SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisions
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1574957740

Message started by engineer on 11/28/19 at 08:15:40

Title: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisions
Post by engineer on 11/28/19 at 08:15:40

Here is a link to an interesting article about the limitations of our vision and the ability to see threats on the road. It was written by a fighter pilot who is well versed in research dealing with our vision and how our brains process images.

Recently, after I pulled out onto a main road I noticed a motorcycle close behind me. He wasn't behind me on the side road and couldn't have followed me through the turn so realized that somehow I must have pulled out in front of him even though I looked both ways. This article explains how that happens.

https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/

The above address has been truncated for some reason, it should end with roads/

If the above doesn't work for you - this one will work: ;)
https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by batman on 11/28/19 at 08:45:06

Wow ,good read!

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by springman on 11/28/19 at 17:52:15

Very good. Thanks.

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by Eegore on 11/29/19 at 20:44:18

This is good information. We teach a similar process for Special Forces units in firearms exercises.

One technique we use to exemplify the peripheral vision is to take a playing card at random from a deck, place it in your hand outstretched to your side so you cant see it or can barely see it.

Then without moving your eyes slowly bring the card into your line of sight until you can tell exactly what card it is without guessing. With that type of detail limitation in our eyes you learn how important proper scanning and looking techniques are.

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by raydawg on 11/30/19 at 09:28:32

My wife manages a optical practice....
This peripheral vision should always be tested in your standard eye examine.
It can be as simple as holding up your fingers, and counting them, 1 through 6, choices ;D

Try it on yourself.....

About a foot away, line up with your ear, move it forward until you can readily count the fingers, without looking toward your hand, keeping your focus in front of you (stare at the Logout above view members, on your screen)

Note: one board down, its really odd, most folk can only see their right, or left view, not both ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by DesertCat on 11/30/19 at 11:08:14

All I learned from this is don't rely on peripheral vision. Look left and right before entering a street. Look around and to the sides before making a traffic change. Don't rely on mirrors alone. This is what I was taught 54 years ago when I got my drivers license. It has kept me accident-free for 51 years and a couple of hundred thousand miles of motorcycling (61 bikes).

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by Eegore on 11/30/19 at 11:47:53

The part about looking twice to create a double image is good practice as well. The change in perspective as described in the article will be more noticeable if an object is in motion along a pathway you haven't predicted.

My experience is people tend to greatly overestimate the accuracy of their peripheral vision, but it makes sense since your brain is ignoring most of what we see anyway.

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by raydawg on 11/30/19 at 14:20:40

59786E786F695E7C691D0 wrote:

Title: Re: Fighter Pilot's veiw on how to reduce collisio
Post by ohiomoto on 12/01/19 at 07:24:25

I found it pretty fascinating how we DON'T see everything we think we just looked at. Our "systems" are way more complicated than I realized.

Thanks for sharing.