DEAR News Of The Area,
I would like to bring awareness to the significant increase of grey to black vehicles on our roads, which I call ‘Bitumen Blend’ vehicles.
These vehicles blend in well with the natural environment, including bitumen roads, which increases the risk of accidents and road fatalities.
Clear visibility is a key to road safety.
A vehicle travelling at 40km to 110km per hour unseen, can come out of nowhere.
These ’Bitumen Blend’ vehicles may be in vogue but drivers of these vehicles are not only putting their lives at risk and that of their loved ones but everyone else that they cross paths with.
As drivers on our roads, with truckies in particular, we all have everyday blind spots to contend with – dappled light of trees and sun glare or just changing lanes in suburbia.
From and within these blind spots, ‘Bitumen Blend’ vehicles can come out of nowhere, especially in the confines of small rear vision mirrors.
They blend in so well.
These black to grey vehicles, including caravans, are like unseen moving brick walls as their gloss finish creates up to 20 times more reflections than white vehicles.
You can see reflections on a black car like a mirror because the under-neath scattering white light is not there.
Yes, ‘moving mirrors’ are a road safety hazard and possibly the cause of the increased death toll on our roads.
Not only do they blend in well with bitumen but they also reflect their immediate environment whilst travelling on the road; such as signs, buildings, trees, traffic lights and even double white lines marking.
Both the aspects of reflection and blending of a vehicle would certainly cause confusion in that split-second that is required to avoid a crash or a fatality. Sometimes you only have a split-second to survive.
Turning headlights on whilst travelling is a great way to increase your visibility in trying to avoid an accident, but the sides of ‘Bitumen Blend’ vehicles are still largely exposed and unseen.
Over the past six months, I have noticed an increase in ‘Bitumen Blend’ vehicles that have been T-boned or side-swiped. Your vehicle needs to be seen from all directions, at all times.
Stay safe this summer and put some colour into your life.
Regards,
Viki G,
Coffs Harbour
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