Missed seeing a car though the mirror today!

I pulled over to clean my face shield off of BB bugs then looked in mirror didn't see a small speeding red car , so I took off carefully staying on the right side of the road knowing a car could sneak up on me. well I looked again no car then pulled out- I missed the car by ten feet maybe. that suks it was still partly my fault-don't trust mirrors to check for cars-they have blind spots.

 

I don't see too well Burp!

 

Always do a shoulder check.

You live and learn by yours and others mistakes.

 

If you Think you are missing stuff in your mirrors then remove them for a couple of weeks to get yourself back in the habit of the lifesaver last look.

 

Head check always....mirror extensions help after that.

 

If you haven't moved your head, consider that you haven't looked at all. No mirrors I have ever seen on a car or bike covers the blind spot. And! A shoulder check does not mean you have to crank your head as far as you can. That just makes you wander towards the area you are checking. You can see ALL you need to see by turning your head a mere 45* and looking out the corner of your eye.

Another thing to think about. Your head movement might trigger a thought in the vehicle next to you that you are intending to possibly make a lane change. They may be more prepared for your move. In some cases, they will be more successful in taking you out. More likely, they can prevent you getting a boo boo.

 

Yep. I always do a shoulder check ... are you sure you just didn't have a bit of kitty litter in your eye?

 

I'm not going to wish getting run over on anyone, so ALWAYS look. Mirrors on a bike are there to satiate the law, NEVER depend on them. It's attempted suicide to do so.

 

Mirrors are important. They show a lot you don't see in a should check. It must be a combined task to be safe.

 

$6 at Cycle Gear. Not as big as they look, have them on both bikes & SUV. Lot easier to detect movement.

 

I could have just ride the bike so I could see the road better, I stopped at a parking lot. the car was speeding that screwed up my timing.

 

Aaah Noooo! Your judgement screwed up your timing. If you don't look or can't see, you correct that issue before you go. Regardless of what the other vehicle does. I said it before and will likely say it a few more times. Bike vs Car. Bike inevitably looses.

I use convex mirrors on my truck. There is a terrible blind spot on a 3/4 ton GMC on the right side. A small car is totally hidden beside the right truck box fenders. But I could never get used to those small ones. Though I got used to using a convex mirror on the driver's side of big trucks I drove, I did not care for them on my PU. I relied on a shoulder check. Matter of fact, I had caught myself often doing a shoulder check driving a highway truck with a 53 footer. Gotta laugh at that.

 

Agree with you Randy, my problem is as I get older, my neck is stiff and can't turn as far as I used to.

 

I do actually use my mirrors a lot when riding, but in this situation, I would have turned and looked.

 

Have you ever noticed...MotoGP riders...even the first guy out of pit lane at the start of a session will always do a head check to make sure nothing is coming down the track....never, ever, assume.

 

I hear you. I wear hearing aids now so hear you loud and clear.

Try this though. Sit on your bike up in its center stand, and in the riding position. Have someone walk up your left (or right) side mimicking an approaching vehicle from the rear. Naturally they will need to walk fairly wide. Watch them until they disappear from your vision in your mirror. This is where they stop. Now turn your head and eyes until you see them. Not to perform surgery on them but just to know they are there. That is your blind spot.

I do believe you will discover that you need not twist your head as much as you thought you did.

 

A big problem is as you get older your peripheral vision closes up so your vision out of the corner of your eyes diminishes, add to that the ability to turn your head is reduced and then on top of that you also have to factor in the thickness of the padding in your helmet that prevents your eyes from being able to see anything except at probably 90 degrees from your sitting position

 

I did turn and look-the small car came up fast

 

I always use my mirrors while driving to see what people are doing around me it lets you know if someone is going to pass or not it also gives you a sense of if someone is there if you need to swerve when someone changes into your lane and doesn't check there blind spot. When changing lanes nothing can replace the safety of a shoulder check, when driving my car I don't just turn my head, I look out the rear door window that way I know nobody is there when I need to change lanes

 

You don't have a mirror. Someone took your mirror off and replaced it with a painted view that has no cars in it. Somebody is out to get you pal. :courage:

Yes, always turn the head. Cages are predators......