Your instructor wasn't too good. He/she should have shown you how to adjust your mirrors to avoid blind spots.
You actually turn your head around and look behind you before changing lanes when driving? I find that hard to believe.
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On mountain etiquette
- Thread starter uphillklimber
- Start date
Your instructor wasn't too good. He/she should have shown you how to adjust your mirrors to avoid blind spots.
You actually turn your head around and look behind you before changing lanes when driving? I find that hard to believe.
legalskier
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You do?
marcski
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I disagree. It depends on the skier (and/or the driver for that matter). No car can handle a GS course like Ted Ligety can on skis?
With that said...the rules of the road are completely different than the "skier's code"...
vdk03
New member
Even properly adjusted mirrors can leave blind spots. I am surprised to hear that you don't look over your shoulder when changing lanes. A casual glance over the shoulder is a must in my opinion.
hammer
Active member
Usually agree with you, but you are way off on this one.
oakapple
New member
gmcunni
Active member
i was taught to look over my shoulders when changing lanes. i check my mirrors and then do a quick head check.after 30 years of driving i do this without really thinking.
Let me clarify-
When merging onto the highway or when lanes are merging in like entrance ramps or highways that merge together I always look over my shoulder before changing lanes. But not when just driving on a 2-3 lane highway there's no need in that situation. Contrary to what others say you will have no blindspots if your mirrors are adjusted correctly. I've never seen a car that has blindspots if the mirrors are adjusted correctly. So I can tell where every car is always by looking in my mirrors. I'm contantly checking mirrors when driving , looking way ahead and way back too, I always know where everyone is around me.
St. Bear
New member
Properly adjusted mirrors leaves the blind spot where a car is least likely to be driving, which is directly next to the car. If you can see any part of your own car, or the dotted line, in your rear view mirrors, you're doing it wrong, because that's where your blind spot should be.
I always check over the shoulder. I learned that when I first got my license after changing lanes and having someone lay on the horn after the mirror showed all clear. Whoops!
PS, I think the safest thing to do when merging onto a highway is come to a full and complete stop on the on-ramp, and then accelerating as slowly as possible.
:flame:
:flame:
hammer
Active member
We had a close call on Sunday...in the right lane, checked the mirror and saw one car pulling to the left, watched the car go by, went to move to the left and forgot to look over the shoulder...and we almost got close up and personal to a second car that also pulled into the left lane and was tailgating the first car.
I should say also that it's not a full head turn. Just a glance to see if there is something directly beside me.
lol-
This is epidemic the last few years. What is it with people who do not get up to the speed of the traffic they are merging into. Didn't their driving instructor stress this? So many people do this now that nobody wants to drive in the right lane any more.
I see performance sedans entering the highway at less than 40mph. Then a mile or two down they road they go by me at 80+mph. I don't get it.
I was just reading a thread on kzone about someone's son getting run over at killington. That is my biggest fear, not getting creamed myself but someone hitting one of my kids. We were up at killington over New years and with the limited terrain open, Rams Head was pretty crowded. I had 3 kids by myself that day and with the fog and the fact that easy street was not open from the top, you had to take a short blue to get to it, it was pretty hairy. I tried to act as a blocker for the kids but basically, it was a free for all for that one stretch. Not sure what you can really do to minimize the risk of impacts when you are talking about little kids cause we all know how well they listen to adults... Basically, i let them take 5 runs or so and then suggested hot chocolate to get them out of there. Sometimes, i think it just isnt worth the risk.
drjeff
Well-known member
Being with ones kids REALLY does give a different perspective about on hill etiquette! Same goes if you're on the hill with a beginner/low intermediate, and you yourself hasn't been in that situation for years and years. You so quickly forget how intimidating someone passing close by at a speed faster than you (and it doesn't even have to be a "Mach 2" type speed) can be.
nycskier
Active member
BE LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I find that this works wonders. When I see someone weaving I usually make some noise to let them know I'm behind them. And yes I'm the guy who yells at the idiots sitting or stopping in the middle of a ski run. I know not everybody skis as much as me so sometimes they are the ones who dont know the code. Be loud. Yell if you have to. Tell people who are skiing or acting in a way that could get you hurt to beaware. Its better to get a nasty look from someone than to have them drift into you and cause a collision.
SkiDork
New member
My Suburbans always had big blind spots, head turning was mandatory. My new 2011 has blind spot sensors in the mirrors, which light up yellow when somebody is in your blind spot. The yellow flashes if you signal on that side. Very cool, no more head turning needed.
I always look uphill when starting out from a stop, or when changing lanes on the slop. Might have to do with my age...
I always look uphill when starting out from a stop, or when changing lanes on the slop. Might have to do with my age...
C-Rex
New member
I try to look out behind me as much as possible but like the code says downhill guy has right of way. As a snowboarder I get annoyed the most when people (skiers or snowboarders) make unpredictable turns or just take up the whole trail on flatter trails or in a place where I need to carry some speed to make it to the next decline. I hate having to unstrap and skate because some ass cut in front of me and I had to put on the brakes. Yes it's my responsibility to avoid them but a little courtesy would be nice.
I've tried yelling "On your right" or "On your left" to let people know which side I'm going to pass on but it doesn't work like in mountain biking. Most people just think you're being a dick and get mad, or they're wearing headphones and can't hear me, or have no idea what it means and turn IN the direction I say instead of AWAY.
I've tried yelling "On your right" or "On your left" to let people know which side I'm going to pass on but it doesn't work like in mountain biking. Most people just think you're being a dick and get mad, or they're wearing headphones and can't hear me, or have no idea what it means and turn IN the direction I say instead of AWAY.
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