Text 16097, 93 rader
Skriven 2005-11-13 14:42:18 av Raymond Yates (1:3613/48)
  Kommentar till text 16069 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: Fog lights
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 MV>>> If the motor bike runs into the side of the car, it is the fault
 MV>>> of the biker; he failed to spot the car in time. When the car
 MV>>> driver fails to see the biker, the car would hit the bike
 MV>>> 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.

 MV> Then I'd say, your student was inexperienced and had not yet learned
 MV> the lesson that having right of way does not mean that you will
 MV> actually get it.

Well he /was/ a student...<g>  even so the circumstances were such that the
error was not entirely his. It was at low speed, and the car shot out in front
of him, he was doing less than the speed limit and being cautious, but even
so..

 MV> An experienced and carefull biker will not assume that he has been
 MV> seem and approach the crossing at such a speed that he can always stop
 MV> before he intersects the path of the car if the car driver suddenly
 MV> pulls up. he will only accelerate if he has advanced to the point
 MV> where he can pull out in front of the car no matter what.

Whne the speed limit on the road is, say 45, like it was in this case, you can
only slow down so much before other traffic hits you from behind...

 >> 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.

 MV> Required? So much for freedom. ;-)

We have helmet laws too.. and driver's licenses, just as you do, So much for
freedom? you could say the same thing about speed limits and red-light
cameras..:-)

 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.

 MV> You will need a bit more than disagreement to get me to switch my
 MV> lights on in bright daylight or support a law that makes it
 MV> mandatory...

 >> anything that helps one to be noticed is a good thing.

 MV> Not necessarily. Attention is relative. If the one draws attention
 MV> towards him, he draws attention away from something else. F.e. the kid
 MV> 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.

 MV> Nvertheless I have yet to see the statistics that show this actually
 MV> 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.

 MV> Those statistics should not just look at the cars. It should also take
 MV> into consideration other road users. Bicyclists and pedestrians...

I'll see what's availble this week,, should prove interesting.. we have a lot
of bicycle accidents here, irresponsible kids that wear dark clothing and
donot have light at night.. Idiots..

 >> At the moment about 50% (roughly) Do. and In my experience
 >> they stand out.

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

Actually I have in the distant past, a driver in front of me that was making a
right turn onto the main road. he moved forward, and I was looking to the left
for oncomiing traffic and thought he had gone ahead. He hadn't. So I was going
forward and hit his bumper. I was surprised, I thought he had already left..

that was one of the few accidents I have ever had..
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 * Origin: Ray's Rocket Shop - Out to Launch (1:3613/48)