blind spots seminar

February 2009 LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! 1

Blind Spots Seminar

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION

Motorist Awareness Division


The purpose of this seminar is to highlight the various types of Blind Spots encountered on the

road in everyday driving.

This presentation is developed with motorcycles in mind, and will emphasize the risks Blind Spots

pose to motorcyclists. We will discuss:

Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) Motorcycles and their characteristics The importance of recognizing Blind Spots How to deal with Blind Spots

Overview


Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)

What is GWRRA?Established in 1977, GWRRA is the largest single

marque motorcycle organization in the world.Based on the Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle.

• Over 80,000 members• Chapters in all 50 states – over 800 chapters• International - Chapters in at least 52 countries, including

USA & CanadaOrganized with local Chapters, in-state Districts,

multi-state Regions, under a National/International umbrella.


What Are We About?Motto: Friends for Fun, Safety & KnowledgeEmphasis on educating our membersRider Education Program training includes:

• Both Riders and Co-Riders (passengers)• Seminars, videos, newsletters, magazine• Rider Courses to improve motorcycle riding skills• CPR, First Aid, AED training

Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)


“Share the Road!" is GWRRA’s proactive campaign to “reduce the amount of conflict between automobiles & motorcycles” on our roads.

This program is geared to help motorists increase their awareness of motorcycles, recognize problems before they develop, and identify ways to avoid accidents.


Motorcycle Characteristics

Motorcycles differ from cars in significant ways: Motorcycles are narrow 2-wheeled vehicles Motorcycles may be hard to notice or identify in traffic Motorcycles can accelerate faster & stop quicker than

cars & trucks Smaller size and single headlight on many motorcycles

makes it difficult to judge their speed and distance Motorcycles are easily hidden from view by other

vehicles, by fixed objects, and in your car’s blind spots


What Keeps Us Up at Night?

Areas of the road that cannot be seen while looking forward or through either the rear-view or side mirrors of a vehicle We will extend that definition to include the space

behind any fixed or moving object that might conceal vital information needed in order to make a safe driving decision

The risk is that another vehicle can be hidden from a driver in one of these Blind Spots

Blind Spots


What Types of Blind Spots Are There?

We will discuss 4 types of Blind Spots: Areas around your car that you cannot see in your

mirrors are commonly called Blind Spots Stationary objects that hide things from your view

produce a second kind of Blind Spot Moving vehicles also block your view of the driving

environment creating a third type of Blind Spot Finally, things inside your car can also obstruct your

view and create Blind Spots


Fixed Blind Spots

The Blind Spots we think of most often are ‘fixed’ to the car Located outside your car behind the driver to the left and right of

the vehicle and behind it Areas that are not visible while looking in your mirrors Size of the vehicle affects the size of the Blind Spots Size of the Blind Spots can be reduced by proper adjustment of

the mirrors and by using convex (blind spot) mirrors Objects in Blind Spots may become visible with the aid of head

checks (turning or moving your head to look for hidden objects)

Turn your head to know what is lurking in your Blind Spots!


Fixed Blind Spots

Hidden Hidden

Seen Seen

They exist around you and can be reduced,

but are seldom eliminated

They must be checked constantly for hazards before you take action!

Hidden

Seen


Fixed Blind Spots

In some vehicles even a head check won’t allow you to see what is in the Blind Spots Panel vans Stake trucks Semi’s with trailers Pick-up trucks pulling fifth wheel trailers What others can you come up with? How can we improve the safe operation of

these types of vehicles?


Fixed Blind Spots stay in place around you as your car moves thru traffic

They travel with you from lane to lane

They remain in the same position around your car as you drive

Blind Spots are always there, and must be checked before taking action

Remember that a motorcycle is more easily hidden in your car’s Blind Spot than a large vehicle


Any object that blocks your view of potential hazards can affect your decision making ability

If the object is stationary, the Blind Spot ‘shifts’ around the object as you drive past it

Examples: Bus stop shelter, phone booth, or light pole on a

corner as you approach an intersection. Others? The bigger the object, the more it can hide Do you think a light pole can hide a motorcycle

from a driver when approaching an intersection?

Shifting Blind Spots



As you approach a fixed object, you can imagine a shadow cast behind it from your point of view

The space behind an object can hide a person, motorcycle, car, or other hazard



As you get closer to the object, its shadow rotates around the object, and blocks out a growing space.

Until you pass the object, you must be careful to double check both sides of the shaded space.



By constantly scanning ahead as you approach, you may see objects before they enter the Blind Spot.

The closer a fixed object is to the corner, the more caution you must use.

Proceed carefully!


Other traffic creates ‘rolling’ Blind Spots whether your vehicle is stopped or moving

From your position behind the wheel, the rolling Blind Spot moves through your field of view

A truck can block your view of traffic both behind it and on the other side of the truck

An approaching SUV can easily hide a motorcycle traveling behind it

A smart motorcyclist or driver won’t tailgate, and will position his/her vehicle to be seen by other traffic

Rolling Blind Spots


Any object blocking your view of vital information

creates a Blind Spot

Rolling Blind Spots

if you have a blind spot thenYou could just as easily be in a

Blind spot


Rolling Blind Spots

As the object moves, the Blind Spot moves with it,

changing in size butcontinuing to hide

information


How do we reduce the possibility of an incident when the information is not available?

Rolling Blind Spots

Be patient. Make sure there are no hazards hidden in the Blind Spot. Look Twice!


Think ahead! Realize that objects may be following oncoming traffic too closely to be seen

until the last minute

Never enter a space in traffic until

you are sure that it is clear

Wait for the blind spot to clear before making

your move

Follow all traffic laws -they will protect you

and others

Know and understand the habits of motorcycle riders and the abilities of

their machines

Interior Obstructions

Things inside your car can block our view of the driving environment and cause even more Blind Spots

It can be something you decorate your car with, your children or pets, or even structural components of the car

They may seem harmless enough but can cause big problems while driving in traffic


Trinkets, Baubles & Paraphernalia


Rear view mirrors attract lots of vision blocking objects Necklaces, fuzzy dice, air fresheners, handicap

cards, and more. What’s in your car? Suction cups stuck to the windshield hold GPS

units, notepads, compasses Passengers & pets & luggage – anything that

affects your use of the rear view mirror Structural elements of the car can block your

view - door posts and pillars


How Do We Eliminate Blind Spots?

Some are going to be there no matter what Be prepared to deal with each type

How can you reduce the risk? Adjust your mirrors to minimize fixed Blind Spots Use your mirrors frequently and use head checks often to

know what is in your fixed Blind Spots Always know what is around you in case of an emergency Scan the road ahead continuously for potential hazards,

moving objects, things that will create Blind Spots Take extra time to find out what is hidden from your view by

shifting and rolling Blind Spots Don’t proceed until you know the space you are about to enter

is clear. No guessing!!

Keep your car windows clear of objects Remove things inside your car that block your

view Only hang a Handicap card when your vehicle is

parked; take it down before driving Tell passengers if they are blocking your view –

they may not know it Keep pets on the seat, floor, or in a carrier

Manage or EliminateInterior Obstructions


Reality of Blind Spots

The truth is there are many things that obstruct our view and create Blind Spots

We need to be aware of them to be safe drivers

Recognize and be prepared to cope with each type of Blind Spot

We need to take more time to look for them and think about how we can minimize the risk involved



Summary

Today we have discussed: The Gold Wing Road Riders Association and our

“Share the Road!” Program Motorcycle characteristics Four types of Blind Spots

Fixed around your vehicle – remember head checks! Shifting Blind Spots that rotate around stationary objects

as you approach Rolling Blind Spots created by moving traffic Interior obstructions blocking your view

How to reduce the risks associated with Blind Spots


THANK YOU!And Please - LOOK TWICE!

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION

Motorist Awareness Division

blind spots seminar

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