Text 16086, 94 rader
Skriven 2005-11-13 14:25:00 av FRANK SCHEIDT (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av MICHIEL VAN DER VLIST
Ärende: Accident Prone?
=======================
-=> Quoting Michiel Van Der Vlist to Raymond Yates <=-

 MV>> If the motor bike runs into the side of the car, it is the fault of
 MV>> the biker; he failed to spot the car in time. When the car driver
 MV>> fails to see the biker, the car would hit the bike broadside.
 
 > In my experiecne teaching motorcycle safety, this is not always so.
 
 > One of my students had an incident where the car, traveling on
 > a cross-street, went through the intersection because he did
 > not see the biker. The biker had the right of way, but hit the
 > car in the front door.

 MVDV> Then I'd say, your student was inexperienced and had not yet learned
 MVDV> the lesson that having right of way does not mean that you will
 MVDV> actually get it. 
 MVDV> An experienced and carefull biker will not assume that he has been
 MVDV> seem and approach the crossing at such a speed that he can always stop
 MVDV> before he intersects the path of the car if the car driver suddenly
 MVDV> pulls up. he will only accelerate if he has advanced to the point where
 MVDV> he can pull out in front of the car no matter what.
 
 > It was shortly after that the the military post mandated bike
 > headlights on. That was about a year before it was required by
 > the State of Maryland.

 MVDV> Required? So much for freedom. ;-)
 
 MV>> Yes, sure under adverse conditions having the lights on is
 MV>> a good idea. In broad daylight and clear weather it is nonsense.
 MV>> The chance of running headlong into another car because you do
 MV>> not see him under those conditions is near zero. Can't improve
 MV>> on that by switching the lights on.
 
 > Again I have to disagree.

 MVDV> You will need a bit more than disagreement to get me to switch my
 MVDV> lights on in bright daylight or support a law that makes it
 MVDV> mandatory... 
 > anything that helps one to be noticed is a good thing.

 MVDV> Not necessarily. Attention is relative. If the one draws attention
 MVDV> towards him, he draws attention away from something else. F.e. the kid
 MVDV> on the bicylcle that is about to cross....
 
 > I drive nearly every day, and I have seen that the cars
 > that drive with some lights on even in clear daytime conditions
 > stand out better.

 MVDV> Nvertheless I have yet to see the statistics that show this actually
 MVDV> leads to improved overall road safety.
 
 > My city has one of the hightest accident records in the state
 > (I don't know why that is, except it might have something to
 > do with the number of tourists that are easily lost) When I
 > get a chance I'll see if the keep statistics on the number
 > of cars that burn lights and have accident,s and those that don't.

 MVDV> Those statistics should not just look at the cars. It should also take
 MVDV> into consideration other road users. Bicyclists and pedestrians...
 
 > At the moment about 50% (roughly) Do. and In my experience
 > they stand out.

 MVDV> Have you ever run headlong into another unlighted car because you did
 MVDV> not see it and if you did, would you have seen it in time had it
 MVDV> carried lights? 

After all you've said WRT lighted cars I hope you never are in an 
accident in which the driver of the car hitting yours didn't see 
your car in time ... [sigh] ...

It all makes me wonder if you have *other* unsafe habits.  Do you 
oppose Ground Fault Circuit Interruptors, for example?  Back in 
the mid-1930s you'd probably have opposed safety glass in cars as 
well as hydraulic brakes which replaced the old mechanical 
brakes.  

Back in those same days most cars had cloth tops, reinforced 
with wooden strips.  Some cars started installing all-steel 
tops -- called "turret tops".  I knew a woman who thought as 
you do.  She claimed she preferred the cloth tops so she 
"could be thrown out of the car to safety in case of a 
wreck." ... [sigh] ...

Despite all that I really *do* hope you never are involved in an 
accident.

... At last!  Darth Van Der Vlist ÄÄ the dark lord of the evil 
cynical empire

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