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In article <93nq5e$1pp$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,  <dmcdd@my-deja.com> wrote:
>Driving to the left of the preceding car buys you a line of sight until
>the next car doing the same thing - not very far in my experience (My
>car before the Grand Cherokee was a Ford Probe - I've got small car
>experience also). That car driving just as far to the left as you are
>completly blocks your view of the road ahead.

   Only if the road is straight and level up to that point.  Even in
   Illinois that rarely, if ever, happens.

   I almost never see cars or trucks using the left half of their lane.
   Mainly because most people can see the line on that side, but have
   little or no concept of how wide their vehicle is.

>Driving in a higher position buys you line of sight until the next tall
>vehicle - and then the view that it blocks of the road ahead diminishes
>as distances increase.

   Right, and tall vehicles are vastly more common than 'left' vehicles.
   Orders of magnitude, IME.

>I'm picturing a four lane divided interstate. Let's say you're driving
>as close to the yellow line as you can in the left lane and are able to
>see 8 cars ahead before there's a Volvo wagon driving over the yellow
>line spraying the next few cars with gravel. You can see 8 cars, and
>then no more.

   Those eight cars would have to be perfectly aligned on two dimensions
   for it to make much difference.  Again, in Illiois, we still lack the
   technology to built straight, flat roads everywhere.  

   Also, in this example, the Volvo will be hundreds of feet ahead, at 
   which point it becomes rather small.

>I'm in the right lane, 12 cars behind you. I can see 8 cars ahead before
>there's an Expedition. I can't see over the Expedition, but I can see
>the shoulder next to him, and I have an unblocked view of the other lane
>- where there's a stalled car, and people in that lane are cutting into
>my lane. You're 9 cars back from the stalled car and don't know it, and
>I'm 21 cars back and have seen the obstacle and can plan for it. I know
>why and when traffic is slowing. I call that a very large advantage.

   If cars are changing lanes, they will be visible to 'me' while
   doing so.  

   And, just as you can see to the left of the Expedition, I can see to
   the right of the cars in front of me.

   21 cars will occupy roughly one quarter-mile of road, depending on the 
   speed ( sounds like traffic is heavy, with all lanes full ).  You'll be
   roughly 500 feet from the Expedition.  At those distances, and angles, 
   I'll be seeing very much the same scene you will.

   There is an advantage to being higher, and it is slight.  Unless you
   are following too closely, then the angles get significant.

>Any vehicle higher than you in front of you obstructs your field of
>view. In a low vehicle that's a greater percentage of the traffic than
>if you're in a high vehicle. You can simply see farther if you can see
>over a greater percentage of the traffic.

   That's correct, but the vast majority of those vehicles can be
   seen around too.  Anything 'I' can't see around /or/ over, 'you' probably
   can't either.

>I don't agree. The number of large vehicles with malfunctioning mirrors
>is insignificant. 

   In all likelihood.

>If the mirrors are not adjusted properly, it's probably because the driver 
>doesn't care about them, doesn't use them, and wouldn't use them in a small 
>car either.

   I'll have to disagree with that.  I don't see many people who completely
   disregard their mirrors, at least not when changing lanes or merging, but
   I do see many who can't see a small car right next to them.

>It's just the opposite. Two feet is very significant close up, but at a
>distance, it just doesn't matter.

   I guess this will be the end of our discussion.  That's what I've been
   trying to tell you.

>In my experience in my Grand Cherokee (BTW, it's a 4WD tall station wagon, 
>thank you very much >:) if I aim the mirrors to give me a good view of the 
>horizon on a flat road, there's not anywhere a small car can hide, except 
>in my blind spot. 

   In my AWD tall station wagon, there's no blind spot; but then it isn't
   as tall as yours.

   I contend that most people have their mirrors aimed too high, car, truck
   or otherwise.  There is no need to see much, if any, sky in your side
   mirrors, that is what moonroofs are for.  In a low car, this doesn't
   make too much difference, because only a street luger can sneak under.

   In a tall vehicle, it makes a big difference.

>My point is that tall passenger vehicles offer a great deal of foresight
>advantage - and I like it!

   Very little, but I won't argue with getting all you can out of it.

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