Driving is dangerous!

[LittleBigMan]

:D

(Have fun with this one, folks!)

[Chris L]

Tell us something we didn't know already. :D

[chewa]

...........to cyclists!

[jramsey]

Driving and its ancillary and supporting activities are dangerous to...

Those with latex allergies
Anything that must breath oxygen
Organisms living near petroleum sources
Organisms living near petroleum storage facilities
Organisms living near roadways
Organisms that live where supporting roadways must be built
Organisms that live where supporting roadways must be built
Natural landscape near petroleum sources
Natural landscape near petroleum storage facilities
Natural landscape near roadways
Natural landscape where supporting roadways must be built
Our social instincts that tend to be inhibited when the driver door shuts
Our wallets
Our children, whose play venues are decreased by the need for roadways
Our children, who still have to play near roadways
Our children, whose parents have to spend their inheritance on automobiles
Our police, who must enforce driving laws
Victims of Road Rage
Our tax revenues, in the U.S., where most of the cost of roadways comes from the General Fund, rather than from driving related taxes (e.g. fuel taxes)
Animals whose habitat is bisected by a roadway (just say roadkill)
Employers who must support parking for their employees
Employees whose pay could be more, if their employers weren't spending money on parking facilities
Our health, because we exert ourselves so little while driving
Our health, because we breath emissions

I have to stop. Gotta get outta here.

I want one of those Cobbworks stickers that say,"My other vehicle f***s up the environment." How would I explain that to my kids, though? :) I may have to settle for the one that says, "My other vehicle screws up the environment."

Love your hair! Hope you win!!!

Jonathan

[LittleBigMan]

I'll toss on a log, Jonathan.

Each year in the USA, about 40,000 people die in auto accidents.

This is almost as many Americans who were killed in the entire 10 year American involvement in the Vietnam War.

What happened to all the people who were against the carnage of that war? Are they asleep now?

:confused:

[HillaryRose]

I think that, sadly, car accidents are so common that they've become an acceptable part of life, not wanted, or happy, but nobody is outraged at the carnage. People expect that someone they know, or maybe someone in their family even, will die someday in a car accident. Actually, I think that this culture has become numbed to death and violence of all kinds.

[Allister]

Originally posted by Pete Clark
I'll toss on a log, Jonathan.

Each year in the USA, about 40,000 people die in auto accidents.

This is almost as many Americans who were killed in the entire 10 year American involvement in the Vietnam War.

What happened to all the people who were against the carnage of that war? Are they asleep now?

:confused:

It's also sobering to note that a greater number than that die of respiratory illness directly attributable to air pollution of which auto emmisions form a major part.

[John E]

This shameful, tragic carnage rate is why I advocate stricter accountability and better education for motorists, coupled with higher standards for obtaining and retaining a driver's license. Traffic engineers need to share the blame, as well, for sacrificing safety on the altar of capacity and speed.

Here in San Diego, a young driver on drugs and alcohol recently killed another occupant in his car. His plea-bargained penalty (vehicular manslaughter, but no drunk driving charges) will be 16 months in jail. What does this say about the value society places on his deceased friend's life?

[Chris L]

Originally posted by John E
Here in San Diego, a young driver on drugs and alcohol recently killed another occupant in his car. His plea-bargained penalty (vehicular manslaughter, but no drunk driving charges) will be 16 months in jail. What does this say about the value society places on his deceased friend's life?

Once again, all this says that society places a greater value on convenience than it does in human life. Of course, some of us might argue that losing your life is quite an inconvenience and...

Oh bugger it! I give up trying to talk sense anymore. :(

Chris

[Steele-Bike]

With driving, the only way to release ones energy is to squeal around corners, slam on the brakes, blow the horn and/or flip off ones fellow cagers. So, it is no wonder driving is so dangerous. Even without road rage, when one is looking for an automotive induced adrenaline rush, the chances of injury are significant.

On a bike, there is no need for a release of energy. I have never been sitting at a red light, muttering to myself about how long I have been waiting there. More than likely I am just glad to have a little breather.

[Pat O'Malley]

I used to attend a rather large urban church, and it was interesting how all the people would sit patiently listening to the sermon, usually on the theme of how the meek shall inherit the Earth, or turn the other cheek, etc. After this edifying sermon the congregation would all slowly and politely exit the building, allowing old folks to go in front of you, and holding the door for the person lagging behind you. But then, in the parking lot, it happens! They wrap themselves into their cars, and are transformed into selfish, me-first, get out of my way, you blankety blank @#%!!

[Chris L]

I too have noticed how normally rational people suddenly become irrational tosspots as soon as they get behind the wheel. You wouldn't think a little smog box could affect one's mind so profoundly in such a short space of time.

Chris

[HardBall]

Originally posted by Steele-Bike
On a bike, there is no need for a release of energy. I have never been sitting at a red light, muttering to myself about how long I have been waiting there. More than likely I am just glad to have a little breather.

Very profound! I had never thought of it like this before. Kind of hits the nail on the head doesn't it?

At one with nature and your bike...

[cyc]

The videos on this website http://www.zeta.org.au/~tommy/ prove people turn in to idiots as soon as they get behinde the wheel of their cage :(

Please note* they are filmed by some dude in a cage, BUT they do show what fools we have on the roads.

cheers!

[willic]

I think peoples "alto ego" completely changes when they step inside their automobiles .
I read somewhere that phsycological reports claim that a car is an extension of mans Phalic instinct , which is alied to the "fight or flight" instinct inherant in humans since the time we were still living in caves and hunting for our food .
These instincts manifest themselves to car drivers , owing to the many simalarities , the aggression to go faster than the person in front , the sense of i am safe to do daring deads in my car because I am insulated from the outside world ,
A vehicle is one of the last places man can bring to the fore all the pent up emotions that are set aside in a normal civilised society.
willic

[Allister]

Originally posted by willic
I think peoples "alto ego" completely changes when they step inside their automobiles .

'Alto ego'? I try to keep my ego very much in the baritone register. ;)


A vehicle is one of the last places man can bring to the fore all the pent up emotions that are set aside in a normal civilised society.

It's also the last place that this should happen. If they want to vent, they should go ride a bike up a mountain.

Allister

[Chris L]

Originally posted by Allister

It's also the last place that this should happen. If they want to vent, they should go ride a bike up a mountain.


How did I miss this thread today? Oh well, at least good old dependable Allister is speaking for me! :D

[LittleBigMan]

Power is something technology offers to the highest bidder.

[willic]

Man has evolved a great deal from his primative form ie. we walk upright , we are smoother skined, etc , but one part of Homo Sappian that has evolved in a "minute" amount in comparison is the brain.
I am suggesting that inside a car mans primative aggression suppresed in all normal aspects of life is somehow released to the detriment of all rational behaviour .
What other excuse can explain some of these Jeycal and Hyde changes that overcome normally mild manered persons when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle .
willic

[Chris L]

This is why I refer to them as motoring 'primates'.