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SORRY MATE I COULD NOT SEE YOU – VEHICLE BLIND SPOTS
 MAG has highlighted the SMIDSY type accident in the “How Close Is Too Close” document when other vehicle drivers look but don’t see and pull out on motorcycles at road junctions.
MAG has responded to the European Commission consultation on the compulsory fitting of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) for all vehicles, including the comment, “Riders know from experience that they could have a lighthouse strapped to their bike and other vehicle drivers would still not see them.”
But an ongoing issue is the fact that car manufacturers are “improving” the structural safety of vehicles by using thicker, more steeply angled A-Pillars. The detrimental effect is that the front field of vision for drivers is being greatly impaired.
While car drivers are being constantly cocooned in their “safe” metal cages other road users’ motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians suffer at this expense.
MAG was heavily involved in the drafting of The Government's Motorcycling Strategy which highlights the DfTs commitment to research on "A" pillar accidents, and MAG has highlighted this issue publicly on several occasions.
Two different research “project” have recently been completed in the UK.
The first by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) for the Department for Transport (DfT ), as mentioned above. The research involved the reconstruction of real accidents using 3D visualisation (computer) unfortunately the results as reported to the sub group of the National Motorcycle Council meeting were inconclusive, a report is due shortly and a further study planned.
However as reported in The Times HERE on 9th October (thanks Shelia McMahon and Andy McFarlane for the “Media Watch) the paper claims that the government report, which they have obtained says, “That smaller drivers have a particular problem in seeing around the pillars because they sit closer to them and their line of sight intersects with the thicker base.”
“It concludes that the pillars could obscure the view of approaching vehicles for several seconds, meaning that drivers might not see them even if they look more than once: “The work to date highlights that car A-pillar obscuration could be a contributory factor in some road traffic crashes. Collisions potentially associated with A pillars were significantly more likely to occur at T-junctions and are more likely to involve car drivers failing to see vulnerable road users (motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians).”
The second piece of research by Autoglass®, HERE conducted at MIRA (formerly the Motor Industry Research Association), tested A-Pillar obscuration levels on a cross section of new vehicles. Tests included a calculation of how much the A-Pillars would impair driver vision of objects 23 metres away; the stopping distance required when traveling at 30mph.
Nigel Doggett, Managing Director of Autoglass®, points out that while car manufacturers have worked hard to improve the structural safety of vehicles by using thicker, more steeply angled A-Pillars, this has had a very detrimental effect on the front field of vision for drivers.
"A new blind spot has been created which thousands of motorists simply aren't aware of. It's crucial for drivers to check that nothing is hidden from view behind the A-Pillars, both for their own safety and that of other road users. The A-Spot can obscure entire vehicles and there is currently not enough being done to find a solution to the problem."
The Department for Transport's own research recently revealed that 21% of accidents at junctions listed 'Looked But Failed To See' (LBFTS) as a major contributory factor*.
Autoglass® is now pressing the Government to create an A-Spot taskforce, comprised of key industry experts, to help push the A-Spot issue up the European safety agenda.
Currently, new vehicles must conform to the 1977 EEC Directive on vehicle A-Pillars before they can go on sale in Europe.
Autoglass® is arguing that the Directive is in urgent need of revision, to provide drivers with a clearer view out of their cars and reduce the number of accidents on UK roads.
Autoglass® would also like to see the Driving Standards Agency provide guidance for driving instructors on educating new drivers about the A-Spot, especially as advice for motorists on the issue is unlikely to feature in the revised edition of the Highway Code, due in the next twelve months.
The message is clear – drivers must check their A-Spot or risk paying a high price.
Road safety partnership RoadSafe backs the call for action on the A-Spot issue. Adrian Walsh, director of Roadsafe, commented: “Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle when on the road and needs to take time to check that nothing is hidden from view. Over 32,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year, and a simple A-Spot check could contribute to reducing this unnecessary toll, with motorcyclists and cyclists most likely to benefit."
MAG says drivers must not use car manufacturer’s blunder on design and safety to turn Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You into Sorry Mate I Couldn’t See You.
As we have said regarding conspicuity it is not about making motorcycles brighter it is about educating other vehicle drivers to look and see motorcyclists, riders will not take the blame for not being seen.
Your thoughts on the issue welcome.
Autoglass® research Headlines HERE Research Methodology HERE
Pictures from the Autoglass® website.
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