Area Representative Wrightpayne Posted June 20, 2014 Area Representative Share Posted June 20, 2014 Was me Exiting our estate at a T junction, large van in front. Van goes, my turn rolls up to the junction nothing coming so right turn and pull onto the main road. I hear a knock and look in the cabin for something falling onto the floor. Didn't spot anything. Look in rear view mirror and spot cyclist gesticulating at me. Travel another 150 yards and stop, stick hazards on and wait for cyclist to catch up. Got out and asked if I'd pulled out on him. Yes was the answer. Apologised profusely and discussed trying to understand what had happened. All I can think of is that my car has a large A pillar and if you approach a t junction at the same speed as another road user on the main road they are obscured constantly by the pillar. I think this particular junction is a bit different as a) it's familiar and b) it has a hedge on the left as you approach. I've modified my behaviour and now pause for an extra look left and right. Is there any advise or experience you can share. This was a very lucky near miss and I'm grateful the fellow cyclist accepted my apology - could have been much worse. I'm a reflective person and want to learn from this! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Long Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Very interesting post Ian. About a month ago just up at the two mini roundabouts I turned left onto the main road and in the rear view mirror I caught sight of a cyclist clad head to toe in banana yellow cycle clothing waving his fist at me. I felt sick. Whilst I clearly didn't hit him I must have got bloody close. All I have done is think how lucky I was not to hurt or even kill him and secondly I have modified my approach to looking at junctions. Incidentally I have a T5 transporter van and I do think that vans in general don't offer a great view of the road and so I work extra on observation. In conclusion your are correct to reflect on this that's a good thing to do. Lets face it it's how we learn. My dad love him always said to me anybody can make a mistake the idiot is the person whoakes the same mistake twice. What is tough is knowing that I have put petrol in my diesel van twice And thank you for sharing....now get some sleep 😬 Longy Edited by - Stephen Long on 21 Jun 2014 00:52:38 Edited by - Stephen Long on 21 Jun 2014 00:53:48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Long Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 This is all typed in a small android phone and correcting text in a pita sorry for the mistakes. Longy 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Good that A) no one was hurt B) you stopped and apologised C) you've learnt from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbot Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 That raises an interesting point about field of vision from the driving seat. I wonder how many drivers consider what they can or cant see. Modern improvements in vehicle crash performance has led to much thicker A pillars in the car. This is to give rigidity to the Safety Cell and space to fit curtain airbags etc. I was at an old car event last weekend and it was easy to see how thin A pillars used to be. I am not sure about the UK but here near Paris there is a disturbing trend to fill your windscreen with gadgets that block your vision. Some people appear to incapable of taking information from a Sat Nav unless it is stuck on the screen right infront of them. I recently saw a car with satnav, phone and radar detector stuck on the sceen in a way that from behind him i could not see how he had a view of the road ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 21, 2014 Leadership Team Share Posted June 21, 2014 Good post Ian DfT report on collisions involving cyclists, very interesting reading (it's only short!) and shows clearly how "failed to look properly" is often a key factor ... or often referred to as the "sorry mate I didn't see you" factor! Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 New A pillars are so big you can even miss a car - I know because I did! Approaching a roundabout, a car coming from the right was perfectly obscured by the A pillar all the way - I had no idea it was there so now I move my head about to make sure terse nothing hiding behind it now. I was lucky the guy stopped, but it could have been worse. This was in a borrowed car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keybaud Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Quoting myothercarsa2cv: New A pillars are so big you can even miss a car - I know because I did! Approaching a roundabout, a car coming from the right was perfectly obscured by the A pillar all the way - I had no idea it was there so now I move my head about to make sure terse nothing hiding behind it now. I was lucky the guy stopped, but it could have been worse. This was in a borrowed car. I have had a number of issues with cars and motorcycles that aren't visible in mirrors or over my shoulder, because of A or B pillars and the position I have to sit. I now have to almost lean out of the window to check. This was never an issue with older cars, so I assume that the seating position has changed slightly in relation to the pillar positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 As per MOCA2CV, moving the head to look around your own pillars is in my opinion essential, interestingly a chap I know was criticised when doing some form of Advanced driving assessment for moving his head around so much!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks for bringing this up. As above. Agree about A-pillars. The obstruction of these was the deciding factor for us in the last car we bought. By coincidence there's another thread today about an "SUV" reversing into a 7. I wondered if the blind spots were part of the problem there. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBD762 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I'm a reflective person and want to learn from this! I think the old telly ads said "think twice- think bike" or something similar. But you've already learned from the experience, As you said you now pause a bit longer You're now on your way to being an advanced driver As a serious comment I think it is brilliant you have been open and honest about your own responsibility in the matter. Well done to you! I know from other posts many on here would simply put the blame elsewhere, regardless of the truth or circumstance. You deserve the congratulations Edited by - SBD762 on 21 Jun 2014 22:09:38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 My wife's Suzuki SX4 4x4 has the same problem - a double A-pillar ahead of the door with a small triangular window within it. She sits forward and can see reasonably well. I sit a bit further back and have to lean back and then forward in order to see around the pillar for traffic approaching from the right at junctions and at roundabouts. Similar but lesser problem for vehicles coming at certain angles from the left. Bad design feature on an otherwise pretty good car (if a little underpowered). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now