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Truly safe?

142 messages,  Last post on Mar 01, 2013 at 4:17 PM

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What is this discussion about? Child Passenger Safety, Crash Test Ratings, Safe Driving, Safety Technology, Legislation

Messages Page 9 of 15

#81 of 142 lack of attention by kirstie_h HOST

May 03, 2011 (8:04 am)

That's the biggest problem I see today. Drivers on the phone, texting, making a shopping list, having an intense conversation with a passenger, eating.... you name it - some seem to be doing ANYTHING to avoid having to actually pay attention to the road. Yes, it's boring just looking at the road most of the time. Really boring - until that split second when it becomes really exciting.
 
I wish there were stricter enforcement of distracted driving laws. It is very easy to identify someone who is clearly not paying attention to the road, and pulling them over, if for no other reason than to have a talk with them, might be beneficial.
 
A couple of weeks ago, we were on the interstate in a total traffic jam. Two out of four lanes were closed due to an accident, and traffic in the other two was moving at 3-5 MPH, when it moved at all. The guy behind us HIT us! How do you HIT someone going that slowly? There's very little stoppage distance needed at that speed, so I contend that it had to be lack of attention. When we stopped again, my boyfriend got out of the car and had a word with the guy - "hey, could you please TRY not to hit us again, dude?"
 
Anyone ever confronted a distracted driver? Or just a plain, bad driver??

#82 of 142 Re: lack of attention [kirstie_h] by fintail

May 03, 2011 (10:40 am)

Replying to: kirstie_h (May 03, 2011 8:04 am)
Perhaps manuals should be mandated. Would solve 90% of those problems.
 
I don't look for confrontations, but I've been yelled at a couple times, for stupid things that offended the ignorant. Best one in my mind was an old bastard in a Caravan who yelled at me for cutting across a parking lot/not driving in the lanes (mind you it was 9am and the place was empty). I told him that if he didn't like my driving, he was free to call the police. No reply.

#83 of 142 Re: lack of attention [fintail] by steve_ HOST

May 03, 2011 (11:40 am)

Replying to: fintail (May 03, 2011 10:40 am)
Us old guys are safer in a lot of ways. Especially in parking lots.
 
"Data supplied to Edmunds.com by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a custom report show drivers age 65 and older are persistently and significantly less likely to injure or kill pedestrians in motor vehicle crashes compared with drivers in the 28 to 40 age group, who also score much worse in this regard than teenage drivers."
 
NHTSA Report: Pedestrian Risk Lower In Older Drivers (AutoObserver)

#84 of 142 Re: lack of attention [steve_] by fintail

May 03, 2011 (11:58 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 03, 2011 11:40 am)
Yeah, pedestrians are often not hurt very severely when hit at 6mph
 
Actually, if those stats are true ("custom report" is kind of scary), distractions such as phones and food are certainly behind it.

#85 of 142 Re: lack of attention [fintail] by steve_ HOST

May 04, 2011 (4:19 pm)

Replying to: fintail (May 03, 2011 11:58 am)
It's cultural.
 
"For the most part, the driving reality prevails and drivers use their expertise and best judgment to navigate safely.
 
•high-intensity drivers use their own judgment about the rate of speed to travel, constantly adjusting based on traffic conditions
 
•high-intensity drivers seek to accommodate.
 
•Most of those who drive high-traffic freeways regularly are highly proficient drivers.
 
•practice defensive driving with predominant thought given to driving needs, the road and other drivers"
 
Creating A Safety Culture (AutoObserver)

#86 of 142 Re: lack of attention [steve_] by fintail

May 04, 2011 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (May 04, 2011 4:19 pm)
That might explain why so many around here act like they have been lobotomized once they get on a freeway - they don't do it enough.
 
I'd say many of us on this site are "high intensity" drivers, myself included. I'm far from perfect, but I pay attention to everything continuously, and the lack of crashes and tickets on my record can't be out of coincidence.

#87 of 142 Re: lack of attention [fintail] by steve_ HOST

May 05, 2011 (6:27 am)

Replying to: fintail (May 04, 2011 6:30 pm)
I'm far from perfect
 
You'll get better as you get closer to my age.
 
"With age we know that people generally make more appropriate decisions in the vehicle. They self regulate and take themselves out of situations where they perceive the risk is high. That includes not driving at night, avoiding left turns, driving during non–rush hour periods. In essence, they make themselves safer drivers by taking less risk. In younger groups, what we see is they don't have that level of judgment. They're “invincible,” per se."
 
Confronting 'Age' Of Driver Distraction At MIT (AutoObserver)

#88 of 142 Re: lack of attention [steve_] by fintail

May 05, 2011 (7:10 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 05, 2011 6:27 am)
Driving at night, left turns, and driving in traffic are especially risky? Those who think so need to limit their driving to Sundays before noon
 
I guess not driving at all is the best way to have less incidents.
 
I don't know if the civil war vet in his pristine 20 year old Caddy going 55 in the left lane of a 60 with traffic flying around him is making an appropriate decision - something that seems to come with age.
 
It's going to be scary as hell in about 20 years when the boomers get to be elderly, but won't have the ability to admit it. Many also seem to have more money than they deserve, which means behemoth motorhomes and poserfied Harleys will be even more of a problem.

#89 of 142 Re: lack of attention [fintail] by steve_ HOST

May 05, 2011 (7:16 am)

Replying to: fintail (May 05, 2011 7:10 am)
The only wreck I ever had was in a Datsun wagon back in the late 70's in my Memphis years.
 
I pulled out of a BBQ joint going left on a four lane and hit a car in the fender. Ruined my dinner.
 
The car was a nice pristine Cadillac driven by a woman toting her grandkids somewhere.
 
I was around 27 at the time, and I've tried to avoid unprotected left turns ever since, especially on busier streets.

#90 of 142 Re: lack of attention [steve_] by fintail

May 05, 2011 (7:20 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 05, 2011 7:16 am)
I'd blame the food or the car
 
I've never had a problem with left turns on 4+ lane roads, but they aren't the most common here in the land of congestion and divided roads.

Messages Page 9 of 15

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