people just do not have the mental skill to ever reverse anything.

Never volunteer to help with unloading when it involves amateur drivers
reversing to a loading dock.

Well, one probably shouldn't stand between the loading dock and the
rear of the truck with any driver :-)
--
cheers,

John B.

Frank Krygowski writes:

On 5/2/2020 3:32 AM, wrote:
On Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5:45:12 PM UTC+2, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/30/2020 11:42 PM, James wrote:
On 1/5/20 11:45 am, Radey Shouman wrote:
Interesting video, and article, on a rural crossroads (intersection) in
England that has been the site of two cycling deaths.Â* Nice, flat,
straight, open roads that intersect at a moderate but not right angle.
One road now has a stop sign (apparently a rarity in the UK), the other
does not.

Motorists, and probably cyclists, although that is not stated, routinely
cruise through the stop sign without slowing down.Â* On several occasions
they have collided with cyclists traveling on the through road.Â* Why?
According to the article, it's mostly a case of "constant bearing,
decreasing range" keeping the cyclist in the motorist's A-pillar blind
spot right up to the point of collision, while the cyclist, feeling
secure in his right of way, would have to look behind him in order to
see the motorist.

https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01...ling-cyclists/


https://youtu.be/SYeeTvitvFU




Great video.

UK insurance has known about the increased risk of wide A pillars for a
long time.

https://www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/about-us/news/insurance-news/2011/09/23/blind-spot-crashes-increase-by-50-over-two-years


Wide A pillars came about to strengthen the roof structure such that car
occupants are better protected in the event of a crash where the car
rolls over.

I have written to the Australian federal member in charge of the
Australian vehicle design rules, complaining that wide A pillars should
fail the "Forward Field of View" requirement.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01521

So far the replies have been little more than crickets.

I've been very aware of the visibility problem inherent with thick A
pillars, as well as other visibility problems with modern cars.

A few years ago I finally sold my 1990 Honda station wagon. That car
design got some attention for allowing a driver to spot an egg on the
roadway just a few feet in front of the front bumper. In fact, the hood
slanted so much it was hard to see from the driver's seat. The car's
greenhouse was huge, and the A pillars were slim.

By contrast, I'm constantly craning my neck to look past the A pillar in
our new-ish Mazda. And despite constantly checking windows and mirrors
while backing up and turning at less than 1 mph, I managed to bump into
a post that stayed in my blind spot during the entire backing process.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

Our 2014 lacks those electronics. I'd thought about adding an
aftermarket rear camera but didn't do it. Hence the bump.

I still haven't added that camera. I guess I'm an optimist.

I have a backup camera on my 2016 car. It's convenient when backing
into a parking space or parallel parking, but I'm skeptical that it
improves safety.

On Sun, 03 May 2020 09:59:25 +0700, John B. wrote:

On Sun, 3 May 2020 02:38:25 -0000 (UTC), news18
wrote:

On Sat, 02 May 2020 00:32:55 -0700, lou.holtman wrote:


Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

IME, these do not overcome a basic inability in the skill of reversing.
Some people just do not have the mental skill to ever reverse anything.

Never volunteer to help with unloading when it involves amateur drivers
reversing to a loading dock.

Well, one probably shouldn't stand between the loading dock and the rear
of the truck with any driver :-)

For about five times of the width of the vehicle to either side.
Throw in a basic trailer and you don't want to be anywhere.

On Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 5:19:50 AM UTC+2, Radey Shouman wrote:
Frank Krygowski writes:

On 5/2/2020 3:32 AM, wrote:
On Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5:45:12 PM UTC+2, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/30/2020 11:42 PM, James wrote:
On 1/5/20 11:45 am, Radey Shouman wrote:
Interesting video, and article, on a rural crossroads (intersection) in
England that has been the site of two cycling deaths.Â* Nice, flat,
straight, open roads that intersect at a moderate but not right angle.
One road now has a stop sign (apparently a rarity in the UK), the other
does not.

Motorists, and probably cyclists, although that is not stated, routinely
cruise through the stop sign without slowing down.Â* On several occasions
they have collided with cyclists traveling on the through road.Â* Why?
According to the article, it's mostly a case of "constant bearing,
decreasing range" keeping the cyclist in the motorist's A-pillar blind
spot right up to the point of collision, while the cyclist, feeling
secure in his right of way, would have to look behind him in order to
see the motorist.

https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01...ling-cyclists/


https://youtu.be/SYeeTvitvFU




Great video.

UK insurance has known about the increased risk of wide A pillars for a
long time.

https://www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/about-us/news/insurance-news/2011/09/23/blind-spot-crashes-increase-by-50-over-two-years


Wide A pillars came about to strengthen the roof structure such that car
occupants are better protected in the event of a crash where the car
rolls over.

I have written to the Australian federal member in charge of the
Australian vehicle design rules, complaining that wide A pillars should
fail the "Forward Field of View" requirement.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01521

So far the replies have been little more than crickets.

I've been very aware of the visibility problem inherent with thick A
pillars, as well as other visibility problems with modern cars.

A few years ago I finally sold my 1990 Honda station wagon. That car
design got some attention for allowing a driver to spot an egg on the
roadway just a few feet in front of the front bumper. In fact, the hood
slanted so much it was hard to see from the driver's seat. The car's
greenhouse was huge, and the A pillars were slim.

By contrast, I'm constantly craning my neck to look past the A pillar in
our new-ish Mazda. And despite constantly checking windows and mirrors
while backing up and turning at less than 1 mph, I managed to bump into
a post that stayed in my blind spot during the entire backing process..


--
- Frank Krygowski

Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

Our 2014 lacks those electronics. I'd thought about adding an
aftermarket rear camera but didn't do it. Hence the bump.

I still haven't added that camera. I guess I'm an optimist.

I have a backup camera on my 2016 car. It's convenient when backing
into a parking space or parallel parking, but I'm skeptical that it
improves safety.

It improves the safety the same way a rear view mirror does, only better. Mine pops out from above the licence plate when putting the car in reverse and has an almost 180 degrees view, much better then a rear view mirror even when it is dark. I never understood why it took so long before car manufacturers implemented this. Lines are also projected into the image indicating the way of travel depending on the position of the steering wheel and an aid to position your towbar to the trailer. As I said very helpful especially with cars with poor visibility to the rear, like mine.

Lou

On 5/2/2020 9:59 PM, John B. wrote:
On Sun, 3 May 2020 02:38:25 -0000 (UTC), news18
wrote:

On Sat, 02 May 2020 00:32:55 -0700, lou.holtman wrote:


Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

IME, these do not overcome a basic inability in the skill of reversing.
Some people just do not have the mental skill to ever reverse anything.

Never volunteer to help with unloading when it involves amateur drivers
reversing to a loading dock.

Well, one probably shouldn't stand between the loading dock and the
rear of the truck with any driver :-)
--
cheers,

John B.


That's one of the primary Rules of Life: 'No good deed goes
unpunished.'

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...ylmar/2348604/

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 5/3/2020 4:21 AM, wrote:
On Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 5:19:50 AM UTC+2, Radey Shouman wrote:
Frank Krygowski writes:

On 5/2/2020 3:32 AM, wrote:
On Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5:45:12 PM UTC+2, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 4/30/2020 11:42 PM, James wrote:
On 1/5/20 11:45 am, Radey Shouman wrote:
Interesting video, and article, on a rural crossroads (intersection) in
England that has been the site of two cycling deaths.Â* Nice, flat,
straight, open roads that intersect at a moderate but not right angle.
One road now has a stop sign (apparently a rarity in the UK), the other
does not.

Motorists, and probably cyclists, although that is not stated, routinely
cruise through the stop sign without slowing down.Â* On several occasions
they have collided with cyclists traveling on the through road.Â* Why?
According to the article, it's mostly a case of "constant bearing,
decreasing range" keeping the cyclist in the motorist's A-pillar blind
spot right up to the point of collision, while the cyclist, feeling
secure in his right of way, would have to look behind him in order to
see the motorist.

https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01...ling-cyclists/


https://youtu.be/SYeeTvitvFU




Great video.

UK insurance has known about the increased risk of wide A pillars for a
long time.

https://www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/about-us/news/insurance-news/2011/09/23/blind-spot-crashes-increase-by-50-over-two-years


Wide A pillars came about to strengthen the roof structure such that car
occupants are better protected in the event of a crash where the car
rolls over.

I have written to the Australian federal member in charge of the
Australian vehicle design rules, complaining that wide A pillars should
fail the "Forward Field of View" requirement.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01521

So far the replies have been little more than crickets.

I've been very aware of the visibility problem inherent with thick A
pillars, as well as other visibility problems with modern cars.

A few years ago I finally sold my 1990 Honda station wagon. That car
design got some attention for allowing a driver to spot an egg on the
roadway just a few feet in front of the front bumper. In fact, the hood
slanted so much it was hard to see from the driver's seat. The car's
greenhouse was huge, and the A pillars were slim.

By contrast, I'm constantly craning my neck to look past the A pillar in
our new-ish Mazda. And despite constantly checking windows and mirrors
while backing up and turning at less than 1 mph, I managed to bump into
a post that stayed in my blind spot during the entire backing process.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

Our 2014 lacks those electronics. I'd thought about adding an
aftermarket rear camera but didn't do it. Hence the bump.

I still haven't added that camera. I guess I'm an optimist.

I have a backup camera on my 2016 car. It's convenient when backing
into a parking space or parallel parking, but I'm skeptical that it
improves safety.

It improves the safety the same way a rear view mirror does, only better. Mine pops out from above the licence plate when putting the car in reverse and has an almost 180 degrees view, much better then a rear view mirror even when it is dark. I never understood why it took so long before car manufacturers implemented this. Lines are also projected into the image indicating the way of travel depending on the position of the steering wheel and an aid to position your towbar to the trailer. As I said very helpful especially with cars with poor visibility to the rear, like mine.

I've never understood why manufacturers started designing cars with such
terrible rear visibility! Like so many other marketing trends, it's a
triumph of styling over practicality.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On 5/2/2020 10:38 PM, news18 wrote:
On Sat, 02 May 2020 00:32:55 -0700, lou.holtman wrote:


Modern cars have all kind of sensors and a rear camera. Very helpful.

IME, these do not overcome a basic inability in the skill of reversing.
Some people just do not have the mental skill to ever reverse anything.

Never volunteer to help with unloading when it involves amateur drivers
reversing to a loading dock.

Many decades ago, living at our first place after we were married, I
built a simple storage shed, 8' x 8' x 8' plus a peaked roof. Among
other things, our bicycles hung in there.

Within a few years, we moved to a house about 25 miles away, inside a
city. We had a large yard (sort of a double lot), with the back part of
it enclosed by a chain link fence. The gate was just a few inches wider
than eight feet. I decided to move the storage shed there.

I was able to borrow a truck and a flat bed trailer. With help of some
friends, we loaded the empty shed onto the trailer. One of the friends
had been a truck driver, so we let him drive the rig to the new house.

And we let him back the trailer through that gate. There were no more
than 3" clearance in each side, but he snaked that trailer right in on
the first try. I was quite impressed.

--
- Frank Krygowski