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The Blind-Drive Exit (The T-Bone) | Bicycle Safety Explained by Richard Fries
When a motorist suddenly emerges from a blind driveway or alley into the roadway, an approaching cyclist faces a serious risk of a devastating T-bone collision. In this video, New England Bicycle Advocate Richard Fries from Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers explains the dangers of blind-drive exits, who bears legal responsibility, and essential defensive cycling strategies riders can use to anticipate hidden vehicles and navigate roads safely.
Key TakeawaysKey Takeaway | Explanation |
Position Outward Near Blind Entrances | Shifting slightly outward away from the curb or driveway (when traffic allows) widens sightlines and places the cyclist directly in a driver's forward field of view before the vehicle noses fully into the bike lane or roadway. |
Recognize Environmental Blind Spots | Urban settings with parked cars and buildings force drivers to creep forward across bike lanes to see traffic, while rural or suburban motorists rarely anticipate bicycles. Recognizing high-risk curb cuts allows cyclists to preemptively prepare for sudden hazards. |
Never Assume Eye Contact Guarantees Safety | Motorists entering from driveways are primarily scanning for gaps between large cars, meaning a driver can look directly toward a cyclist without actually registering their presence. A stationary vehicle should never be assumed to stay stopped. |
Maintain a Proactive "Plan B" | Cyclists should identify safe escape routes before passing driveways rather than relying on panic maneuvers. Swerving blindly into an active traffic lane can be far more dangerous than slowing down or executing a controlled stop. |
Exiting Motorists Bear a Legal Duty to Yield | Drivers emerging from driveways, alleys, and private roads are legally obligated to yield to approaching traffic in travel lanes and designated bike lanes. A driver who pulls out into a cyclist's path can be held legally responsible for resulting damages. |
Read Full Video Transcript
Richard Fries:
Nothing can startle a cyclist more than a motorist unexpectedly and recklessly popping out of what we call a blind drive. This can happen on a crowded road in Cambridge. It can happen in the leafy suburbs of Carlisle. It can happen in a rural road, in Cummington.
Now, in an urban situation, the bike lane actually forces some motors to edge out into your path. In a rural situation, they're just not used to seeing any bike riders, so that can cause things. But we're going to teach you how to avoid being a victim of a motorist coming out of a blind drive.
First recognize danger zones. Whenever you see a curb cut, be it in an urban or suburban or rural situation. Bring yourself out a little bit. You're changing your line of sight for both you to see the motorist and the motorist to see you. Second, enhance your visibility. You've got to remember that that motorist may not be looking for you. And third, always plan evasive action. Always have that B route ready. And that may mean pushing out a little bit. Being cautious of the travel lane.
Under every state law. A driver that is emerging from an alleyway or a side road, hazardous to check for oncoming traffic. And that includes bicycle riders. If you are involved in a blind drive incident, contact the police. Document everything. Take pictures and get a lawyer at Jeffrey Glassman Injury lawyers. We ride the same roads that you do. We experience those same things. We've been there.
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