Crash dummies

You may have seen that an analysis of 50,000 crashes uncovered a 48% rise in "lane changing manoeuvres" between 2009 and 2011 as the cause. In the majority of cases, collisions occurred when drivers pulled out unaware that there was a car in their blind spot. Apparently, EC safety requirements have made manufacturers reinforce lighter built cars with thicker pillars around windows to provide better protection in a crash but causing a blind spot around windows.

Asked on 1 October 2011 by DC, Cornwall

Answered by Honest John

If you look at the research you will see that the main manoeuvre where cars hit each other is where a driver in lane 3 pulls into lane 2 unaware that a car in lane 1 is also pulling into lane 2. This is crass stupidity by the driver in lane 3 for not anticipating the need of the car in lane 1 to move into lane 2. I have witnessed, even been involved in this many times (as the driver moving from lane 1 to lane 2 to overtake a truck), so the research findings do not surprise me. It's not a matter of blind spots. It's a matter of anticipation, observation and awareness.

Tags: lane discipline accidents

Similar questions

Are driver assist systems practical or just gimmicks?

Are driver assist systems, like lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, practical aids or gimmicks? I wish to buy a car to prolong my safe driving years (approaching 80 years and...

How will the new laws regarding undertaking be enforced on the motorway?

So we now have specific offences listed that were already covered by the likes of 'due care and attention' or 'careless driving' but overtaking on the left apparently is listed now. Imagine in the, rare...

Why has the Highway Code been changed in relation to lane discipline?

There has been much in the press recently about the Centre Lane Owners Group on motorways. The 1999 edition of the Highway Code stated in Rule 238 on Lane Discipline: "If you are overtaking a number of...