Road user reaction times (test included)

**bogan** · 11th July 2011, 21:08

So I was having a yarn to a bloke about a pedly he want to make, when he says one of the design objectives should be that it'll go in a straight line if he takes both hands of the bars to have a text or whatever (I can only assume the whatever meant

). Told him he was a fucking idiot obviously, then I got to thinking, how much difference does it actually make?

I also found this rather comical test http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbo...n_version5.swf I got the Rocketing Rabbit once, but must have been a fluke cos most tries is 0.23s.

Anyhow, I've worked out at 50kmhr a 1 second delay (on top of a .3s reaction time and braking time etc) will have you stopped almost 14m further down the road, which is a 70% increase. At 100kmhr it's 28m and a 40% increase.

Results are about as expected, but it makes me wonder why so many road users risk that extra reaction time in situations where it could make a big difference. Sure it's going to be a very rare occasion when you need it, but wtf else is more important than operating the vehicle anyway

**Oakie** · 11th July 2011, 22:08

.2968 best attempt.

**saltydog** · 11th July 2011, 22:19

.24 twice a bobbing bobcat!

**steve_t** · 11th July 2011, 22:30

.167 best but 0.2232 average - bobbing bobcat.
Man, I thought i'd be able to get the sheep earlier

**Blackshear** · 11th July 2011, 22:51

0.216 average, 0.165 best.

Don't forget, we KNOW the sheep is gonna bolt.

**rapid van cleef** · 11th July 2011, 22:59

best attempt was .164.

**jaffaonajappa** · 12th July 2011, 00:00

.1666 average. Perfect

**Brian d marge** · 12th July 2011, 04:55

2 bottles of Spanish plonk and I getz ............

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Stephen

**schrodingers cat** · 12th July 2011, 05:00

Originally Posted by bogan

So I was having a yarn to a bloke about a pedly he want to make, when he says one of the design objectives should be that it'll go in a straight line if he takes both hands of the bars to have a text or whatever (I can only assume the whatever meant

). Told him he was a fucking idiot obviously, then I got to thinking, how much difference does it actually make?

Tell him to put the biggest heaviest rims he can on the thing.

Lots o gyroscopic mass to resist turning, acceleration, braking.

But hey! Total win on the texting until he realises a hazard has appeared in front of him.

On a bike that won't go, stop or turn...

**The Singing Chef** · 12th July 2011, 09:22

1.617 best
2.164 Avg

Too early in the morning, need coffee

**bogan** · 12th July 2011, 10:24

Originally Posted by Blackshear

0.216 average, 0.165 best.

Don't forget, we KNOW the sheep is gonna bolt.

Just like on the road then, but it's idiots doing the bolting, not sheep (usually).

Originally Posted by schrodingers cat

Tell him to put the biggest heaviest rims he can on the thing.

Lots o gyroscopic mass to resist turning, acceleration, braking.

But hey! Total win on the texting until he realises a hazard has appeared in front of him.

On a bike that won't go, stop or turn...

If he realises a hazard has appeared. The 'problem' is it's a three wheeled pedly, so the camber on the outside of the road will likely be trying to push it wide all the time, so don't think heavy wheels would help too much. Although I'm trying to convince him to make it a leaning 3 wheeler, which may cause it to hold a better line like two wheelers in such situations. Hope it doesn't though, any bastard who completely releases control of a vehicle to have a text, should run directly off the road imo!

**onearmedbandit** · 12th July 2011, 11:14

This guy can dooo et, and with no safety net either!

**steelphoenix** · 12th July 2011, 13:21

Average time: 0.265 sec
Lowest time: 0.173 sec

Quite fascinating! I wonder how bikers' scores and drivers' scores would compare.

(Also, WTF?! to the idiot texting on his bike...)

**bogan** · 12th July 2011, 13:38

Originally Posted by steelphoenix

Quite fascinating! I wonder how bikers' scores and drivers' scores would compare.

I think they would be near identical. The difference is that motorcyclists are more likely to pay attention to the 'sheep' so to speak. So the delay from realising a reaction is required is likely to be smaller, this I think is something many motorists do not consider when judging safe following distances or speed around potential hazards. And of course it's not helped by the multitude if messages telling them all they need to worry about is speed and alcohol.