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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / January 2006Why Pedestrians are Invisible to Drivers
Once again as I walked to the train station this morning I was nearly run down, this time by a young Asian female driver. This occurred at an intersection adjacent to the one where the MFFY flip-over colllision occurred last week (look for that one in tomorrow's Irvine World News, BTW). At this intersection, a local collector road intersects with a frontage road next to a freeway. Cars coming from the residential neighborhoods in Tustin Ranch stack up in the dedicated right turn lane at this intersection, waiting impatiently for an opportunity to turn right and then make an immediate left lane change to get to the freeway on-ramp. These cars are usually unable to turn right on red because they are pinned down by heavy cross-traffic, so when they get the green light they are super-anxious to get moving again. It's not uncommon for 4 or 5 vehicles to cut across my path as I walk through the clearly marked crosswalk, even though technically they are required to yield. The real problem is the drivers a few cars back; while they are farther back in the line, their view of the intersection is partially blocked. On more than one occasion one of the drivers 4 or 5 cars back has honked their horn because the lead car has stopped to give me the right-of-way. This morning the first few cars in the stack cut in front of me as usual, but this little Asian cupcake was too busy staring at the back bumper of the pickup truck in front of her to notice that I was in the crosswalk directly in front of her car. When she finally saw me, she slammed on her brakes, and I gave her my best "WTF" expression. She waved an apology, so I let her off the hook with no further punishment. ;) But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling.  SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see > pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the > bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front > of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - > anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. One of the many reasons to ride in the right tire track while using a bicycle is because this places you in a location where you block part of the view of the bumper of the vehicle ahead of you to those behind you. > One of the many reasons to ride in the right tire track while using a > bicycle is because this places you in a location where you block part of > the view of the bumper of the vehicle ahead of you to those behind you. I've also read that it's best to ride in the middle of the right lane on a multilane boulevard. After I started doing that, it became much easier for me to get into the left lane (two lane carriageway) as I got to the intersection since I only had to worry about a single lane of cars passing me. >> One of the many reasons to ride in the right tire track while using a >> bicycle is because this places you in a location where you block part of [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > to the intersection since I only had to worry about a single lane of > cars passing me. I just take the lane at whatever distance I feel I need to prior to making a lane change to make a left turn. It's usually not more than a 100 feet. However if traffic is heavy, I will take whatever safe gaps present themselves. Of course generally at intersections I can move faster than automotive traffic in heavy traffic so there is no issue in delaying people. Once I get into the left turn lane they can kiss the bumper of the vehicle that was in front of me as if I had never been there. Scott en Aztlán wrote: <brevity snip> > But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see > pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the > bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front > of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - > anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. ----- You've just now come to this realization?! Well, duh... I posted Dec. 5 2005- My theory is that the brain is hardwired for travel at walking speed due to millions of years of walking and, evolutionarily speaking, half an eye-blink of faster travel. Humankind has focused their attention about 3 feet ahead for millions of years to avoid stones, sticks, snakes, etc. Without training and continual conscious effort it's only "natural" to let your focus fall back to that 3 foot (or 0.5 to 1 second) interval. It happens to me everyday, anyway. The theory may be wrong but the behavior is obvious. ----- - gpsman > Once again as I walked to the train station this morning I was nearly > run down, this time by a young Asian female driver. This occurred at [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > What the heck, I'll play too. > - Dave I've often thought that people who walk a lot along busy streets should wear one of those hunter caps in that wild orange color. >I've often thought that people who walk a lot along busy streets should >wear one of those hunter caps in that wild orange color. Around here that cap would need a strobe light on it. SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave >>I've often thought that people who walk a lot along busy streets should >>wear one of those hunter caps in that wild orange color. > > Around here that cap would need a strobe light on it. Why not a hardhat with blue and red emergency lights? Ought to be legal as long as you don't wear it while driving... :-) Seriously though, an orange safety vest might not be such a bad idea. It pisses me off when people with dark clothes walk straight out in traffic expecting drivers to see them when it's dark and raining/snowing... Ulf > >>I've often thought that people who walk a lot along busy streets should > >>wear one of those hunter caps in that wild orange color. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > people with dark clothes walk straight out in traffic expecting drivers > to see them when it's dark and raining/snowing... That happened to me a few years ago. Some beyatch was dressed in black and crossing a street at night. It was at an intersection but there was no crosswalk and i wasn't expecting to see a ped. Fortunately she was white and i saw her face and hit the brakes in time. >>>I've often thought that people who walk a lot along busy streets should >>>wear one of those hunter caps in that wild orange color. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >people with dark clothes walk straight out in traffic expecting drivers >to see them when it's dark and raining/snowing... Point #1: this incident occurred during broad daylight. Point #2: I have a couple of safety-yellow reflective velcro straps that I put on when I am walking after dark. SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > Once again as I walked to the train station this morning I was nearly > run down, this time by a young Asian female driver. This occurred at [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - > anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. The only real revelation here is that you're just realizing this... SignatureAlan Baker Vancouver, British Columbia "If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard." >But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see >pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the >bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front >of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - >anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. Another thing: the huge aero mirrors combined with steeply raked windshield pillars create a huge blind spot. Go find a 78 Caprice with more upright pillars and small non-aero mirrors and you'll see what I mean. > Once again as I walked to the train station this morning I was nearly > run down, this time by a young Asian female driver. This occurred at [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - > anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. Looking at the bumper of the vehicle ahead instead of examining their surroundings to obtain better "situational awareness" as you so adequately have expressed in the past? Perish the thought! On another note, I am about to depart Northern California in a few minutes, which fortunately is my first (and hopefully last) visit to the region. WTF is it with the retards around here who treat bike lanes as extra turning lanes? I used to think east coast drivers were retarded; now I'm beginning to think they are rocket scientists, at least with respect to what I've been witnessing over the last two weeks. And what the hell is it with those stupid yellow street lights in San Jose? Those damned things are the same color as the yellow in the traffic signals. >On another note, I am about to depart Northern California in a few >minutes, which fortunately is my first (and hopefully last) visit to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >least with respect to what I've been witnessing over the last two >weeks. It's actually in the vehilce code somewhere that the bike lane is supposed to be used as a turning lane, when possible, if no bikes are present. If you don't make space for the turners, or don't do so yourself, expect to hear horns. A lot of right turn lanes have been removed throughout the state to allow for the creation of a bike lane. It seems like a reasonable compromise to me. >And what the hell is it with those stupid yellow street lights in San >Jose? Those damned things are the same color as the yellow in the >traffic signals. I haven't seen them in San Jose, but is there an observatory nearby? Because of Palomar Moutain large parts of northern San Diego use orange/yellow street lights to reduce the light pollution at the observatory. Dave The best drivers in the world live in Seattle Washington! These motorists hit the green lights just right and know when there is a stale green. On the Freeway these motorists hit the on ramps perfectly at just the right speeds in order to merge smoothly with traffic. A lot of motorists will have the decency to yield to drivers coming out of the parking lots while cars are backing up at the red light. I would suppose that living/growing up in an area that is always damp, and rainly the drivers learned how to be extra safe on the road. East- > >On another note, I am about to depart Northern California in a few > >minutes, which fortunately is my first (and hopefully last) visit to [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Dave > A lot of right turn lanes have been removed throughout the state to > allow for the creation of a bike lane. It seems like a reasonable > compromise to me. Bike lanes over complicate the road system and result in more conflicts and problems in my experience. Maui has the most extensive system that I have ridden on, and every intersection was f'd up because of them. They worked between intersections but that's the easy part. A wide curb lane always works. >> A lot of right turn lanes have been removed throughout the state to >> allow for the creation of a bike lane. It seems like a reasonable [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >intersection was f'd up because of them. They worked between >intersections but that's the easy part. A wide curb lane always works. I've heard that several times on RAD, and I have to wonder how communities are able to design so many bad bike networks. I've found the bike lanes here a great asset, and at least in SD, to be improved upon or modified as suggested by actual bicyclists. It took a little getting used to, but I have a lot less conflicts in SD than I did in areas around Buffalo that had no bike lanes. Of course, here the bike lanes usually end a little bit (100 feet or so) before the intersection, so maybe that's something other areas should try. And as a driver, I love the bike lanes when they're used correctly. It's nice to know where the bike will be, and the majority of the riders that I see know how to make hand signals even. I'm not counting little kids, just the people I see on major roads that are most likely commuting or otherwise riding a long distance. Of course, if all bicyclists knew what hand signals were and the way to take turns in traffic, instead of just swerving across 50mph traffic to make left turns, the bike lanes could be even more effective. Dave > Of course, if all bicyclists knew what hand signals were and the way > to take turns in traffic, instead of just swerving across 50mph > traffic to make left turns, the bike lanes could be even more > effective. Have drivers learned what hand signals mean? I've had more than one driver move into the on coming lane and pass me as I've signaled a left turn. Thankfully I always take a moment to look over my left shoulder when turning left from anywhere but a left turn lane. >> Of course, if all bicyclists knew what hand signals were and the way >> to take turns in traffic, instead of just swerving across 50mph [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >turn. Thankfully I always take a moment to look over my left shoulder >when turning left from anywhere but a left turn lane. Good thing you've noticed how many bad drivers there are. There's also bad bicyclists. That was entirely my point. I'd specifically mentioned the majority do signal properly, and that the majority of people do understand these and properly yield. If it was all by both parties, accidents would be zero. But there's bad drivers and bad bicyclists. If a bad cyclist gets flattened by a driver who's had no warning at all, he'll be cleared if I'm on the jury. Dave >On another note, I am about to depart Northern California in a few >minutes, which fortunately is my first (and hopefully last) visit to >the region. WTF is it with the retards around here who treat bike lanes >as extra turning lanes? The California Vehicle Code requires right turning vehicles to merge into the bike lane before turning if they have to turn across the bike lane. Of course, they must yield to bicyclists before merging in, rather than squeezing them into the curb. Bicyclists going straight through should pass on the left of right turning vehicles that may be stopped for whatever reason. Signature------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message. > Bicyclists going straight > through should pass on the left of right turning vehicles that may be > stopped for whatever reason. riding between two moving lanes. that's an uncomfortable move for the bicyclist. i haven't ridden much for a long time, but i when bicycling, i just hang back until i can continue forward with moving cars on only *one* side of me. >But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see >pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the >bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front >of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - >anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. This is what happens to you try to legislate every single action a driver takes. Many drivers just can't make decisions on their own. They blindly follow the signs and the driver in front no matter how stupid the sign is. ------------- Alex > But this made me realize one more reason why drivers just don't see > pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and motorcyclists: they are looking at the > bumper of the car in front, or a spot on the ground 12 feet in front > of their car, or off to their left checking for cross-traffic - > anywhere but the actual direction their car is travelling. yeah, there are many real physiological reasons why humans have accidents. and people seem to forget there's no coincidence that accidents are called "accidents". :-) |
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