Driving on the phone.

[Beastie]

Let's keep calm please...

[Mercury Bullet]

Personally I think sync is just as bad as a phone.

Too much crap in cars now. And it's getting worse each new model.

[au350hp]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Personally I think sync is just as bad as a phone.

Too much crap in cars now. And it's getting worse each new model.

Got it in one Mercury Bullet. This 'tech' has been one of the big selling points in cars for sometime now. My wife brings home a variety of new cars from work so I get to try out such things as sportswagon commodores to toyota corollas. The biggest problem I notice with these newer cars is how difficult the simplest task is and nothing is intuitive. The good old dash board is now gone, replaced with a cluster for the driver and a cheap LED screen in the middle which is responsible for just about everything else. They do not work real well with our country's harsh light & UV. These options bamboozle the driver with so many choices and are so complicated to operate in my opinion, they are as dangerous as talking on a phone. Anything that takes drivers eyes or concentration away from the task of driving should be banned, period.

[Rallye Sport]

These devices really are dumbing us down, google maps, sat nav? what happened to just remembering a few prompts, left onto Jones street then a right onto Smith street, look for house number five.
I've worked with guys that can't even read a map book, thats if you can get their head out of they're phone in the passenger seat.
The sooner we have autonomous cars the better, I can't see it getting any better for the younger generations.
I sat down for dinner with a mate and his kids recently, the young fella is learning to write so I helped him spell steak, wedges, coleslaw. He then wanted to show me a word he'd already learnt, bugger me he spells out 'youtube'. The future is bleak and the art of driving is facing extinction...

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

So over oncomming traffic drifting into my lane because there heads are in there laps.

Yep, recently saw a car approaching me who veered slightly over the double lines then corrected themselves. As I got closer to them they started to cross the centre line again. I steered left, braked and held the horn down as I see them pass looking at their lap.
I look in my rear view mirror and see them with a finger out the window flipping me off.
Now she has one hand on her phone and one out the window. You beep these idiots and they get worse, not better.

You would never be able to explain to them why what they are doing is stupid because they believe they know what they are doing and can text and drive better than everyone else.
"Oh the people who crash while texting just don't know what they are doing. I can do it while still watching the road" this is the sort of stuff you hear off people who think they know better than everyone else.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Yep, recently saw a car approaching me who veered slightly over the double lines then corrected themselves. As I got closer to them they started to cross the centre line again. I steered left, braked and held the horn down as I see them pass looking at their lap.
I look in my rear view mirror and see them with a finger out the window flipping me off.
Now she has one hand on her phone and one out the window. You beep these idiots and they get worse, not better.

You would never be able to explain to them why what they are doing is stupid because they believe they know what they are doing and can text and drive better than everyone else.
"Oh the people who crash while texting just don't know what they are doing. I can do it while still watching the road" this is the sort of stuff you hear off people who think they know better than everyone else.

They are getting dumber every generation. Let them eat tide pods I say

[Grunter]

I'd be extremely confident that every driver has at some stage been distracted by the something off the list below.

My take is that driving a car isn't done in a vacuum. There will always be something that takes a drivers attention away from driving. Humans are very adaptable and capable of multitasking (although my partners would argue differently). It's not about cutting out everything, it's about mitigating risk whilst driving, understanding that humans by nature are easily distracted, hence laws on use of mobiles, etc.

Driverless cars ultimately will reduce the need to be completely focused on the road and surrounds, however in the meantime, there needs to be a balance between being human and what actually can reduce the risk, or cause of an accident. Only other way to ensure no drivers are distracted is to stop driving, which isn't an option. IMO.

Distracted driving can be attributed to a number of factors. Here are ten dangerous distractions that every driver should avoid.


Smoking
Smoking while driving can be very distracting, as it requires you to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel to light a cigarette and hold it for an extended period of time.

Reaching for Moving Objects
Reaching for moving objects such as pets or children can cause driver distraction. Drivers should make sure children remain in their seats and have their safety belts securely fastened. Teach your children the importance of not distracting you while driving. Provide them with toys and books to keep them occupied. Pets should be kept in carriers or in seat restraints.

Adjusting Controls
Adjusting controls, such as temperature controls, radio, etc. accounts for wrecks caused by distracted driving. It is important to ensure these controls are set before driving. Although some features may not be possible to set ahead of time, such as cruise control or windshield wipers, drivers should be aware of their surroundings and be as focused as possible. If you are driving a rental car or borrowing a friend’s car, familiarize yourself with the car’s controls before you drive.

Eating and Drinking
Drivers should stop if they need to eat or drink. Eating often involves both hands when you, for example, remove a wrapper or eat something such as a sandwich. Even when stopping for coffee, it is important to either wait until arriving at a destination to drink it or drink the beverage before pulling out of the parking lot.

Searching for Lost Items
Searching for lost items such as maps, electronic devices, etc. distracts drivers as they take their eyes of the road and reach to grab an item. Drivers should pull over to a safe area and stop before searching for any items in the vehicle.

Passengers
Drivers are often distracted by talking with their passengers while on the road. Although it is unrealistic not to converse with friends while driving, it is important to stay focused on the road and surroundings at all times.

Outside Event
Almost every person has seen a distracting billboard, crash, or other event outside. Many people crane their necks or slow down to look. Drivers should always avoid slowing down for outside distractions as this can also cause an accident.

Cell Phones
This is usually the most talked about source of distracted driving. Talking, texting, or reading cell phones while driving are all causes of automobile accidents. In several states, it is illegal to text or even use a handheld mobile phone while driving. To avoid the temptation, consider installing special software to disable the phone while the vehicle is moving. Enforce a strict “no cell phone” policy with teenage drivers.

Lost In Thought
There are endless things a person could possibly be thinking about while driving. Whether a driver is looking for an address, focusing on the radio, or daydreaming, accidents occur due to general distractions. It is important to stay mentally focused at all times.

Applying Makeup
Makeup should never be deadly. Avoid applying makeup or fix your hair while driving.

https://www.peelholland.com/news.htm...driving-habits

[Maka]

I can think of a 1 or 2 minute comedy sketch where "the driver" (Shaun Micallef or Magda perhaps lol?) gets into their car then proceeds to - sip their coffee, check their teeth in the mirror then fiddles with the radio & hvac controls.

So while flowing in traffic, "the driver" then sees something interesting on the side of the road or footpath slows down a bit to gawk, then feels uncomfortable in their drivers seat & starts adjusting it, then decides the rear view mirror is dirty so grabs a tissue from the glovebox & starts wiping the mirror clean. Then grabs a packet of chips sits them in their lap & starts munching away blissfully while driving etc..

Have i mentioned the mobile & new car connectivity yet ha ha?

Thanks to Grunter & his previous post plus Mr Bean for the inspiration of this post lol, theres plenty to get distracted with while driving so do manufacturers really need to put play things in new cars that may be more distracting for the driver or is it in preparation for something else - I'll let you guys be the judge.

cheers, Maka

[au350hp]

If you read any car operating manual & are up to date on your states driving laws, I think there is a law or recommendation against every practice listed by Grunter.

[au350hp]

I saw a new method used by a Jeep 4x4 driver today. He was holding his hands together on the steering wheel at 11 & 1 o'clock like in prayer, but had his thumb & index on his side of the s/w, which enabled him to steer & operate his phone I assume. It was also a feeble attempt at hiding the phone from oncoming drivers.....