Road Hazards - Blind Curves

Driving around Blind Curves can get really interesting.  A Blind Curve can instantly turn a pleasurable drive into a moment of sheer terror!


Now it stands to reason that no rational human being would intentionally drive when they can’t see but in a Blind Curve, by definition you can’t see what’s in front of you around the curve – and you usually can’t stop.  So what’s a set of eyeballs to do?

If you’re stuck in traffic, racing along at about 10 mph the blind curve really isn’t much of an issue.  It’s when you’re really boogying along that the Blind Curve gets kind of interesting.  Kind of lethal!

The first thing we must do when entering a Blind Curve is to recognize it!  If you’re on a major highway, it’s easy to get mesmerized and forget that you have to even worry about it.  “Traffic is humming along.  I’ll just continue pumping around that curve.  Traffic will still be moving and everything will be just hunky dory.  Oops!  Where’d that Bull Moose come from?  What the Hey!  That car is dead stopped – in my lane!”

Always be alert and recognize a Blind Curve before you enter it.  Be ready for it.


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Once we’ve recognized we’re coming up on a Blind Curve, it behooves us to quickly analyze it.  What kind of road are we on?  Is it a multi-lane highway?  Which lane are we in?  Is it a divided highway or a single lane back road with only a yellow line or two to protect us from a head on collision?  Hmm.  Is it day time or night time?  If at night, will that buggy around the curve have his lights on at least?  Will he have his brights on, temporarily blinding us even more?  If so, we’ll have to focus on the right edge of the road to maintain our stability – and sanity.

What’s the weather like?  Will road conditions allow us to stop quickly or swerve to avoid an unexpected issue?  Good to think about this stuff.  It should be our automatic thought process every time we approach the Blind Curve.

So we’re on that lonely, back road with no marked lanes and no divider.  It’s now critical that we stay to the right – and be ready for the oncoming vehicle that thinks he has the whole road.  If the road is surrounded by trees, let’s try to look through them if we can.  If there are hills, not much else we can do.  But staying to the right side of the road will give us an edge.  We don’t want to cut corners and swerve into the middle of the road like that oncoming car that suddenly has to swerve at the last minute to keep from nailing us.

If it’s night time, oncoming headlights should alert us to the oncoming car but let’s not bet our lives on it.  Usually the darkness of the road will remind most drivers to turn on their lights but if they just got out of a bar down the road?  Might not be the case.

If it’s a back road that we travel often, we’ll probably end up memorizing the curves.  We’ll know if there’s room to possibly veer off the road and escape oblivion if we have to.

If there’s any doubt we would obviously want to back off our speed.

Now we’re on that multi-lane divided highway.

Probably don’t have to worry about a “head on” type situation here although one never knows for sure.  Most likely our concern will be an unexpected obstacle lurking around the bend.  A stopped car?  An animal staring into our headlights, eyes glowing?  A sudden accident?

The key to handling this type of Blind Curve is to leave ourselves an out.  Let’s make sure we’re not tailgating the puppy in front of us by allowing ourselves plenty of safe distance.  While we’re at it, let’s make sure we’re not being tailgated by a driver slightly less astute than we are.

Next, let’s also make sure the lane or lanes next to us are open in case we suddenly have to swerve into one of them (always a good idea anyway).  Don’t want to be going into a Blind Curve right next to another driver who will limit our ability to make a sudden lane change - or who might invade our lane while in the curve.

Speaking of lane invasion, let’s make a special effort to stay centered in our lane.  Highways are not the place to be cutting apexes and a Blind Curve is definitely not the place to invade another lane unless the unforeseen obstacle demands it.

If we should come up on a sudden obstacle, don’t focus on it.  Focus on the escape path.  It has been suggested that we will tend to direct our cars and truckies directly towards what we are focusing on.  If we focus on our escape path, we’re more likely to end up there.  If we focus on the obstacle, well – you get the picture.

Whether on that back road, the highway, or even a curved exit lane, a keen understanding of Throttle Steer is most critical.  It’s important on any curve but it’s really critical in a Blind Curve.  Why?  Only because it can kill us.  That’s why!

Our front tires are already turning into the curve.  If we suddenly have to bleed power or worse brake hard, a lot more weight will transfer to those already turned rubber puppies that are now working pretty hard.  When the increased weight transfers to them, our vehicle will tend to turn harder – even if we don’t turn the wheel.  We have to be instantly ready to counter this condition with the steering wheel (hard steering), to keep our vehicle going where we want it to go.  If we don’t, we may not hit the obstacle – but we may just hit a tree or a ditch on the side of the road instead.

Drivers who don’t understand this concept can be easily identified.  They’re either all over their lane, invading other lanes, or worse, upside down on the side of the road.

Curves can be fun.  Blind Curves aren’t.  We can increase our odds though.  Practice these concepts on curves where you can see and have plenty of room.  Then you’ll be ready when that unexpected disaster looms right around – the next Blind Curve!
Posted by Frank Miller at 7/20/2010 1:18 PM
Categories: Driving Experience, Driving Skills
Tags: Road Hazards
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