Spotting The Blind Spot - Be Spot On!
There is a big world out there, and a huge portion of it is in your blind spot. You know, that area where neither your eyes and their peripheral vision or your mirrors can see. That is a big reason why when you took rider and / or driver training (you will note that I believe strongly in both!) the instructor trainers were always on your case to check your blind spot before you made any changes in direction that could effect you or someone else. We continually complain that “cagers” do not see us. That is true, but riders also have an obligation to see them too as part of our “rider awareness” of what is around us. The adage “See, and Be Seen” runs both ways.
The following diagrams try to illustrate that there are a number of different types of “totally blind and partially blind” areas with regards to motorcycles and other types of vehicles.
The following diagrams try to illustrate that there are a number of different types of “totally blind and partially blind” areas with regards to motorcycles and other types of vehicles.
In the case of a car or other vehicle with a rear-facing window, the driver usually has 3 mirrors to use in helping determine what is behind and around them. The vehicles side mirrors (if placed properly) allows the driver to see what is immediately next to it, in an area of approximately 15 -20° outward. That is not a lot! The inside mirror covers what is behind the vehicle and overlaps slightly with the outside mirrors, in a perfect world. However, there are objects that could be inside the car that makes the inside mirror “partially blind”. These could include the head rests of the rear seats, people’s heads in the back seats obscuring what can be seen outside, items piled in the back seat, etc. The slope of the roof and how high the driver sits in the seat also has an effect.
Large Vehicle Total Blind and Partial Blind Zones
Large trucks, cube vans, or any vehicle without a rear-facing window have additional blind spots that one has to be aware of. As in the diagram, directly behind the truck is an area that the driver of the truck has no idea what’s behind him, and assumes no one is there. You know what assume means, right? You have to get back far enough, and a bit to the side to allow the trucks mirrors to do the job. You may have seen on the doors of trailers or snowplows a warning to help those following understand where they are, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you”. That area closely behind a large truck is a total blind spot. Keep in mind, if you can’t see the truck mirrors, you yourself are “partially blind” and the chances of avoiding any potentially hazardous situation approaching from ahead places you in a very deadly location.
Speaking of “partially blind” on a motorcycle, you have only two mirrors, and on a good number of sports bikes, you have a great reflection of your shoulders but little outside of that. As well, at highway speed, due to a number of reasons, the mirrors on some bikes are prone to vibrating and this makes it nearly impossible to see what’s behind you. In addition, some helmets create a partial blind spot by limiting the full extent of your peripheral vision. In effect, learn to turn your head often, to help eliminate the total and partial blind spots you have, even if you are not making any turns. As a friend of mine has said, “I check and check and check so much that I look like a squirrel on steroids”. What it means is a keen sense of rider awareness.
Just when you thought you couldn’t think any more thoughts about what I was trying to get you to think about, add to all this the fact that all of us have “partial blind spots”, and rarely think about it. What I am referring to is the workings of our eyes themselves. In short, the retina collects what enters the eye through the lens, and the optic nerve sends this data to the brain, which allows us to see. Problem is, the area where the optic nerve attaches to the retina is basically a “blind spot”. It is not very big close up, but the farther away an object is in this “spot”, the bigger the issue. We do not really notice our blind spots because the other eye compensates and we get a full picture.
Just when you thought you couldn’t think any more thoughts about what I was trying to get you to think about, add to all this the fact that all of us have “partial blind spots”, and rarely think about it. What I am referring to is the workings of our eyes themselves. In short, the retina collects what enters the eye through the lens, and the optic nerve sends this data to the brain, which allows us to see. Problem is, the area where the optic nerve attaches to the retina is basically a “blind spot”. It is not very big close up, but the farther away an object is in this “spot”, the bigger the issue. We do not really notice our blind spots because the other eye compensates and we get a full picture.
The blind spot of your eyes can effect what is seen when you “check over your shoulder” like you should. If you glance quickly with little turning of your head, you are able to see the area that your bike (or other vehicles) blind spot is. But wait! Did you see all the blind spot, or almost all of it? Chances are, if your other eye is not able to see the area in question, and to cover off the other eyes inherent blind spot, you may have missed something. Try your best to see with both eyes (requires getting head turned more, and also requires more time away from looking down the road), or double glance, or move eye up and down to change location of the eyes blind spot. If you wear glasses of any kind, looking outside the focus area of your glasses or looking into the glasses arm also makes it more difficult to check behind you.
There are a number of tests that you can do to figure out your eyes blind spots, either from an optomotrist or by going on-line, there are many sights that allow you to experience this effect from the comfort of your computer!
To help combat the bike, vehicle, or eyes blind spot, I am a great believer in correct technology. That is, technology that helps to correct a problem and make your time on the highway safer. Examples are simple things such as convex mirrors added to already existing mirrors to give a bigger field of vision, and a smaller blind spot (Note: they also make objects look smaller and father away than the really are). As well, the use of multiple camera angles around a vehicle, such as rear view camera that covers the area behind the vehicle the eyes cannot see (even more important to a large vehicle without a rear window), side view cameras that help remove the blind spot, and proximity alarms that warn the driver that there is an object near. If all cars had this feature, it would undoubtedly make our riding in traffic safer.
In the meantime, keeping ones mind focused on the safe operation of their bike, knowing its limitations as to being seen and what you can see from it, and knowing your own limitations will help to make your ride a much safer and enjoyable experience.
There are a number of tests that you can do to figure out your eyes blind spots, either from an optomotrist or by going on-line, there are many sights that allow you to experience this effect from the comfort of your computer!
To help combat the bike, vehicle, or eyes blind spot, I am a great believer in correct technology. That is, technology that helps to correct a problem and make your time on the highway safer. Examples are simple things such as convex mirrors added to already existing mirrors to give a bigger field of vision, and a smaller blind spot (Note: they also make objects look smaller and father away than the really are). As well, the use of multiple camera angles around a vehicle, such as rear view camera that covers the area behind the vehicle the eyes cannot see (even more important to a large vehicle without a rear window), side view cameras that help remove the blind spot, and proximity alarms that warn the driver that there is an object near. If all cars had this feature, it would undoubtedly make our riding in traffic safer.
In the meantime, keeping ones mind focused on the safe operation of their bike, knowing its limitations as to being seen and what you can see from it, and knowing your own limitations will help to make your ride a much safer and enjoyable experience.