Staying Alive
When was the last time your attention to your driving diminished? Was it your last journey? Does it happen every journey? In my case it happens just about everytime I get in the car. When I am driving over familiar territory I find my mind wanders off to think about what I will do with the proceeds of winning the lottery; or perhaps I’m already writing this blog, or any number of things.
When I’m driving over new territory it could be worse as I get to look at all the new stuff. I admit that this is a shocking admission, but it’s the truth. I’m not suggesting that my attention is distracted for long periods. Just a second or two is all it takes to crash your car. For instance, when your eye catches something along the side of the road, just for the proverbial second, and then you look straight ahead only to realise that the traffic has stopped and you are about to crash headlong into the line of cars, what’s your reaction? You panic, right?
We all do, and that example has happened to just about everybody who drives at one time or another. The fact is that you have to interrupt your concentration from time to time, otherwise you will become fixated. The trick is to choose the time and place to take that necessary break. If you do so when the line of traffic is way ahead of you and you’re on a straight road, then maybe you’ll be alright.
A well dressed businessman who was driving behind me along the main entrance road into the city of Valencia, chose that time to turn his head and look directly at his passenger while engaged in conversation. Meanwhile, I had stopped for the traffic light. Just because he was well dressed and driving a Mercedes didn’t make him an intelligent person. He rammed straight into the rear of my car, then looked absolutely startled. I felt I could have slapped him with a car jack.
I don’t have statistics to hand, but I am prepared to bet that the real cause of most accidents involve inattention. It might seem that speeding is at the top of the list, or driving while impaired due to drink or drugs, but it’s easy to see how a loss of concentration could tip the balance.
So, this is just a timely and cautionary suggestion: promise yourself to always pay attention when appropriate while behind the wheel. A motor car or truck, or whatever can do a lot of damage if you’re not careful. To say after the fact that you didn’t intend to kill someone, does not help anything at all
Copyright (c) 2009 Eugene Carmichael
When was the last time your attention to your driving diminished? Was it your last journey? Does it happen every journey? In my case it happens just about everytime I get in the car. When I am driving over familiar territory I find my mind wanders off to think about what I will do with the proceeds of winning the lottery; or perhaps I’m already writing this blog, or any number of things.
When I’m driving over new territory it could be worse as I get to look at all the new stuff. I admit that this is a shocking admission, but it’s the truth. I’m not suggesting that my attention is distracted for long periods. Just a second or two is all it takes to crash your car. For instance, when your eye catches something along the side of the road, just for the proverbial second, and then you look straight ahead only to realise that the traffic has stopped and you are about to crash headlong into the line of cars, what’s your reaction? You panic, right?
We all do, and that example has happened to just about everybody who drives at one time or another. The fact is that you have to interrupt your concentration from time to time, otherwise you will become fixated. The trick is to choose the time and place to take that necessary break. If you do so when the line of traffic is way ahead of you and you’re on a straight road, then maybe you’ll be alright.
A well dressed businessman who was driving behind me along the main entrance road into the city of Valencia, chose that time to turn his head and look directly at his passenger while engaged in conversation. Meanwhile, I had stopped for the traffic light. Just because he was well dressed and driving a Mercedes didn’t make him an intelligent person. He rammed straight into the rear of my car, then looked absolutely startled. I felt I could have slapped him with a car jack.
I don’t have statistics to hand, but I am prepared to bet that the real cause of most accidents involve inattention. It might seem that speeding is at the top of the list, or driving while impaired due to drink or drugs, but it’s easy to see how a loss of concentration could tip the balance.
So, this is just a timely and cautionary suggestion: promise yourself to always pay attention when appropriate while behind the wheel. A motor car or truck, or whatever can do a lot of damage if you’re not careful. To say after the fact that you didn’t intend to kill someone, does not help anything at all
Copyright (c) 2009 Eugene Carmichael
