The Rolling Blind Spot

[DataDan]

Most of you remember the thread from last week about San Jose police officer Carl Watt who was killed along with his wife Patricia in an off-duty motorcycle crash near Sonora in the Sierra foothills. A news article today adds details about how the crash occurred and offers a lesson in how it could have been prevented.

As reported in the news last week, the Watts were westbound on CA108/120 (upper right to lower left in the attached aerial photo) aboard their Harley when a Chevy minivan driven by Sonora resident Marla Hulsey turned left from southbound O’Byrnes Ferry Road (from upper left) on to eastbound 108/120 (toward upper right) directly in the motorcycle’s path. According to CHP, Hulsey didn’t see the motorcycle, and Watt had no time to react. Since O’Byrnes Ferry Road has a stop sign and 108/120 doesn’t, legal fault is clear: the minivan violated the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. But the latest article explains why Hulsey didn’t see the motorcycle.

Hulsey stated that two cars turning right from westbound 108/120 to northbound O'Byrnes Ferry Road blocked her view of the motorcycle as it passed the turning cars and continued west on 108/120. This is a surprisingly common crash configuration, which I call the “rolling blind spot.” An uninvolved vehicle intervenes between the motorcycle and a potential hazard, screening the rider’s view of the cager and/or vice-versa. I would emphasize that I’m not making excuses for Hulsey nor am I blaming Watt. But I do think this crash was avoidable and that we can learn something from it.

I’ve read about several crashes similar to the one that killed the Watts, often with the same tragic result. In a crash in Illinois last June, a rider with a passenger in the #1 lane passed an SUV in the #2 lane as it slowed to enter a mall. The SUV blocked the rider’s view of a car exiting the mall, and the car turned left across the motorcycle’s path, killing both rider and passenger. An identical crash occurred in Georgia in December, though with a better result since the rider survived, though seriously injured. These aren’t particularly unusual incidents; Hurt found that in 15% of the multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes he studied, an uninvolved vehicle had blocked the view between the motorcyclist and the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash.

About a similar crash investigated by his team, Harry Hurt wrote:

These findings [about view obstructions] provide important components for a traffic strategy for a motorcycle rider. The motorcycle rider must locate himself or herself in traffic to insure a clear path of view to all prospective hazards. If such location is not possible, every intersection offers the possible challenge of the motorcycle right-of-way.

A representative accident case illustrates this problem. A motorcycle is proceeding in the curb lane and a van is travelling ahead in the parallel fast lane. Approaching an intersection, another automobile in oncoming traffic waits until the van clears and turns left as it passes. The left-turning automobile then moves into the right-of-way of the motorcycle. In such case, the culpability is clearly that of the automobile driver but both the motorcyclist and automobile driver had view obstruction (the van) before the crash. The strategy appropriate for the motorcycle rider is to ride abreast, or ahead, or much farther behind the van so that he or she could see and be seen. The strategic position is important to insure a clear view of the prospective challenges of right-of-way, and high conspicuity should increase the likelihood of being seen.​

Here are some tactics that can help you avoid becoming the next victim:

• Stay away from vehicles you can’t see over, around, or through, so your view to potential hazards isn’t blocked.
  
  
• Obviously, that’s not always possible. When you can’t avoid them, keep your distance, which reduces the amount of visual field obstructed and increases the space cushion available for evasive maneuvers.
  
  
• Use your height and an advantageous lane position to maximize your view to hazards ahead and to the side.
  
  
• Don’t assume they can see you just because you can see them. If you’re looking through the glass of a monster SUV at a vehicle exiting a driveway ahead on your right, the driver of the exiting vehicle most likely can’t see you.
  
  
• Move cautiously when a vehicle ahead of you slows to make a turn. It’s very tempting when following a cager who obviously has his head up his ass to dart around him when he decides to turn. The danger is that he has screened out a threat that will be revealed once he turns.

 

[Razel]

Sounds like the usual "I didn't see the motorcycle" with a different twist..."If I can't see anything, then nothing's there". Gots to slow down, I guess, when you can't see around turning traffic.

Kind of like when a train finishes crossing the street, and the gates refuse to go up...until the train in the opposite direction on a different track starts to go by. Duh!

 

[ScorpioVI]

Great post Dan!

 

[Red6Rdr]

interesting, ill use that l8r tonite when i ride.

 

[mine_ghames]

Thanks Dan......... will put it to use.

 

[F33rNoFish]

hopefully i wont be involved in something like that, but thanx. this atleast makes us more aware.

thanx again, dan!

~D

 

[wiffledaddy]

Excellent, and informative, post.

I see this situation arise on every long ride I go on. I can see the car, and know it can't see me. I drop back and to the right, or swing out left and speed up, depending on conditions.

 

[Kwang]

Great post!
I USUALLY took those cautious measures out of seeing the hazards mentioned but I will be even more vigilant from now on.
Thanks for pointing out it would have taken just one missed hazard for me to get run over.

 

[budman]

Awesome stuff Dan :thumbup

:smoking

 

[Burning1]

Total situational awareness. In many situations it's possible to know what's in a blind spot without being able to see a blind spot. For example: when riding along in your car, the A-Pillar creates a huge visual obstruction. However, once the car is moving, it's possible to "know" what's in that blind spot by paying attention to what can be seen entering and leaving it. In this manor, a skilled driver can be aware of potential hazards that cannot be seen.

However, this awareness can also become a hazard in and of it's self. As a driver becomes used to knowing what's in their blind spot, they also need to be able to recognize situations where hazards can enter their blind spots un-noticed. A great example might be a pedestrian entering the roadway while the drivers view of the pedestrian is obstructed by the A-pillar. Likewise, a major distraction can cause the drivers attention to be diverted, reducing their situational awareness*. This is not a problem in and of it's self, as a good driver or rider will usually check their blind-spots and move slowly until they are known to be clear. However, a driver acting under the mistaken belief that they have total situational awareness may not react with due caution, creating an incredibly hazardous situation.

As drivers, we regularly deal with large blind spots in the form of stopped traffic, roadside signs and equipment, buildings, traffic, and a lack of rearward visibility. However, our view of the road in front of us is often better than that of many cars due to the lack of roof pillars, hood, rear-view mirror, and other components of the cage. For this reason, many riders prefer to travel slightly faster than the speed of traffic, keeping most potential hazards where visibility is best, and allowing the rider pass through other people's blind spots, rather than riding within them. Unfortunately, In my experience, this strategy can cause apathy about what's behind a rider, resulting in greater potential for rear end accidents.

For these reasons, I believe an important skill to develop is recognition of what we don't know as well as recognizing what we know. Being able to recognize situations where cars could be driving in our blind-spots, and knowing to check before making lane changes. Recognizing situations where a car might be hidden by a building or van.

 

[4tuneit1]

Rolling or stopped blindspots also cause pedestrian deaths in crosswalks. One vehicle stops in #2 lane...people cross and driver in #1 lane doesn't see peds behind other car and continues through.

 

[Andreas]

Total situational awareness...However, once the car is moving, it's possible to "know" what's in that blind spot by paying attention to what can be seen entering and leaving it...this awareness can

Thank you for the added input, I always appreciate a logical justification for why something is the way it is. :thumbup This helps me understand what's going on with other cagers better, and I can also relate (having driven a car myself).

DataDan-Another great thread. Thank you! I think that I may have subconsciously picked up on situations like these as being potentially hazardous, but reading an informative thread like this helps me become consciously aware of the situation when it happens again. :thumbup I already had several instances since reading this thread where I was able to apply some of the techniques mentioned here in order to continue riding safely :ride:ride

 

[Andreas]

Rolling or stopped blindspots also cause pedestrian deaths in crosswalks. One vehicle stops in #2 lane...people cross and driver in #1 lane doesn't see peds behind other car and continues through.

+1 This happens outside of my work place quite frequently throughout the day. Another reminder to pay extra attention to what's going on around you when other motorists are exhibiting unusual behavior (slowing down for no apparent reason)

 

[DataDan]

I think that I may have subconsciously picked up on situations like these as being potentially hazardous, but reading an informative thread like this helps me become consciously aware of the situation when it happens again.

In addition to the vehicle on the right turning right, look for other variations of the RBS too.

For example, you're on a two-lane road behind a large vehicle you can't see over, around, or through, which slows and signals for a left turn. The road is wide, so you swerve right to pass. But what you didn't see--because of the vehicle you were following--is an oncoming vehicle waiting to turn left. That driver sees his opportunity and begins his turn. Directly across your path. So pass cautiously in a situation like that and expect a surprise to be revealed when your view opens up.

I already had several instances since reading this thread where I was able to apply some of the techniques mentioned here in order to continue riding safely.

:thumbup

 

[moto-rama]

Very informative post!

It never fails to amaze me how dynamic and fluid traffic is and how the scenario is more like a moving picture than a series of still shots.

Traffic is lot like chemistry if you think about it:
Add one double trailer truck rolling at 65mph to a two-lane highway with a car load of drunk teenagers about a quarter of a mile down the road, add one small crest in the road ,then shake well and pour over asphalt.

Traffic is a constantly changing combination of potential hazards and I find that my safety is dependent on my ability to not only see as much as I can but to be able to move and be flexible in order to prevent a high risk situation from developing.

Thanks for a great posting/topic

 

[DataDan]

It never fails to amaze me how dynamic and fluid traffic is and how the scenario is more like a moving picture than a series of still shots.

For a fun and interesting read, look for Tom Vanderbilt's book Traffic. He is of the opinion that handling traffic is one of more difficult mental tasks we have to deal with. His blog How We Drive will give you an idea of what the book is about.

 

[iamrob]

on my DRZ i can see over almost everything.

 

[Jack the Smack]

Rolling or stopped blindspots also cause pedestrian deaths in crosswalks. One vehicle stops in #2 lane...people cross and driver in #1 lane doesn't see peds behind other car and continues through.

it took me 3 near misses on my motorcycle to realize that when other cars stop, you should too.

 

[rburna]

I witnessed something similar to this yesterday after dropping my car off to be serviced. The accident did not involve any motorcycles. Reading through this thread made me think of what happened yesterday.

I was traveling on the I80, just coming on from Van Ness entrance an just passed the 80W and 80E split. I took 80W going towards 101 to get to work in the far right lane. There was some traffic, but not where it was stop and go. Immediately after the 10th St on ramp merge, is the 80W from the Bay Bridge merge. It is a pretty short distance, I believe less than 400 feet in which 2 merges occur bringing 3 lanes together into 1. As I was in the far right lane, I saw a Camry (from 10th St) and a G35 (from Van Ness) in the first merge about 50-70 feet in front, pretty much neck to neck. Both didn't know which one was going to speed up to complete the merge, so they both slowed down together until they were going really slowly. I'm guessing their speed went from about 55mph down to about 20. Since I was in the right lane and it was turning, all the cars in the right lane were able to see this clearly.

[TRUCK]>>[LAND ROVER]>>>[BLACK CAR]>>>>[CAMRY]
...............................................................[ G35 ]
[ ME AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER CARS ]

There were many cars behind the two confused mergers, which were slowing down. Immediately behind (the confused ones) was a black car, a Land Rover and a truck (of which I was side-by-side with).

Everyone was slowing down because of the situation (at least everyone that could see it). The black car gave plenty of space in front of him in case something drastic occurred. The Land Rover was moderately slowing, but getting really close behind the black car. The truck was slowing, but was getting close behind the Land Rover. I guess the Land Rover thought he was getting too close to the black car, because I saw him brake harder (nose dived further). The truck behind the Land Rover... well, didn't have enough time to react and ended up exchanging paint and whatever else comes after that...

G35 took off, Camry slowly behind...

[TRUCK}{LAND ROVER]>[BLACK CAR]>>[CAMRY]
...............................................................[ G35 ]
.........................................[ME AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER CARS ]



Rolling blind spots can happen right in front of you (those big things you can't see around. in this case, it was the land rover)... sometimes its TOO close in front

 

[DataDan]

Interesting scenario. Thanks for posting it.

Suppose you had been on a motorcycle in the truck's position. What would you have done to avoid the situation the driver got himself into?