Originally Posted by
jputnam
blind, verb (used with object) to make sightless permanently, temporarily, or momentarily, as by injuring, dazzling, bandaging the eyes, etc.: The explosion blinded him. We were blinded by the bright lights.
Defining "blinding" as only complete loss of vision has no legal or linguistic basis.
"Blind" for driving purposes is not complete loss of vision, there are plenty of people who can read a book and walk without a cane but are legally blind.
As a practical matter, I can guide a car down the road without my glasses on, even though I can't read the speedometer. But legally, if I couldn't correct my vision, I'd be too blind to drive.
When you say you've never been "blinded" by oncoming traffic, do you really think you could pass your driver's license eye exam while those lights were still shining in your eyes? That's what "blind" means for driving.
Brilliant - I suppose "Dazzling" is more what I meant by blinding, but you hit the nail square on the head there.
BTW, just because cyclists
should be off to the passenger side of the vehicle, doesn't mean they are. It like saying all motorists obey the speed limit.
And going back to the F=MA equation posted a while back - that is the formula (in its most basic form, and therefore not entirely accurate (but good enough)) for linear momentum. and it is one I explain to people regularly.
Being a "professional driver" you are more likely to have people step out in front of you (FACT) because they perceive you are more likely to see them because you are trained to a higher standard.
Now in this country (UK) there is a speed campaign that go along the lines of "Hit me at 40MPH and there is an 80% chance I'll die, hit me at 30MPH there is an 80% chance I'll live" - This is aimed at
car drivers.
MGW of the average car is 3 tonne. Remember F=MxA - 3x40=120, 3x30=90. Now lets drop the speed again, lets say 5MPH - 3x5=15
Now factor a bus into the equation. An unladen single deck bus has an average weight of 13 tonnes and an average capacity of 60 people. For loading regulations, I belive it is calculated that 15 people average 1 tonne - so a fully loaded average single deck bus is ~17 tonnes. F=MxA - 17x5=85 not a lot different from 3x30=90. I always tell people that a bus traveling at 5MPH CAN kill, and does about the same amount of damage as a car travelling at 30MPH - they never believe me untill I tell them F=MA.