Blind Spot Question

Nasty_Girl

Ok,
I was told by an instructor that you dont check your blind spot when changing lanes anymore, that if you take your eyes of the road and look like that while moving its a mark

Ive had 3 other instructers and this is the first time I heard this.

Can anyone clear this up for me please?

MascotDec85

You can check your blind spot when changing lanes, there is nothing wrong with doing so.

The tester's guidelines state, under "Observation"

Examples of incorrect ‘Observation’ faults include:

.......(c) Not taking adequate observations before and while overtaking.

(d) Not taking adequate observations before and while changing lane to the left or right, or where lanes merge into one another.............

In some situations such as moving off, overtaking, changing lane etc., observations may be taken by use of the mirrors, and this is acceptable where it is done competently and effectively.

Hope that helps

jaffa20

A quick look over the shoulder is a must. The amount of people that just trust their mirrors is ridiculous when you could be driving towards someone while changing lanes. It's not always necessary as you could be using you mirrors in anticipation of changing lanes and see that the other lane is clear but i'd always just take a glance just to be sure.

Mint Sauce

shoulder check as above, even if you are turning into a side road to the right, just before you turn in, mirrors and shoulder check with indicators of course is enough, and continue with mirrors as you make the turn.

threein99

I was told by my instructor on Saturday that you only have to check your blindspot when you moving off. It use to be when changing lanes aswell but he said its not anymore.

spurious

threein99 wrote: »

I was told by my instructor on Saturday that you only have to check your blindspot when you moving off. It use to be when changing lanes aswell but he said its not anymore.

As someone who has driven a motorbike, I hope this isn't true.

mojesius

Who is instructing these instructors? :eek: Threads like this make me think there are far too many cowboys in the industry.

It's even more imperative that you check your blindspot when changing lanes. Driving at higher speeds, you're more likely to kill someone than at a slow speed when moving off. Always, always check your blindspot before changing lanes.

Nasty_Girl

threein99 wrote: »

I was told by my instructor on Saturday that you only have to check your blindspot when you moving off. It use to be when changing lanes aswell but he said its not anymore.

Yes this is what I was told also ... on Saturday!

Blowfish

spurious wrote: »

As someone who has driven a motorbike, I hope this isn't true.

As a cyclist, I concur.

MascotDec85

I was told it too when I was training to be an ADI but we are expected to drive to a much higher standard.

I'd recommend learners continue to do it although as I said above if you use your mirrors effectively you shouldn't get marked for not doing it.

loobylou

Heres what I do.
Moving off, full on blindspot check, turning neck and looking over shoulder through the gap between the head restraint and door pillar.
Reason being, you are stopped and traffic can come up behind you very quickly.

When changing lanes you are already moving so it is less likely that there will be such a differential in speed with someone overtaking.
I still do a check, but its a quick "chin to shoulder" check. This plus peripheral vision will be enough. Whether or not its a blind spot check is semantics.

El Horseboxo

I would still glance over my shoulder to my right or left if changing lanes. Today for example i was turning right in the outside lane with a bus lane to the left of me. The bus lane stopped a little further and turned into a lane for turning left. If i just trusted my mirrors i would have drove right into the person who was behind me but decided to just drive straight into the bus lane. Mirrors just don't show the whole picture in situations like that.

brian076

loobylou wrote: »

Heres what I do.
Moving off, full on blindspot check, turning neck and looking over shoulder through the gap between the head restraint and door pillar.
Reason being, you are stopped and traffic can come up behind you very quickly.

When changing lanes you are already moving so it is less likely that there will be such a differential in speed with someone overtaking.
I still do a check, but its a quick "chin to shoulder" check. This plus peripheral vision will be enough. Whether or not its a blind spot check is semantics.

This is bang on. The ROR states that: If you have good reason to change lanes, use your mirrors and check in plenty of time to ensure that the way is clear. To check your blind spot when travelling at speed, take a quick sideways glance to check the position of a vehicle that may have disappeared from your view in the mirror.

You should avoid looking over your shoulder when travelling at speed as it only takes a split second for a car ahead to brake suddenly while you're looking away.

A lot of people fail their driving test for spending too much time not looking where they're going

**Timbuk2**

When checking the blindspot, at speed, look more towards the wing mirror direction using your peripheral vision to check the blindspot - this way you will notice if something happens up ahead.

daveharnett

If your mirrors are adjusted properly in a car, there is no blind spot in neighboring lanes.

If half of your wing mirrors are occupied by the sides of your car, you're using them wrong. See here for why.

**Timbuk2**

Even so, I would still check the blindspot. On three lane roads, you could be in Lane 1 attempting to move into Lane 2, whereas a car in Lane 3 could be attempting to move into Lane 2. The blindspot gets larger the further away from you an object is.

Also, while the wing mirrors in the link do eliminate most blindspots, they are still not perfect. You could adjust them too far out and you may not notice bicycles coming up right beside you in those mirrors. Also, you can adjust the range of vision in a wing mirror by simply moving your head a bit.

But for the test, check your blindspot using peripheral vision - it's safer and if done correctly, poses no risk.