Nearside vision obstructed.

[fofeg101]

I've had my Herald Coachbuilt for a few days now and yesterday I came across a problem hadn't foreseen. I pulled up in a lay-by on the opposite side of the road, facing the on coming traffic. I hadn't a passenger and when I came to pull out of the lay-by I realised I couldn't see what was coming down the road behind me, even leaning as far forward as I could, If I'd had a passenger they would have been able to check for me. Fortunately the lay-by was long and wide so I was able to back up and pull the vehicle round so I was at right angles to the road, allowing me to see what was coming down the road. This must be a problem with lots of commercial vehicles, is there some kind of procedure for doing it safely, other than what I did, are there any gadgets, mirrors, available to overcome this problem?. I've owned two camper vans before but both being panel vans with windows in the side access door, allowing me to see backwards.

 

[Deleted member 967]

I've had my Herald Coachbuilt for a few days now and yesterday I came across a problem hadn't foreseen. I pulled up in a lay-by on the opposite side of the road, facing the on coming traffic. I hadn't a passenger and when I came to pull out of the lay-by I realised I couldn't see what was coming down the road behind me, even leaning as far forward as I could, If I'd had a passenger they would have been able to check for me. Fortunately the lay-by was long and wide so I was able to back up and pull the vehicle round so I was at right angles to the road, allowing me to see what was coming down the road. This must be a problem with lots of commercial vehicles, is there some kind of procedure for doing it safely, other than what I did, are there any gadgets, mirrors, available to overcome this problem?. I've owned two camper vans before but both being panel vans with windows in the side access door, allowing me to see backwards.

Positioning the vehicle so that YOU can see what is coming is important even if you have a passenger. You are the driver it is your responsibility to ensure that your manoeuvres are safe.

As a coach driver it became habit to position the vehicle at junctions so that I always could see down the road both ways at junctions. On some vehicle there was the door but on some older models they had passenger seats in front of the door opposite the driver. You could not rely on anyone else's word it was up to you.

I now drive a LHD Motorhome but still try to get into a position where I can see. At some modern road junctions street furniture can make this very difficult to achieve. That is where you need your mirrors correctly positioned.

 

[Deleted member 3011]

It is pretty rare that you can't either head out at right angles so you can see through the passenger window or parallel to the road so you can use the off-side mirror or at some intermediate angle that allows you to look back through a side window in the habitation section. Just requires a conscious effort to make sure you get yourself in the correct position.

One thing that does make it difficult is when mirrors are convex because that makes it very difficult to see vehicles until they are upon you, and even when you can see them, impossible to judge either their distance or their speed. For that reason, I like to have direct vision of the situation rather than having to rely on mirrors.

 

[vwalan]

as others have said wide angle mirror is not a true picture .having said that i fitted one to my unit because it makes sense to try and see. i can reverse with it slowly when the trailer is causing a bend not ideal for close work. main thing is you can see movement hopefully when nothing is moving in the picture its ok drive on. dont fit those little round mirrors that you see on markets etc . get a proper truck type mirror. they are compulsory on 12ton trucks after oct.88.now trucks have to have kerb mirrors and mirrors showing the front .bit like watching half a dozen televisions at once.

 

[brettandsandra]

I used to have the same problem with my Land Rover 90 hardtop. I could only see if I was parallel to the road or at 90 degrees to it. Anything inbetween, no visibility at all.

 

[fofeg101]

Thanks Guys, I guess there's no easy fix, It's a case of thinking in advance. Now I know there's a problem, i.e. don't pull into lay-bys on the other side of the road unless I can pull up at right angles to observe the oncoming traffic.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Guys, I guess there's no easy fix, It's a case of thinking in advance. Now I know there's a problem, i.e. don't pull into lay-bys on the other side of the road unless I can pull up at right angles to observe the oncoming traffic.

Dont be put off!
If you have a good wide angle nearside mirror and get used to it, it will not be a problem at all and no need to get anywhere near to 90 deg.
When I was trucking it was normal to reverse an artic blind-side into a side road. You just need good mirrors and the confidence to use them. Takes a bit of practice but pays dividends in the end.
Just practice!