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#22
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Geometrical traffic hazards
Frank Krygowski writes:
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. It's not just styling -- thick pillars are the easiest way of meeting increasingly strict standards for occupant protection during rollovers. That's good for drivers and passengers, less good for cyclists and pedestrians. |
#23
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On 5/3/2020 1:20 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 6:27:28 PM UTC+2, Frank Krygowski wrote: 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 I think it has something to do with the safety regulations. I know it does for the front A pillars. I don't think the rear visibility problem is due to a safety regulation - at least, not on our hatchback. -- - Frank Krygowski |
#24
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote:
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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. -- cheers, John B. |
#25
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote:
On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org/ Open every day since 1 April, 1971 |
#26
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On Sun, 03 May 2020 18:31:31 -0500, AMuzi wrote:
On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. I'm not sure who "Fedel II" is but one of the overwhelming attributes of politicians is to be seen to "be doing something about the problem" even if the "something" is totally ineffective. When election time comes a few voters may remember that your solution didn't work but many will remember that you "took positive action in a timely manner". Think of ""Ich bin ein Berliner" and the news coverage! (although a "Berliner" can equally be the name of a sort of jelly donut :-) https://tinyurl.com/mfx9kea -- cheers, John B. |
#27
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On 5/3/2020 8:12 PM, John B. wrote:
On Sun, 03 May 2020 18:31:31 -0500, AMuzi wrote: On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. I'm not sure who "Fedel II" is but one of the overwhelming attributes of politicians is to be seen to "be doing something about the problem" even if the "something" is totally ineffective. When election time comes a few voters may remember that your solution didn't work but many will remember that you "took positive action in a timely manner". Think of ""Ich bin ein Berliner" and the news coverage! (although a "Berliner" can equally be the name of a sort of jelly donut :-) https://tinyurl.com/mfx9kea -- cheers, John B. I've been told by German speakers that it could be heard as a pun but wasn't in context. -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org/ Open every day since 1 April, 1971 |
#28
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On 5/3/2020 7:31 PM, AMuzi wrote:
On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. I guess we'll see how well the Canadians survive without guns with special features intended to facilitate mass killings. So far, Australia seems to be getting along pretty well. New Zealand too. Most of Europe has never had the problem in the first place. But admittedly, none of those are a short walk from the gun-craziest major country. -- - Frank Krygowski |
#29
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On Sun, 03 May 2020 20:55:05 -0500, AMuzi wrote:
On 5/3/2020 8:12 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 18:31:31 -0500, AMuzi wrote: On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. I'm not sure who "Fedel II" is but one of the overwhelming attributes of politicians is to be seen to "be doing something about the problem" even if the "something" is totally ineffective. When election time comes a few voters may remember that your solution didn't work but many will remember that you "took positive action in a timely manner". Think of ""Ich bin ein Berliner" and the news coverage! (although a "Berliner" can equally be the name of a sort of jelly donut :-) https://tinyurl.com/mfx9kea -- cheers, John B. I've been told by German speakers that it could be heard as a pun but wasn't in context. No, you are correct, in the circumstance in which it was said it accepted as a claim they he too was a Berliner. But exactly the same phrase can be interpreted, equally as accurately, as "I am a jelly donut". My point was, as I said, people tend to remember the things said rather than what the results were. -- cheers, John B. |
#30
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Geometrical traffic hazards
On Sun, 3 May 2020 22:12:54 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote: On 5/3/2020 7:31 PM, AMuzi wrote: On 5/3/2020 5:49 PM, John B. wrote: On Sun, 03 May 2020 10:15:44 -0500, AMuzi wrote: 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/ The news article itself didn't seem very informative but the reference to someone who was going to offer some new law to give better protection said that the guy was pinned between two cars. I find the attitude that there need to be more laws to prevent people backing into others, or running over people to be, well, a bit ludicrous. If you back into some-body/thing it is YOUR fault and all the whining about "Oh! I couldn't see" is quite simply B.S. Just turn your head, or if necessary get out of the car and look.... even when it is raining. Yes indeed. Compare to Canada where a nutjob recently killed 22 people, nine of them by bludgeoning/arson, the rest with firearms illegally smuggled from USA. All those actions are crimes already. His Highness Fidel II decided to ban a wide range of firearms unrelated to the crimes of the instant because solving problems is work, accepting some small degree of chaos/anomaly in a free society is sensible but deflection and punishment of the innocent wins votes. I guess we'll see how well the Canadians survive without guns with special features intended to facilitate mass killings. So far, Australia seems to be getting along pretty well. New Zealand too. Most of Europe has never had the problem in the first place. But admittedly, none of those are a short walk from the gun-craziest major country. On the other hand there were some 36,560 killed on U.S. roads in 2018 and everyone just shrugs their shoulders and says "accident". 22 get killed with guns and all the zealots are leaping up and down, waving their arms and screaming. -- cheers, John B. |
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