Distractions

Driving is so common place in today's world that we just take so many things for granted. Unfortunately, so many people fail to realise the difference between being in their living room and their car. The difference can be summed up in one word: concentration.

From the moment we start up the engine we are in another world that requires our full focus from the off. So many people pull out into traffic and immediately crash into a passing car. If we avoid doing that there is the normal distractions of traffic. While paying attention to what's happening in our lane we must also be aware of what going on around us. What will the drivers to our right and to our left do next. Here in Spain there is no recognition of lane discipline, so the person to our extreme left may want to go to the right, and will do so crossing all traffic. Stay alert!

Knowing full well that drivers need to concentrate the department for roads allow billboards to be placed in strategic locations to distract us with stupid messages selling us stuff. If we read all that crap we would kill ourselves and others as well. This is pure and simple greed for money and is totally irresponsible.

In the car, if we turn our head to the right without consciously holding the wheel steady, our hand will follow our eyes and we find ourselves driving off the road, or worse, into oncoming traffic if we look left. Even glancing down to check my speed just for a split second disorients me. If I want to select a radio station to listen to I have to do it all by touch without taking my eyes off the road. If you are my passenger and you are talking to me don't expect me to look at you.

So, why on earth are manufacturers making dashboard screens for drivers to watch which are called infotainment centres? We have long had Tom-Tom type GPS systems, but at least there is a voice telling us when to turn left and right. These new systems provide a wide choice of information and entertainment. Some of the more sensible systems don't operate while the car is underway, but others make no such distinction. Surely, this is not right.

I suppose the manufacturers will say that they depend on the common sense of drivers. Well, don't take that to the bank. If common sense was always at work on the roadways we would have no collisions at all. I think it goes the other way round. We are depending on the common sense of your designers to produce products that don't put dangerous temptation in our way.

The most amazing thing about all of this is that one of the offenders is Volvo, the leading name in car safety. When asked to comment the company failed to do so. Come on Volvo, I have always believed in you. I know you can do better.

Bring on self-driving cars!

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael