• Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.
  • Several Regions have held meetups already, but others are being planned or are evaluating the interest. The Ontario GTA West area meetup is planned for Saturday April 26th at Greasemonkeys shop in Aylmer Ontario. If you are interested and haven’t signed up yet, click here! Arbutus has also explored interest in a Fraser Valley meetup but it seems members either missed his thread or had other plans. Let him know if you are interested in a meetup later in the year by posting here! Slowpoke is trying to pull together an Ottawa area meetup later this summer. No date has been selected yet, so let him know if you are interested here! We are not aware of any other meetups being planned this year. If you are interested in doing something in your area, let everyone know and make it happen! Meetups are a great way to make new machining friends and get hands on help in your area. Don’t be shy, sign up and come, or plan your own meetup!

Shoulder check

slow-poke

slow-poke

Ultra Member
I'm going to stir the pot....

When I was taught to drive, a shoulder check was mandatory for a lane change.

Now after driving for almost 50 years (and not hitting anyone ever), I don't think I shoulder check unless there is a lot of tight traffic (it's possible I do it unconsciously but I don't think so, I think after countless shoulder checks that did nothing more than confirm what I already viewed in the mirrors, I just skip it. With the mirrors set correctly (can't see the side of the car) I can see a car/bike where I'm about to go. That being said I think the omitted should check is only appropriate if your monitoring the rear view enough to be aware of fast moving traffic that appears and passes quickly. With lots of traffic and lots of lane change activity definitely a good idea.

Thoughts?
 
I always shoulder check, although its pretty moot in my welding truck, the view is so limited by the deck you can only see someone in a shoulder check if they are right beside your window. I have to be extra careful with the mirrors (bobbing my head around like an idiot to get different angles) and try to keep track of the other traffic around me when changing lanes in that thing, its horrible.
 
Even after doing a shoulder check my little fish eye mirrors have saved my butt a couple of times.

I don't think merging is taught any more either. In Victoria the start of the merge lane is a place to stop and wait for an opening to pull into traffic,,,,,,,,, frustrating as hell for those of us who understand what a merge lane is for.
 
After driving in the GTA for 30 years, if your not a (very) defensive driver, you're going to get hit. One time, it had to be one of those accident seeking fraudsters signaling right, sharply turned the opposite direction and took a run at me during a turn, he was looking me right in the eye while trying, I was able to avoid him entirely, but it was very close.

Best view of the GTA is in your rear view mirror. The only thing I miss is all the great ethnic cuisine and A1 Electronics.
 
Shoulder check in a parcel van? Not possible. I was taught to drive as if everyone else on the road is trying to kill me. And to adjust the mirrors to get the widest possible view of the road beside me, as @slow-poke describes.

And I drive in Richmond BC, >50% of the drivers near me didn’t learn to drive in North America. Best one was a driver pulled over for speeding, when the officer asked for their license and registration the driver explained they were using the family license and didn’t need to have their own license.
 
YotaBota said:
Even after doing a shoulder check my little fish eye mirrors have saved my butt a couple of times.

I don't think merging is taught any more either. In Victoria the start of the merge lane is a place to stop and wait for an opening to pull into traffic,,,,,,,,, frustrating as hell for those of us who understand what a merge lane is for.
Click to expand...
I have to agree with this. Cars can be AHEAD of me on a ramp and they'll brake to pull in behind. In Canada more often than not

Go to the USA, they ACCELERATE, sometimes turn signal and pull in front of me

It's baffling how we drive up here now
 
slow-poke said:
I'm going to stir the pot....

When I was taught to drive, a shoulder check was mandatory for a lane change.

Now after driving for almost 50 years (and not hitting anyone ever), I don't think I shoulder check unless there is a lot of tight traffic (it's possible I do it unconsciously but I don't think so, I think after countless shoulder checks that did nothing more than confirm what I already viewed in the mirrors, I just skip it. With the mirrors set correctly (can't see the side of the car) I can see a car/bike where I'm about to go. That being said I think the omitted should check is only appropriate if your monitoring the rear view enough to be aware of fast moving traffic that appears and passes quickly. With lots of traffic and lots of lane change activity definitely a good idea.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Depends what I'm driving, honestly. My F350 mirrors are pretty good at showing what's around me. My big truck isn't as great but I have more mirrors

I'd say I "probably" don't do as much shoulder checks now but I'm cognizant of traffic around me before changing lanes. I probably do more unconscious shoulder checks in the pickup than I realize
 
you guys have to try driving in Mexico, Turn signals dont mean the same thing down there, not even sure if getting a license is a thing for them (i know it is....but is it....)
 
In Los Angeles, you will get a ticket if you even slow down during a merge....... Here, people deliberately block you off from merging.

WAAAAY too many people do not know that the side mirrors on a vehicle should be set so you cannot see your own vehicle. It's not going anywhere. It's more important to be able to see what is next to you.

I cannot look over my shoulder anymore. So I don't change lanes quickly and I use my mirrors to maximum effect. I love the wide angle lens on my truck mirrors.

My wife's car has side, rear, and front proximity sensors. I like them a lot!

Some of those GTA drivers have death wishes. Hard to blame them living there.... But no way they look over their shoulders or use their mirrors. They just assume they have enough room or that the other guy will slam on his brakes. I think they like to practice basket weaving for their next life. I hate it. And it isn't the big suburbans either - it's mostly the tiny little puddle jumpers.
 
I still “shoulder check,” even though I have my mirrors adjusted per Click & Clack’s suggestions (can only see rear wings if I lean).

[Have to admit I only viewed this thread because I thought @slow-poke was asking how my PT was progressing; going well, BTW]
 
I've got neck and spine problems and I don't shoulder check as fully or often as I should. I've pulled in front of someone more than once but thankfully haven't caused an accident.
I'm teaching my kids to drive and am trying to stress the importance of a good shoulder check. "Don't do as your old man does, damn it, do as I say!"
 
Personally, always, always, always: mirror check, shoulder check, signal. Learned that sequence in a PDIC (professional drivers improvement course) I took while driving truck over 40 years ago. No matter what the vehicle (Hawg, car/pickup, 2 ton, 5 ton), no matter how many parabolic mirrors, no matter how many side traffic detector lights. And yes, I actually stop at stop signs & red lights, too. Littluns taught the same.

There's far too many shitty drivers out there. Don't need to add to the mess. And, on the Hawg, it's a matter of survival.
 
ChazzC said:
Tom & Ray, also known as The Tappet Brothers; a staple of Saturday morning Public Radio entertainment:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Ray_Magliozzi


You can listen to episodes here:

https://www.cartalk.com/radio/our-show



So everything really is all about me!
Click to expand...
There's a few good morning shows left in the USA. Bob and Tom, free beer and hot wings, Dave and Chuck the freak

But to be fair I listen to a lot of NPR and other talk shows. Half my problem is I don't pay attention to what I'm listening to until it's too late. Like a 3 hour special on Minnesota search and rescue
 
ChazzC said:
Tom & Ray, also known as The Tappet Brothers; a staple of Saturday morning Public Radio entertainment:
Click to expand...

Never heard of any of them. I thought you were referring to someone important - like a forum member.

I'm happy to live the rest of my life in the same blissfully unknowing way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top