I'm currently doing around 1000 miles a week, about two-thirds of it on a motorway and although I shouldn't really be I am staggered at the poor driving I see, i.e. people pulling out without looking, not noticing the line of stationary traffic until they are almost on top of it then skidding to a halt etc etc.
My theory is that a good deal of the problem is that drivers today are not focused on their driving and have too many distractions.
My niggle is sat navs!
People drive along with these things suckered to their screen, often in such a way that must obscure their view (especially in small cars with small windscreens) plus the fact that often when I am sat in stationary traffic I see that the screens seem to change as if in a 'screen saver' mode. (I dont have one, I use maps!) Surely this cant be good for concentration?!!
Any other theories about the worst driver distractions?
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I was going to include the local nurses college but I thought I'd sound like a perv.
Screwloose, you're not alone : o )
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Saw a car with the Satnav right in the middle of the driver's line of sight.
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I sometimes fall into a deep daydream and then suddenly "wake up" several miles further down the road with no recollection of how I got there. Once found myself lost in Muswell Hill after doing this on a route that I had driven every day for about 7 years.
Edited by Big Bad Dave on 17/12/2007 at 19:38
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Tell me about it BBD.
Sometimes I can't for the life of me work out where I am, even though it's a route I have driven hundreds of times. Some roads have repeats - stretches that resemble other stretches. If you happen to be marching on when you fall into these reveries, you can even have alarming moments.
It's best to stay compos. But we're only human.
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The nature of my work means regular high mileages and many different destinations. I have to admit that I frequently forget where it is I'm supposed to be going ! It isn't an age thing either, I have always had this blanking problem especially on long motorway journeys. Latterly the sat nav has helped in that I don't actually have to stop and check the diary. I can just check the destination on the TT.
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Answer: SWMBO - judging by the fact that I have to confess, my driving standard always goes down when she's on board. Dunno why.
Oz (as was)
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I am also suprised by the standard of driving I see & not just on the motorway and I also have a bug bear with Sat Nav's and mobile phones in cars.
I think that when the Corporate Manslaughter laws start coming into force peoperly you may see less companies forcing people to use mobiles while driving - even hands free (which is the only legal way of using a phone of course). And I have never really found the sat nav to be worth the money - even at just over a £100.
Everyone managed perfectly well before with a good atlas and a bit of forward planning. The marketing guys have done a superb job in convincing alot of people they cannot live without them IMHO.
Having said all that I do recall being distracted by a young lady once coming home from a trip to the garden centre with the present Mrs P in the front passenger seat.
We had a load of plants in the back and when I re-focued on the traffic after a good look, the car in front had stopped. I saw it late and slammed on the anchors only to have me and her covered in flying plants and compost from the unsecure load in the back.
If the guy in front looked in his rear view mirror all he would have seen was leaves blocking the windscreen.
She was not pleased especially as she spotted why I was distracted.
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She was not pleased especially as she spotted why I was distracted.
So you were in the fertilizer in more ways than one.....?
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