Advanced Driving Hub

Actually I meant veering across the lane, not driving

My "you'd never get away with it now" admission is that a small group of us used to manufacture explosives. Pipe bombs, flares, we made a small cannon and took that to school . . .

sussex2 wrote:Years driving a bright yellow MX5..taught me to understand that people do not look..they do not look to see the actual road surface clear.

In 1989 or thereabouts I bought a BMW K100RT. Previous owner had repainted it white. This was at a time when the police still had white bikes, although mine didn't have any h-viz markings and I didn't dress like a trafpol.

But it was amusing the number of drivers who pulled out in front, then had the the little voice at the back of their brain say "Err hello. Do you realise what you've done?" From a reasonable following distance I could almost see the muscles in the back of their neck clinching

They'd looked, seen, then just didn't care.

Just to add a little footnote to the original. Drove to the shops yesterday, found that my normal concentration felt inadequate somehow (nothing new there). Usually our conversation stops when the traffic situation changes, however I felt uneasy so conversation was stopped. I just felt that that little bit of extra attention was required on far less congested roads. Yes and two did pull out without a second glance.

PPS. Taken to driving with dipped beam all the time now as side lights seemed to be ignored. We will see if things improve. Unlikely though as when on the bike (1968 - 1981) headlight on or not seemed to make little difference.

Driving older cars without day running lights can make you feel a bit invisible amongst all the vehicles adorned with fancy bright led lights.

Jonquirk wrote:Driving older cars without day running lights can make you feel a bit invisible amongst all the vehicles adorned with fancy bright led lights.

Conversely, lights can act as camouflage too.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehudi_lights

There are no secrets to being conspicuous. One aspect is your contrast against the background - that might be you being dark against a light background:

Also, how you feel is no reflection of reality.

Worse is being as 'conspicuous' as you think it's possible to be - then being surprised when someone pulls out in front of you. I've had riders - shocked riders! - say " But he must have seen me - I had my headlamp on!".

I know, next step, full beam all the time and airhorns used as soon as they appear at junctions, roundabouts anywhere really.

vanman wrote:I know, next step, full beam all the time and airhorns used as soon as they appear at junctions, roundabouts anywhere really.

You do know about the kind of equipment fitted to emergency vehicles, and how often people pull out in front of them, don't you?

You can never assume you have been seen and all you can do is your best to 'present' your vehicle.