New to biking....

rab · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Karma :

Evening All.

I thought i'd post a question to see if anyone has any experiance with bikers who only have the use of one eye.

I have been blind in my left eye since birth and have been curious to find out how practical it is driving a bike with only one...?

I have been through the dvla and driving school fine in terms of driving a car and have had a license for the last five years but driving cars isn't doing anything for me anymore...

I have thought about getting a trike and avoiding the bike test route altogether but i'd be as well driving a car in some respects so really want to go the full bike test route.

If anyone has any words of advice or comments Id appreciate them a lot. Thumbs Up

Cheers
Rab

alec_h · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Karma :

Not too sure on what the regulations are and what not for people that only have the use of one eye.

But I do know that you have to pass a sight check. So i assume if you can pass that you're fine ?
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

you could probably get away with not telling the examiner you know not that I would condone such behaviour of course Wink

,

as the only thing he tests is if you can read a number plate the one who examined me asked me to look at a van plate all of 10 metres away (its supposed to be 21.5 or something),

that said you'd probably have to learn some yoga or something as shoulder checks are v important and you might have to turn farther than everybody else, either that or get a REEVU helmet , which has a rear integrated mirror in it to compensate somewhat for the side you can't see , not cheap though at £300 a pop thats ARAI territory
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I was speaking to a guy (I can't remember where) who had vision in only one eye. He was told to cover an eye and read a numberplate so he covered his bad eye with his right hand and read it. They then said, 'right, now the other one'. He took his right hand down and covered his bad eye with his left hand. They were none the wiser.

Stories aside, as far as I know, the DVLA line is that if you have good vision from one eye and have fully compensated to being without vision in the other one, it doesn't matter.

Contact NABD (or SABD if you are in Scotland), they will know more about it.
https://www.nabd.org.uk/

SABD site seems to be down just now.

tree1 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

Like people have said, you could easily not let on to the DVLA in order to pass your test, but for your own safety on the road I don't know... sorry.

Lawnie · Nearly there... Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Karma :

This may be dangerous, as through loss of parallax, you cannot accurately determine distances. Are you sure you want this to be coupled with little to no protection (relative to a car) on the road? It may also be worthwhile finding out what the ramifications are for failing to notify the DVLA of your condition.

rab · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Karma :

When I went for my car license back in 2001 I went and had some tests done with my field of vision to make sure it was up to standard so I was able to drive a car. But with a bike there isnt much margin for any error pulling into the left lane which I am worried about. When I look over my left shoulder I can see fine but it could look wrong to an instructor and especially an examiner...

I might go and visit a couple of bike centres and speak with the instructors and see what they think and if they have had any "blind bikers" Smile

Rob84, i see what you mean with judgng distances and have learnt to deal with it as ive never had proper vision. I was thinking that I could wear an open face helmet to increase the viewing angle but dont fancy scraping my jaw along the road if I took a tumble

At the same time I'm always looking out for bikers while driving the works van and can appreciate the amount of numpties you folks have to look out for, including myself now and again Razz

It feels strange because its one of those things were you know that theres a chance of things going wrong but you still really want to do it.

Cheers for the info guys.

Rab

chris_recaro · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

My best mates uncle who i speak too only has vision in one eye, and he has no problems on his bike, he rides both a Suzuki Bandit 1200, and a Honda cbr 1100XX.

I will ask him for some advice and let you know what he says.

But i say go for it Wink

Chris

rab · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Karma :

Cheers Chris,

I would appreciate that a lot Smile

I have been doing a bit of reading around the site and feel I know enough to pass my theory and will be booking a direct access course within the next two months. Hopefully its worth it as I've only got one week leave from work until april next year Thumbs Down

Rab^

APNess · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

I don't know how you'll get on with lifesavers with impaired vision to be honest. It's one thing 'doing the motion' with your head to 'fool' the examiner but not being able to see in a blind spot isn't good on a bike - a car you'll get away with it but bikers seem to be invisible to some car drivers 'sorry mate I didn't see you' kind of thing - you need eyes in the back of your head! (And I've been driving for nearly 20 years - doing DAS this year 'opened' my eyes).

Still, good luck, you're clearly someone who won't let a barrier stop them from doing something! Thumbs Up