h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Woah!

I never said I couldn't control my vehicle in a straight line with my head turned. (and yes, I took my cycling proficincy test way back in the day and we had to be able to turn our head and look without losing our direction!)

I never said I didnt bother checking.

I suggested that if you have a good picture, generated using all available mirrors at all times, of what is behind you, a final turn of the head to check blind spots is a necessary thing and will do it's job. BUT if you are constantly turning your head to see what on your near side, you are taking more time away from the direction you are travelling and therefore reducing your safety as a driver.

I realised too where we are differing, I spend a lot of time driving vans which dont have a central rear view mirror, have lots of blind spots which you cannot look out through a rear or side window to cover and therefore you either become a 'white van man' stereotype driver or you really learn to include your peripheral and direct views of the mirrors you DO have ALL the time.

Ah - driving a van without a central mirror is a whole different ball game.

Do I sense sarcasm or am I being over-sensitive? Hard to tell with you SWL...

No, I wasn't being sarcastic

Nobody ever suggested the S in SWL stood for Subtle

still confused as hell...

Mind you, I am still sitting at work because the traffics at a standstill outside

Why is it everyone forgets to drive differently when it's really wet?

Of course having the motorway flooded doesn't help...

OK - a van is totally different because your rear view is pretty restricted. The look over your shoulder is a bit irrelevent because there are no rear windows or side windows to see out of. You're totally reliant upon your mirrors, which is why most vans are fitted with blind spot mirrors as standard. LH mirrors were standard on vans long before they were on cars for this very reason.

Re: Head-checking the blind-spot.

I do a sort of driving-related double-take... that is to say, I check mirrors, head-check, turn on the signal, and head-check again before changing lanes. Seems paranoid, but it keeps me from looking like a jerk.