"Cynic" wrote in message
news:lhvr13t49dj0f7felqcopn9v4lpecvo6bl@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:59:56 GMT, Mike Scott
> wrote:
>
>>Cynic wrote:
>>> On Mon, 9 Apr 2007 09:32:52 +0100, Norman Wells
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Then show me how you can drive within the overall stopping distance
>>>> from
>>>> the vehicle in front, and still be able to stop 'well within the
>>>> distance you can see to be clear', which obviously only extends up to
>>>> that vehicle's rear end.
>>>
>>> No, it doesn't. That part is talking about *unexpected* objects that
>>> might be in the road. It does not mean clear of other same-direction
>>> traffic.
>>>
>>Following the OP's logic, there would be some delay in passing a blind
>>side turning (or a pedestrian standing at the roadside, or.....). You
>>would have to approach at such a speed that /if/ anyone popped into your
>>path, you could always stop in time -- the closer you got, the slower
>>you'd have to go.
>>
>>Now where's my red flag? :-)
>
> About the worst situation I have experienced shows the necessity of
> driving at a speed where you can stop within the distance you can see
> the road ahead (which excludes same-direction traffic, but includes
> the road ahead of the vehicle in front).
>
> Some temporary traffic lights had resulted in a queue of stationary
> traffic along an otherwise very quiet NSL road. The back of the queue
> had just reached a blind corner. I had been driving along what
> appeared to be an almost empty road in good daylight conditions, when,
> upon rounding the bend at about 50MPH I was suddenly and unexpectedly
> confronted by a line of stationary cars. In that case I *was* able to
> stop by using emergency braking, with about 6 feet to spare - but it
> shook me up a bit!
>
> After I had stopped, I was expecting a shunt at any moment as a driver
> behind was caught equally unawares. Fortunately the following car
> (about 2 minutes later) was also able to stop in time (albeit with a
> squeal and a bit of smoke).
>
> Of course, it could just as easily have been an accident vehicle
> blocking the road just at the exit of the blind corner, or a tractor
> or a pedestrian.
>
> I later phoned to complain about the lack of adequate warning signs.
>
Which demonstrates that on a narrowish road, you should drive at such a
speed that you can stop in HALF the distance you can see to be clear, The
guy coming the other way will need the opther half.
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