Eye contact - valid survival skill or bullshit? [Archive]

James Deuce

25th May 2011, 13:02

willytheekid

25th May 2011, 13:13

mmmmmmm, target fixation! :shit:

...saw the whites of their eyes and went straight over em officer...but at least I made eye contact

mulletman

25th May 2011, 13:15

In my workplace with say trucks and forklifts its common practice so valid, some awareness is good.

oneofsix

25th May 2011, 13:16

Hutt City Council are currently running a "safety" campaign for pedestrians and some of their media are suggesting not stepping out onto a pedestrian crossing until you've made eye contact with the driver.

Personally, after my long experience on motorcycles, I'd only use the eye contact method if I was suicidal. How many of you have been hit after making some sort of connection with a driver? Is it just me being ultra-paranoid or is this really dumb advice verging on vexatious advice? Are Hutt City trying to reduce the population of non-ratepayers, because as we all know, only losers walk anywhere?

theory is that if you have made eye contact then they have seen you. I suspect reality is it makes little to no difference. Some will have seen you and perceived you, (realised what you are about to do) others will have seen you and registered nothing, and some will have seen you and be wondering what the hell that was all about as they drive and it wont be until after they pass you they realise that they should have given way. Also when riding making eye contact means you have been fixing on a target.

jim.cox

25th May 2011, 13:16

I, for one, think there is some merit in the approach

I do know that I get the "he hasn't seen me yet" feeling when watching some drivers.

I dont fixate on the driver - its just one of a number of things I look out for

Katman

25th May 2011, 13:20

Stirts

25th May 2011, 13:50

Looking vs seeing are two totally separate things for some people :facepalm:

Ocean1

25th May 2011, 13:55

'Spose it's better than not looking at all.

I've got that T shirt, though. The one from where the bitch lookd me straight in the eye, looked the other way... and pulled out straight in front of me. Flying lesson #1. On an XL350, no less.

Seemed unbelievable at the time, but I've seen it so many times, (and done similar myself) that it doesn't surprise me any more.

oneofsix

25th May 2011, 13:57

Looking vs seeing are two totally separate things for some people :facepalm:

One way of putting it I read recently is that there is looking, seeing and perceiving. I like this because so many seem to look and see but don't seem to be about to work out how what they have seen is going to affect them.

unstuck

25th May 2011, 13:58

Usually only eyeball fuckers im passing who have pissed me off.:yes:

Stirts

25th May 2011, 14:03

I like this because so many seem to look and see but don't seem to be about to work out how what they have seen is going to affect them.

It is a terrible disease that makes you unable to brain. I beleive they call it "The dumb"

Brian d marge

25th May 2011, 14:28

Eye contact should never be used as an indication that you have been seen and are being given right of way.

It can be , when accompanied by a written statement ( in triplicate , signed by the Shire Reef ) and only the MAY I trust the buggers ... ( thats only when the moon is in Aquarius ( usually on the 2nd or 3rd of Octember

Stephen

MSTRS

25th May 2011, 14:38

Crasherfromwayback

25th May 2011, 15:43

cbfb

25th May 2011, 16:27

I only ever use eye contact with another motorist as a means to try figuring out what they intend to do.

Eye contact should never be used as an indication that you have been seen and are being given right of way.

+1

Who's to say the motorist isn't thinking "ah good they've seen me they must realise I'm gonna steam right over this crossing and have no intention of stopping" (which is generally what they do round these parts)

Ender EnZed

25th May 2011, 16:28

Hutt City Council are currently running a "safety" campaign for pedestrians and some of their media are suggesting not stepping out onto a pedestrian crossing until you've made eye contact with the driver.
...
Are Hutt City trying to reduce the population of non-ratepayers, because as we all know, only losers walk anywhere?

It's better than walking onto the road without looking at all.

Ronin

25th May 2011, 16:32

I drove a forklift for 10 years and always told the staff that if they didn't make eye contact them I WOULD run them over.

blue rider

25th May 2011, 19:20

being a militant pedestrian for the last 12 years in Auckland (never owned a car in NZ) i can attest to the eye contact theory. but it needs to be accompanied by the 'If i am not dead you will be, so make sure that if you hit me you do it right " face" :angry2::bash:
I guarantee it works :sunny:, mind common sense like looking left, right rinse repeat for good measure helps aswell.

getting to look the right way now that took me some time :facepalm:......oh well: guess I was lucky:shutup:

Mom

25th May 2011, 19:55

Last car driver I made eye contact with, and trusted, pulled out directly in front of me, he actullay "looked" at me twice. Fucken wanker! Was responsible for the single biggest fright I have ever had on a motorcycle, and that was back in 1976/77ish. Managed to avoid him by good luck, not good management.

There is looking, and there is seeing. Eye contact means squat!

sinfull

25th May 2011, 20:15

I only ever use eye contact with another motorist as a means to try figuring out what they intend to do.

Eye contact should never be used as an indication that you have been seen and are being given right of way.But pedestians have right of way !! 90% of them step out as if it's a god given right lol

And by god the cliche shops we have in otaki makes it a hell of a job to both perve at the tight boob tube chicks (without making it too obvious) and catch them, with the self belief that they have the god given right to step out in front of a car that they have no idea if it may even stop for them, who step out without even looking

Personally i aint hit no-one, but could see it happening with a couple of ped crossings that have been recently added ! (one is 10m after a roundabout) and have had to stop quick after missing someone darting across while handling all of the above whilst DRIVING

It's better than walking onto the road without looking at all.

As above ! This seems to be a JD boredom thread or have i missed something and we've had a name change to Kiwipedestrian.co.nz

yungatart

26th May 2011, 08:04

Just because they have 'seen' you, doesn't mean that they
a) have registered your presence and/or
b) intend to give way to you.

Eye contact is a little like Russian Roulette...one day it is gonna kill you!

GrayWolf

27th May 2011, 18:23

+1

Who's to say the motorist isn't thinking "ah good they've seen me they must realise I'm gonna steam right over this crossing and have no intention of stopping" (which is generally what they do round these parts)

yes there is a school of thought that indeed they will think, 'good he has seen me (motorcyclist), and will stop to allow me through in front of him'

GrayWolf

27th May 2011, 18:28

Hutt City Council are currently running a "safety" campaign for pedestrians and some of their media are suggesting not stepping out onto a pedestrian crossing until you've made eye contact with the driver.

Personally, after my long experience on motorcycles, I'd only use the eye contact method if I was suicidal. How many of you have been hit after making some sort of connection with a driver? Is it just me being ultra-paranoid or is this really dumb advice verging on vexatious advice? Are Hutt City trying to reduce the population of non-ratepayers, because as we all know, only losers walk anywhere?

Nooo they want US to become pedestrians, so we take the bus or TRAIN, and the profit from fares pays for the new Matangi trains :innocent:

On a serious note to this thread, I often use a hand signal as well as the indicators when peeling off roundabouts with several exits in rush hour... the 'weird' physical movement does seem to get a little more notice than flashing yellow lights that 'are not where they are supposed to be' (on the front of a nice wide car at 'headlight level, not all high up, like on those goddam bike things), and of course we are leaning over to confuse them even more :angry:

varminter

27th May 2011, 20:02

Did anyone ever watch that program on telly 'Ross Kemp' on gangs? The whole eye thing reminds me of an episode, where a huge black guy was telling Kemp about the particular way he raped other inmates. He looked them straight in the eyes. So you see, you'll still get fucked with direct eye contact.

Ok, a bit off topic, but given that it was an all male prison (are there any other type?) and given the male anatomy, the bastard must have twisted their head's right round, adding injury to buggery.:shit:

The Stranger

27th May 2011, 20:09

Hutt City Council are currently running a "safety" campaign for pedestrians and some of their media are suggesting not stepping out onto a pedestrian crossing until you've made eye contact with the driver.

Personally, after my long experience on motorcycles, I'd only use the eye contact method if I was suicidal. How many of you have been hit after making some sort of connection with a driver? Is it just me being ultra-paranoid or is this really dumb advice verging on vexatious advice? Are Hutt City trying to reduce the population of non-ratepayers, because as we all know, only losers walk anywhere?

Not been hit by another vehicle yet, but the 2 closest calls I've had in that regard, both were looking straight at me i.e. had eye contact when they pulled out.
I think they saw it as acknowledgement that I was aware of the danger and would yield.
That's why I frequently say they best hope I'm dead before they ever say sorry mate I didn't see you.

NordieBoy

27th May 2011, 20:14

Usually only eyeball fuckers im passing who have pissed me off.:yes:

Mirror visor?

Crasherfromwayback

27th May 2011, 20:21

Ok, a bit off topic, but given that it was an all male prison (are there any other type?) and given the male anatomy, the bastard must have twisted their head's right round, adding injury to buggery.:shit:

Hate to tell you this mate...but he was fucking them in the 'missionary' position!

varminter

27th May 2011, 20:33

Hate to tell you this mate...but he was fucking them in the 'missionary' position!

You're gonna have to draw me a picture for that one. Oh wait, I've just thought about it :gob:

They ain't never gonna take me alive.

Spearfish

27th May 2011, 20:40

Hate to tell you this mate...but he was fucking them in the 'missionary' position!

Those missionaries sure have a lot to answer for.:blink:

I guess the fight over the wet spot was never lost either.....:shit::sick::facepalm:

redhat

27th May 2011, 20:45

I always try to keep an eye on people that I think might do something like cut me off, etc... half of the time they'll look before indicating and I give them a prompt nod - the other times it's just a pull-over-then-start-indicating. It's good to be ready for that.

As for intersections, I stare at people and still fear for the worst, I think that's the best thing you can do. I don't think it's a matter of making eye contact with other drivers so much as when you do try to make eye contact - you ready yourself for the worst outcome.

On a side note, I always give a friendly wave to people letting me go by before pulling out in the same direction as me. Saves having to pass them generally, I think they acknowledge that fact.

vifferman

27th May 2011, 20:47

Well, I dunno.
I've only ever run over one pedestrian, and I sure as hell didn't get a chance to make eye contact with her.
Made no difference - it still fucked her leg up, and my bike, and she still had to pay for it all (and do the time in hospital), despite the lack of social niceties.

Shadows

27th May 2011, 21:14

Somebody close to me was taken out after making eye contact.

Somebody else equally close had to avoid being taken out after making eye contact and realising that he was actually being lined up. Probably a good thing he was watching in that case.

Myself, once upon a time, while I was busy staring a driver into not pulling out in front of me, I was taken out from another angle by some other completely unexpected arsehole.

Now I don't worry about eye contact and / or acknowledgement / permission to carry on without being fucked over, instead I look at the bigger picture and the different emergency exits constantly opening and closing. Served me well so far.

baptist

28th May 2011, 00:10

I only ever use eye contact with another motorist as a means to try figuring out what they intend to do.

Eye contact should never be used as an indication that you have been seen and are being given right of way.

So true. The closest I have come was a bus driver pulling out... he stared at me in his mirror and was still "looking" as he pulled out... I so like buses...every artillery firing range should have one.

ellipsis

28th May 2011, 00:26

...you have to have 'eye contact' to be able to strike up a conversation with a chick at parties...this bit of wisdom was given to me by a stud type fella, quite some time ago now...35 years back probably...never actually worked well for me...usually ended up with the chick yelling 'what are you staring at, sicko/twat/wanker/etc...just stared at their tits and bum after that...

redhat

28th May 2011, 01:42

...you have to have 'eye contact' to be able to strike up a conversation with a chick at parties...this bit of wisdom was given to me by a stud type fella, quite some time ago now...35 years back probably...never actually worked well for me...usually ended up with the chick yelling 'what are you steering at, sicko/twat/wanker/etc...just stared at their tits and bum after that...

I think eye contact is a little different than glaring :drinkup:

awayatc

28th May 2011, 08:10

eyecontact...?

If you wear padded gloves it doesn't hurt your knuckles much....

Deano

28th May 2011, 08:47

You are staring straight into their eyes, and they are looking straight back into yours...or are they? Just how do you know for sure that they aren't looking at something 40mm to the left of your left eye, say?

given this is correct, and

I only ever use eye contact with another motorist as a means to try figuring out what they intend to do.

Eye contact should never be used as an indication that you have been seen and are being given right of way.

if its not safe to assume you have been seen, how do you use their eyes to figure anything out ? honest question Steve.

The answer is of course...............to wave at them ! If they wave back you KNOW they have seen you lol. never underestimate the power of the wave

Katman

28th May 2011, 09:23

if its not safe to assume you have been seen, how do you use their eyes to figure anything out ? honest question Steve.

Dunno Deano, maybe I'm just a mind reader.

The art is really about having an escape route planned and being prepared to break off a turn right up until the point of no return (which is actually a point well into the turn). At that stage you've got to hope you've left a large enough gap between you and the other vehicle to be past before they could close that gap if they moved.