Driving (Bad Habits)

kburra

kburra

Senior Member
Location
GB
I have noticed over the years when I am in a friends car (back seat) that the driver when talking to someone in the passenger seat,the driver often turns their head to face the that person when conversing,therefore eyes not on the road. Next time you watch a movie or TV series the above is the same in most scenes,why (or are you the same) seems a very dangerous practice to me!
A vehicle traveling at 60 mph covers 88 feet per second. But stopping that vehicle takes over 4.5 seconds and covers a distance of 271 feet. Why? Because there's more involved in braking than the actual time your brakes are applied to the wheels (called "effective braking") so just hope nothing happens in front of you while looking at the person in the passenger seat!
 

That's an important point, and a good reminder, kburra.
I also wonder if many people who are gradually becoming hard-of-hearing, might even increasingly do that, turning toward the passenger,
to attempt to respond to the conversation? :confused:
 

Riding with my late mother driving was always a scary experience. She seemed to regard herself as a tour guide, pointing out things off to the side, her eyes leaving the road, her head turned towards the person she was talking to, and at times with one arm extended and off the wheel to better gesture to points of interest. To this day, I’m annoyed with passengers who expect me when driving to have my eyes on something other than the road… 🙀
 
When someone is riding with me for the first time, I always make an announcement just before I start the engine that I cannot drive and talk at the same time. I can listen, so they're free to rattle on, but don't expect any response from me. That includes looking at them. I never take my eyes off the road.
 
Worse than the driver looking at the passenger when
speaking, which is very bad, I read in the newspaper,
yesterday I think, that in some UK Cities, after accidents,
when drivers are tested to see if they have been drinking
alcohol, the results show that of those impaired by other
things, 75% were under the influence of drugs and 25%
were under the influence of alcohol, they stated that the
worst city was Liverpool.

This is also serious, very, very serious.

Mike.
 
Here in Indiana, we have a law "no cell phone use while driving" while in a car unless it's to 911 for an emergency. They say people can use those things in their ears to talk but keep their hands on the wheel.

If I get a call when driving I do not answer, I let it go to voice mail. I talk to people in my car but I never turn my head to look at them. Some will say "look at that" Nope I keep my eyes straight ahead.

Maybe the ones that are looking at their passengers are getting hard of hearing & they read lips without knowing they do that. I know when in a Dr's office & the nurse or Dr. starts talking to me I have them take down their mask so I can understand them. I don't know if the mask is making them mumble but when they take down the mask I can understand them perfectly. Maybe I'm reading lips & don't know it.
 
Smiley Holly said:
Unless I am going grocery shopping or shopping at the local stores, my husband is the one who does the driving and that is the way I like it. I will say it that he is the much better driver and I and much more content in the passenger seat while he is driving.
Click to expand...
You must be a very nice person, Smiley Holly,
to admit that fact publicly.

Not many women will do that.

Mike.
 
Fyrefox said:
Riding with my late mother driving was always a scary experience. She seemed to regard herself as a tour guide, pointing out things off to the side, her eyes leaving the road, her head turned towards the person she was talking to, and at times with one arm extended and off the wheel to better gesture to points of interest. To this day, I’m annoyed with passengers who expect me when driving to have my eyes on something other than the road… 🙀
Click to expand...
Riding with my husband was scary sometimes. He never got enough sleep and would sometimes doze off while he was behind the wheel, luckily mostly at stop lights. I'd have to say his name real loud or nudge him. :eek:
 
Mike said:
after accidents,
when drivers are tested to see if they have been drinking
alcohol, the results show that of those impaired by other
things, 75% were under the influence of drugs and 25%
were under the influence of alcohol,
Click to expand...

I wonder which drugs this was indicating in that Study. And what parts of the 75%, each type of drug/med was.

Not that it matters for some aspects, because the bad driving is just as dangerous, regardless the cause, and all drugs have potential to effect driving, as do most of the medical conditions, that precipitate some of those drugs, (some of those conditions are worse for driving than the meds)
And, it's important to know that the drinking alcoholic beverages, is a significant issue with driving, but is not the sole problem with driving, (we should take into account drugs as well)

BUT, it might help to inform and educate, if we knew which prescription meds are the worst for driving, and which non-script ones (OTC, and/or 'recreational') were also so predominately at fault (and which are not). That 75% of the accidents occurred involved drugs, as compared with 25% with alcohol. :unsure:o_O
 
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Kaila said:
I wonder which drugs this was indicating in that Study. And what parts of the 75%, each type of drug/med was.

Not that it matters for some aspects, because the bad driving is just as dangerous, regardless the cause, and all drugs have potential to effect driving, as do most of the medical conditions, that precipitate some of those drugs, (some of those conditions are worse for driving than the meds)
And, it's important to know that the drinking alcoholic beverages, is a significant issue with driving, but is not the sole problem with driving, (we should take into account drugs as well)

BUT, it might help to inform and educate, if we knew which prescription meds are the worst for driving, and which non-script ones (OTC, and/or 'recreational') were also so predominately at fault (and which are not). That 75% of the accidents occurred involved drugs, as compared with 25% with alcohol. :unsure:o_O
Click to expand...
Kaila They were not prescription drugs, but what they call recreational
ones, which as far as I know are Cocaine and Heroin, so hard drugs were
detected.

Mike.
 
Talking about bad driving habits, how about those drivers who like to ride your bumper practically! I go the speed limit but also slow down when you're supposed to. Like in a school zone or when the speed limit is less and during bad conditions like rain or a lot of snow falling. I also avoid hitting people crossing the street.

Some divers think those are good opportunities to ride your bumper. I just keep going and hold to the laws. They are annoying at times, though.
 
Mike said:
as far as I know are Cocaine and Heroin, so hard drugs were
detected.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that clarification, Mike.
I find it very confusing to draw any possible conclusion at all, when numerous groupings with large differing things are lumped in together without specifics.
It's significant, for sure, that hard drugs are causing many traffic accidents. Not solely alcohol.
 
Go on youtube to watch videos of stupid drivers there are tons of them all over the world.
 

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