Car Tech forum: What do you think is the biggest threat to safe driving?

It is the drivers that create all the rest of the problems. Gadgets are just objects, it's the driver who decides to play while driving. Some people can't even talk in person without using both hands for expression, how would even a implant help them?

The biggest addation the Auto companys could put in a vehichle that would help, would be a "Back Seat Monkey" that would slap the driver behing the head when they were not paying attention, and that wouldn't completly work. "Some would have to turn around and argue".

'Bad drivers' is the only possible answer. All the subsequent items in your list allow drivers to become distracted. And drivers who willingly allow themselves to be distracted are bad drivers. It's that simple.

slow drivers who (1) get to a corner before hitting their turn signal--and then, all but STOP--and then turn at 1 mile/hr; (2)'practice' causing accidents by constantly hitting their brakes--despite a clear and open road before them; (3) who, especially during rush hours, hit their brakes ALL THE WAY DOWN a turning lane (anticipating a future YELLOW??) then go thru the yellow--and trap everyone behind them; (4) wait until no cars are in SIGHT -- before turning or merging; (5) .etc. I find 'Road Rage' is largely justifiable...and those of us who drive fast, do so because we actually know both how to drive...and the rules of the road--not to mention the desire to avoid the accidents usually caused by those 'others'....

First, people don't use their heads when driving. Maintaining proper following distance, easing off the gas rather than always hitting the brakes to slow your car, not looking 10-12 seconds down the road to identify and predict problems, being polite, etc., reduce travel time and stress for all. When I was taught to drive, we were taught IPDE. Identify/Predict/Decide/Execute. More recently, I understand it was changed to SIPDE to include Scan. The idea is that you should constantly scan your mirrors and the road looking for problems so you can react proactively and not have to act abruptly.

Many drivers don't pay enough attention to the road because they are looking at devices, mirrors, etc. Eating while driving or shaving isn't necessarily a problem. I do both -- not at the same time -- and still manage to avoid accidents quite nicely because I continue to watch the road.

Finally, driver's education is apparently lacking and there is no required followup on a periodic basis, so too few drivers understand even basic rules of the road. The driver's test in my current state focus on how much alcohol one can drink and not be considered under the influence rather than when vehicles come to a four way stop, who goes first, etc.

If drivers were properly educated, rational, polite, and careful, we wouldn't have to worry about which gadgets should be allowed or not. Those drivers would simply avoid doing unsafe things!

The driver is the only one capable of operating the car safely - and yes, even in today's crazy world, not driving is ALWAYS an option. Skip the party, call in sick, quit. Don't answer the phone (don't turn it on!), don't yell at the kids, don't read the map. The driver makes the decision to do something besides just driving - and they need to consider the consequences.

My Dad always told me (and I told my kids) "Drive like you paid for the car, not for the road."

Happy Motoring! :o)

The top two are right on. Bad drivers should not have licenses. You wonder how some of them pass the state tests.
Most cell phones I have seen people using don't have an external speaker, thus, one hand is off the wheel.
Most of everything else on this list is distracting to the driver. Any loud sounds from radio, dvd can cause a reaction which could be fatal.
As for the GPS I do not think there should be a problem with this and can't understand why it even was on this list. After all you set it before you leave to take you to a certain destination and all you have to do is sit there and listen to this voice telling you when to make a turn. You have complete concentration on the road unlike with a map when you have to take your eyes off the road. I have both a GPS and an external speaker for cell phone. Even with this speaker there are times when I do not feel confident to take a call and I definitely would not place a call while driving. That needs to be done when you pull over off the road and come to a stop. Drivers need to use common sense.
Young drivers are another cause of many accidents which are not included on this list. This is due to kids being in the car and all talking and fooling around.
The solutions would be more driver education, making driver tests harder to pass, and restrictions for younger drivers as to how many other young passengers they can transport, mandatory driver instruction renewal classes.

By far speed is the most dangerous factor in a crash. At 55 mph, a car travels 80 feet a second. The average stopping distance for a car at 55 mph, on a dry road ith good brakes, is 330-385 feet, factoring in perception of the problem, reaction and actual braking. At 75 mph stopping distance is close to 500 feet. For every other distraction add another second, or 80 feet at 55 mph, over 100 feet at 75mph. )The undersigned is a defensive driving instructor.)

I investigated auto accidents for over 30 yrs.

I found that drivers ignore what the driver's manual says and make up their own rules because the manual, apparently, doesn't apply to them!

Let's list: speeding, improper lane changes, failure to yield, running/pausing at stop signs, improper lookout, etc. I can go on and on!! It makes you wonder what manual they read to get their license in the first place!!

Plus the 'protective' parents. They put their 16 yr old "children" behind the wheel of a killing machine, and then fail to let a professional speak to them? What's with that?

recognize yourself?

the guy ahead is going too slow. maybe if i drive real close to him he'll pull over.

i like driving in the left lane. the road is always empty ahead of me.

i think everyone is going too slow so i'll just weave in and out of the lanes.

hey! someone wants to get ahead of me! i'll pull up real close to the guy in front so he can't.

look at that! the guy ahead of me has left too much room between him and the next car! i'll just zip ahead of him and show him the proper following distance.

i wonder what's going on in that apartment! i can look in the window for a while.

i cant waste my time by just driving. i'll just (fill in the blank). i can do more than one thing at a time.

i'm nervous about getting on the highway. i'd better wait until i can't see any cars coming. ok, i'm going now. oops, i see a car coming i'd better jam on the brake.

I think "grooming" is more prevalent than eating/drinking, but IMHO the eating is more dangerous. This is because whoever is attempting to scarf down something while in traffic doesn't stop to think ahead of time about the fact that there might be a spill...I've had sauce drip out of hamburgers time and again. And since you weren't prepared for that, immediately you're going to panic about a stain on your clothing, look down, attempt to grab a napkin, set the rest of the food aside to clean up, etc.
Obviously, the other poorly thought through distractions/lousy driving are terrible, but I just thought that this would be one problem that most people wouldn't think about and share in written form.

Get those #%@&**^#* off their phones and put down those coffee cups. I have been dinged and dented three times in the past two months by these characters and I am tired of it, Where are the rules of the road ? When I learned to drive it was mandatory to have both hands on the wheel at all times except when signaling to make a turn. (remember hand signals)

Yes... those folks driving at a significantly reduced rate of speed are a serious hazard on the road. Not to mention that too is against the law.

That's like saying I'm a good driver so I can talk on the phone, do my nails, eat a hamburger and smoke a cigarette at the same time. (i've seen it). I can even drink some beer if I'm real careful because I'm a good driver. That's the problem, until it affects someone else it doesn't matter what I do. But when it happens to me oh my gosh, we're going to sue someone. A co worker came into the office sometime ago telling me that some customers where smoking pot in their work truck thinking it was funny. I asked my co worker who was a brand new brother to a new sister what if your mother and new sister were coming down the road and these two rocket scientist had hit them head on and killed them, how funny would it be then? Ain't it something when it happens to someone else?

Sorry, when I told the tailgate story, I still was upset about the Feep going 55 in the left lane. I was taught to always stay to the right, not left!

One handed drivers and NO handed drivers - the smokers and/or coffee drinkers. Must be steering with their feet!