Insight into the mind of the clueless motorist
10-28-11, 03:19 PM
#51
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10-29-11, 02:49 PM
#52
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I think what has happened is that many/most people have begun to take driving for granted as something that "everyone" knows how to do well (or at least, THEY know how to do well). And it's simply not true, despite the amount of time many spend doing it. They may be experienced drivers, but they don't ever get feedback about the quality of their driving skills. And they're getting even less now that police budgets for traffic enforcement have plummeted in many areas.
I think that drivers' re-licensing should require continuing education of some sort, at a minimum, and I really don't understand why there would be any real resistance to that idea. Sure, it would cost money, but traffic collisions due to the negligence of incompetent drivers cost a lot of money too (and ruin or end a lot of lives). Surely preventing many "accidents" through education would save lots of money in the end, even if it were only mildly effective. It seems like renewal standards have just been quietly dropped in many places with little debate over potential downsides, often as a "cost savings" measure (e.g., I can now renew my drivers' license by mail or the Internet, so no one will ever check whether my vision has degraded). I question whether these "costs savings" are really there, in the long run. I know I would gladly pay more up front for a drivers' license renewal/retraining if it meant that everyone else was also going through that retraining, but then again I like to think that I'm a rational person who accepts my own fallibility. Do most people truly believe that they are perfect drivers?
I think that drivers' re-licensing should require continuing education of some sort, at a minimum, and I really don't understand why there would be any real resistance to that idea. Sure, it would cost money, but traffic collisions due to the negligence of incompetent drivers cost a lot of money too (and ruin or end a lot of lives). Surely preventing many "accidents" through education would save lots of money in the end, even if it were only mildly effective. It seems like renewal standards have just been quietly dropped in many places with little debate over potential downsides, often as a "cost savings" measure (e.g., I can now renew my drivers' license by mail or the Internet, so no one will ever check whether my vision has degraded). I question whether these "costs savings" are really there, in the long run. I know I would gladly pay more up front for a drivers' license renewal/retraining if it meant that everyone else was also going through that retraining, but then again I like to think that I'm a rational person who accepts my own fallibility. Do most people truly believe that they are perfect drivers?
The resistance comes from the idiotic mentality that says, "I'm GROWN!" Nobody has ANY business telling a GROWN person what they can/can't do, or to suggest that they don't know ALL they need to know to get by in society. If a GROWN person SEES a lack, they go to school and PAY for the knowledge; otherwise, who are YOU, who am I, to say they need to know more? (The further down the IQ scale you go, the more you encounter this, BTW)
Convenience is going to kill us, as a society; it's already caused this major block to personal responsibility, it's a major contributor to obesity, it's a lot of the reason our jobs have gone overseas, and I see no end in sight. Cell phone use while driving? More of a "right" than the driving itself!
11-01-11, 04:52 AM
#53
aka Timi
This side of the pond (england, europe, maybe even rest of the world) that quintessentially american bent left arm indicating a right turn is completely unknown.
It would probably be taken to be a sign of anger (fist shaking) or victory = goal scored by favourite team while listening to the soccer match on your in-ear radio
It would probably be taken to be a sign of anger (fist shaking) or victory = goal scored by favourite team while listening to the soccer match on your in-ear radio
11-01-11, 06:28 AM
#54
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"Insight into the mind of the clueless motorist."
If you look into the mind of the clueless motorist, you'd see very little.
Consider the elderly (and I am getting on in years myself) - so often they drive with total tunnel vision, with every dip, bump, curve, or intersection a major issue. Cyclists beware.
Or the early twenties doll babe doing makeup in her hot little Honda on the way to work at which she will be late because she overslept but might make up some time by driving fast. Seen too often.
Mamma in the Monster Suburban or Excursion, on the cell phone, hurrying to drop the kids at soccer or pick them up from school. Scary.
Or the School Bus driver who has to make the route. Typically give ZERO of the lane away, and those buses can bomb down the road. Worse than the semi trucks - at least most of those guys seem to have an awareness of the danger their rig poses, and where all of its edges and corners are.
The clueless motorists simply are folks that have the right to drive but have no business doing so, at least at that moment. They are folks that really haven't thought much through as to consequences of their actions behind the wheel - they just do whatever they do and expect others to make way. The direction I point for a turn, the brightness of my headlight, the color of my reflective armor might momentarily wake them, but only on occasion. Sometimes when I think about my commute in my little town, I get real nervous about riding...like now....
If you look into the mind of the clueless motorist, you'd see very little.
Consider the elderly (and I am getting on in years myself) - so often they drive with total tunnel vision, with every dip, bump, curve, or intersection a major issue. Cyclists beware.
Or the early twenties doll babe doing makeup in her hot little Honda on the way to work at which she will be late because she overslept but might make up some time by driving fast. Seen too often.
Mamma in the Monster Suburban or Excursion, on the cell phone, hurrying to drop the kids at soccer or pick them up from school. Scary.
Or the School Bus driver who has to make the route. Typically give ZERO of the lane away, and those buses can bomb down the road. Worse than the semi trucks - at least most of those guys seem to have an awareness of the danger their rig poses, and where all of its edges and corners are.
The clueless motorists simply are folks that have the right to drive but have no business doing so, at least at that moment. They are folks that really haven't thought much through as to consequences of their actions behind the wheel - they just do whatever they do and expect others to make way. The direction I point for a turn, the brightness of my headlight, the color of my reflective armor might momentarily wake them, but only on occasion. Sometimes when I think about my commute in my little town, I get real nervous about riding...like now....
11-01-11, 07:32 AM
#55
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"Insight into the mind of the clueless motorist."
If you look into the mind of the clueless motorist, you'd see very little.
Consider the elderly (and I am getting on in years myself) - so often they drive with total tunnel vision, with every dip, bump, curve, or intersection a major issue. Cyclists beware.
Or the early twenties doll babe doing makeup in her hot little Honda on the way to work at which she will be late because she overslept but might make up some time by driving fast. Seen too often.
Mamma in the Monster Suburban or Excursion, on the cell phone, hurrying to drop the kids at soccer or pick them up from school. Scary.
Or the School Bus driver who has to make the route. Typically give ZERO of the lane away, and those buses can bomb down the road. Worse than the semi trucks - at least most of those guys seem to have an awareness of the danger their rig poses, and where all of its edges and corners are.
The clueless motorists simply are folks that have the right to drive but have no business doing so, at least at that moment. They are folks that really haven't thought much through as to consequences of their actions behind the wheel - they just do whatever they do and expect others to make way. The direction I point for a turn, the brightness of my headlight, the color of my reflective armor might momentarily wake them, but only on occasion. Sometimes when I think about my commute in my little town, I get real nervous about riding...like now....
If you look into the mind of the clueless motorist, you'd see very little.
Consider the elderly (and I am getting on in years myself) - so often they drive with total tunnel vision, with every dip, bump, curve, or intersection a major issue. Cyclists beware.
Or the early twenties doll babe doing makeup in her hot little Honda on the way to work at which she will be late because she overslept but might make up some time by driving fast. Seen too often.
Mamma in the Monster Suburban or Excursion, on the cell phone, hurrying to drop the kids at soccer or pick them up from school. Scary.
Or the School Bus driver who has to make the route. Typically give ZERO of the lane away, and those buses can bomb down the road. Worse than the semi trucks - at least most of those guys seem to have an awareness of the danger their rig poses, and where all of its edges and corners are.
The clueless motorists simply are folks that have the right to drive but have no business doing so, at least at that moment. They are folks that really haven't thought much through as to consequences of their actions behind the wheel - they just do whatever they do and expect others to make way. The direction I point for a turn, the brightness of my headlight, the color of my reflective armor might momentarily wake them, but only on occasion. Sometimes when I think about my commute in my little town, I get real nervous about riding...like now....
11-01-11, 11:37 AM
#56
Senior Member
I really wish motorists wouldn't do this. Follow the rules of the road. If you have the right of way, exercise that right. If you don't have the right of way, wait until you do.
Things are much more predictable that way.
Things are much more predictable that way.
