[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[John Forester]

I consider the studies that I have read to require a considerable 
dose of skepticism. The car-following study, attempting to imitate 
freeway driving conditions through a fancy simulator, does not 
reflect real driving conditions. By some means the following headway 
was maintained at 1.4 seconds (except when the lead car decelerated), 
far too close. Also, the brake light operation of the leading car did 
not operate as if it were signalling that the brakes were applied; 
there was deceleration also with the brake lights off. No wonder they 
got peculiar results. And also, no wonder, that those drivers who 
used a cell phone did not accelerate as rapidly as did the simulated 
leading car after brake application; they knew that they were already 
too close for normal driving, so they probably were in no hurry to 
get back to tailgating the lead car.

I remember, some five or a bit more years ago, considering with my 
passenger the troubled times that both of us predicted would occur, 
and that we are still undergoing. Does that mean that I was then 
driving with the accident potential of being almost drunk? Of course, 
if the driving task becomes more difficult, then I stop the 
conversation while I handle it. Maybe the problem with the cell phone 
is that the other person, not being in the car, cannot observe the 
reason for the conversation to lapse.

John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com