Community weekly poll: What is the biggest threat to safe driving?
- 8/1/05 5:10 PM
Drivers
by K9er - 8/2/05 7:36 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Kids are part of the problem but the largest problem is
agressive drivers. Combine aggressive drivers with the kids and you have big problems.
All of the above.
by palomo - 8/2/05 7:38 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Anyhting that takes the driver's eyes and attention form the road. ALl the items mentioned in the question are valid. Cel phones, DVDs, loud speakers, GPS (especially GPS). These items require taking your eyes away from the road.
I had some near accidents due to all of the above from the part of the driver... What about children moving around? A friend's mother died because the cat jumped from the back seat to the front!!!
I think we are all thinking driving is an easy thing. It's not. Cars need attentive, careful drivers.
Distractions, Agressive Driving & Impairment
by Bob_Meyer - 8/2/05 8:02 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
The biggest threats to safe driving are distractions, aggressive driving and driving impaired.
- Distractions from cell phones, stereo controls, talk radio, children, other passengers, other drivers and the voices inside your head all divert attention from the road. When you look away from the road, your hands tend to follow your head. The longer you are distracted the farther you are likely to travel from the center of your lane and into ditches, embankments, oncoming traffic, the 18 wheeler next to you, and so on.
People
by George B. Lockwood - 8/2/05 8:05 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
I would have just selected the word "People."
The mechanical, electronic, etc parts of the vehicles are controlled by "people." Some can handle only one function at a time (70% of the population), others can handle 2 functions at the same time (25% of the population), and a few (5% of the population can handle 3 or more).
The 70% group think they can handle multiple functions and cause most of the accidents. Drivers lose their body motor control as they age, but they still think they are 25 years old, therefore must adjust their driving habits. The elderly sometimes over compensate and cause accidents.
Teens, which have the worst driving records, need the most help and they are not using their brains when they drive their cars (parents cars).
Maybe the states should require testing every time a drivers license has expired. As a former government official for 44 years I can tell you their answer. No money for hiring personnel to do the testing, and I am sure they are right.
George B. Lockwood
Safe driving
by mojoryb - 8/2/05 8:12 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Having lived in Richmond, BC., Canada,then Surrey, I'd have to say the BIGGEST threat to safe driving is Asians & East Indians. Bye the bye, I am not prejudice in the slightest!
Cell Phones and Driving.
by wh6fh - 8/2/05 8:20 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Talking on Cell Phones whilst driving is most dangerous as this completely takes away ones concentration from the surrounding traffic. These days one needs all of ones concentration to be aware of what is going on infront, behind and to each side.
It should be the law, as I believe it is in Britain, that the engine of the automobile must be off if one is using a Cell Phone. This would prevent accidents and may save a life which could be yours. Dr Pete.
RE: What is the biggest threat to safe driving
by pcrx_greg - 8/2/05 8:20 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Actually the answer is all of the above.
Any distraction to ones' attention while at the wheel is surely a contribution to unsafe, unattentive driving. When driving we need ot keep all of our attention on the road. I know that this is just preaching, but we all need to do better when it comes to paying better attention. One item not in this list which is just as dangerous as any other item is driving when you are tired and/or sleepy.
idiot
by levit0n - 8/2/05 8:34 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
the biggest threat on the road is idiots who can't drive!
B/C you have to take your eyes off the road
by madseason - 8/2/05 9:19 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
Cell phones! You lose concentration.
Cellphone Use Slows Reaction Time More Than Alcohol
by Publium - 8/2/05 9:21 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
In May, 2003, a Canadian student won a national science fair with her experiment examining the risks of speaking on a cell phone while driving. Her study found that using a cellphone while driving slows reaction time by 48%. A driver with a blood alcohol limit of 0.15 (0.08 is a common legal limit) has a reaction time reduction of less than 24%. Cellphone use also slows hand - eye coordination by 20%.
Bad Drivers
by Bulldozer1 - 8/2/05 9:47 PM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
In my opinion it is the bad driver that is a larger risk. The BAD driver will let ALL of the contributing factors,Cellphone, Stereo, DVD player, Nav. Sys.,Other people and the Kids distract Him/Her. Problem is I see far to many so called "Professional" drivers,I.E. TAXI, Large Truck, Police and other "Professionals" committing the same obsenity... I've gotten out of a cab because the driver near ran down a pedestrian in a crosswalk while on the cellphone. I've also reported a Semi-truck driver for a near miss in the yard, also due to cellphone use. These guyz come into the yard phone at ear and load the trucks and drive away without taking the phone away from their ears... Professional drivers? I think not, Professional cellphone user? you bet. Hope their brains are being fried by the microwaves.
MISSING THE POINT
by trancegroup - 8/3/05 12:00 AM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
I understand that the purpose of the poll is to call attention to neuro-automotive psycho-relevance but out of the nebulous list of human/digital/analog potentialities there isn't a single actual or documented cause of the tens of thousands of road fatalities and traffic citations listed. All of the modern machinery and human attributes which are listed indicate someone behind the wheel is in an enclosed personal environment which is isolating the driver from the realities of another driver's inconscientiousness while being distracted at the same time. The greatest dangers are always a combination of distractions and circumstances converging into a nightmare for someone who is in the right by all means, but whose demise is most likely from the following list of 'other' threats to safe driving:
1. Drunk Drivers - zero reality driving
2. Tailgaters - pseudo-drafting, no reaction distance
3. A lit (cigar) dropped inbetween the driver's legs
4. Animal crossing - will freeze in the road
5. Broken heart drivers - aimed at sharing their pain
6, Road conditions - ICE, hale, blinding rain
7. Drivers viewing TV or Video systems
Manual cell phone usage is illegal in many areas, meaning you need an ear-plug/mic or a remote speaker/mic to operate the device. Normally cell phone users can be easily spotted because they are driving more slowly. On the other hand a good car stereo system is a must for 99% of us because it makes the automobile itself more user-friendly, and makes us happier going from one place to the next.
Chris Mar
Bad Driving is always the reason
by gbswales1 - 8/3/05 12:54 AM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
most of the other things mentioned fall into this catergory. You should be driving safely according to the road and conditions prevailing - end of story
The problem comes with enforcing this - what might be relatively safe on a straight open road in a desert with no other vehicle in sight and good vision - is quite different to being in a town with rain pouring down giving dull visibility.
Specifically steering wheel radio controls (Citroen have had this for a long time), hands free mobile (truly hands free that is!) etc are a plus - the problem is that the safest devices are often only fitted to the more expensive cars - I think that, for example, steering wheel controls for radio/CD should be compulsory in all cars fitted with one. Also there could be failsafe to prevent disc/tape ejection while vehicle is in motion.
just some thoughts
Tailgaters
by Trailhop - 8/3/05 2:59 AM In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
In the past five years or so, I've noticed more incidences of someone coming up fast behind me, then riding to close to my rear. I'm not a pokey driver, I pretty much drive close to the speed limit or a bit faster. It seems everyone is in to much of a hurry these days. They speed, and then if they get behind you, they seem to try to push you to go as fast as they want to go.
It doesn't work with me. I just tap my breaks, and if they don't get the message, I slow down until they pass me.
that's a simple question to answer
by jonah jones - 8/3/05 3:09 AM
In reply to: What is the biggest threat to safe driving? by Marc Bennett
probably a Cell phone in the hands of a bad driver on the brink of road rage because he forgot the porn movie in the DVD and his wife is watching it while he's screaming at his kids to turn down the car stereo and asking his brother where he left the navigation device??
Other (what is it?)
broken a/c and it's 40C outside?
.
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