Is this visible to you?

Discussion in 'Road Stories' started by sunshinee, Jul 11, 2014.

  1. sunshinee

    sunshinee Bobtail Member

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    Jul 10, 2014
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    Okay, I've got an odd question.

    If a sedan is 10-20 feet to your right and 3-4 feet forward of where you are... from a tractor trailer, can you easily see the driver in that car? (Both standing still waiting at a light.)

    There was a serious accident involving two cars. A few people saw it, and have told their stories. One is a tractor trailer (local run beverage delivery), who's got an odd version that doesn't jive with the others. To avoid posting identifying info about all of it... I'll skip posting the rest of the story and whys and wherefores (probably be boring anyway).

    A questions come up... and I figured what better place to ask than of truckers themselves... on what the trucker would have and wouldn't have comfortably seen. (The trucker isn't involved at all, other than as a random witness.)

    I'm thinking from a tractor cab, it'd be easy to see the driver. You could probably even see the expression on each other's faces (windows up). Is that so? Does it matter what cab it is?

    Also looking in the side mirror, how far behind you on the road would you think you could clearly see an accident?

    Also what's your company's unofficial policies for stopping if you see an accident with probably serious injuries? Are you better off avoiding them, and just calling in but not stopping?

    Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2014
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  3. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    If you are talking about the lane to the immediate right, then no you can't see the driver. Some trucks have a fish eye or curved mirror on the right front fender. With that you can see a distorted view but you won't be identifying anyone with it.

    Then there are some trucks like a Peterbilt that have a little window in the lower front of the passenger door. With this you might see part of the vehicle but it's too low to see a driver. Freightliners have a window but it's distorted to where you can only see blurred objects. About the only way you would see the driver is if you raise up from your seat some and stretched your neck. Each truck is different and the exact position of the car/driver is important to give you an exact answer. Some little cars you can't even see beside you if you don't have extra curved mirrors or that little door window.

    That's one reason the laws state it's illegal to pass on the right. Big trucks and even cars have more blind spots on that side.
     
  4. sunshinee

    sunshinee Bobtail Member

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    Jul 10, 2014
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    condocruiser - thanks for replying! Nope, I'm not talking at all about the lane to the right nor a car coming up alongside the truck.

    Both car & truck were standing completely still on two different parallel roads, about 10 or 20 feet apart. The front of the car is sitting about 3-4 feet ahead of the front of the truck.

    It's similar to if the car is two or 2 1/2 lanes over, slightly ahead... and both sitting, waiting for traffic signals.

    Thanks for the info on passing. I knew there were blinds spots and to be careful, but that outlines them more, so I'll be keeping that info in mind.
     
  5. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8iRVBpz2E
    just an video showing how big truck's blind spots are.

    so if the car is 2 1/2 lanes over and 3-4 ft ahead of the truck, facing the same way, then we can probably see the back of their heads
     
  6. sunshinee

    sunshinee Bobtail Member

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    Jul 10, 2014
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    That's an impressive video! You can only see the tip of the first biker, only after you know you're looking for it. That's very much a side blind spot!

    Looking forward -- even seeing the back of the driver's head, would be very different than not seeing at all (for this case).

    While the next lane over is a big blind spot, but two lanes over, once the car is parallel to or in front of the cab level...doesn't being high up, give you some better visiblity on the scene in front of you? People say truck drivers have a good forward view because they're high up. But those people whom I've heard say that weren't truckers :).

    I want to ask another question, if I may. If you were stopped at a light and saw a crash on the cross road to your right though your front windshield... how far to the right can the crash be before you stop seeing it through your front windshield, and am now seeing it through your side window. (It's be very helpful to know -- to help narrow down how far over this could have been.)
     
  7. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

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    Being high up gives up a better view of traffic in front of us, yes. We tend to spot accident way before other cars do. For example on a 2 lane road I would see a cop pulling someone over and would switch over to the left lane. Usually cars behind me would understand no trucker would switch lane for no reason and stay behind me till we pass the cop but of course you get people who decide to pass on the right and realize there's a cop on the shoulder.

    Probably 45-65 degrees? Hard to know without a diagram of a sort. Unless the crash happen right on the pillar of the truck, any crash in front of us we can see.

    Without any form of diagram/pictures I can't be 100% accuracy, just saying what I think you're trying to say.
     
    sunshinee Thanks this.
  8. sunshinee

    sunshinee Bobtail Member

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    Jul 10, 2014
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    That gives me a good idea. Also when a truck switches lanes, I don't think to pass them on the right, but I usually assume they're passing someone (that I don't want to be behind either). ...now I'll add other possibilities like police or car on the side of the road.

    I'm working on how to post some diagrams or pictures. I have a good idea -- if it works out I'll post it tomorrow. I'll be curious what you think, when you have pictures of the actual location, (even if it's still hard to get angles right in pictures.)

    Thanks for the helpful ideas!
     
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