Are you distracted?

[SeaCat]

This morning we had an accident on the road out front of my place. A car rear ended a Garbage truck. (I was sitting on the patio and heard the crash. I was able to hear the conversation between the driver and the cop.) The driver said he didn't notice the truck.

The other day a car pulled into a line of bikes. It pulled in halfway through the pack. Two bikers were wiped out and shipped to the hospital. The driver said he didn't see the bikes.

A week ago we had a car go through the barricades then end up in a ditch in the local highway. (Just missing several workers.) She didn't see the contruction zone.

A little over a week ago we had a car with two people end up in a canal. Both got out alive. The driver didn't see the curve.

North of me a car pulled out onto a main road and was hit by two cars at 50 MPH. He didn't see them coming even though the intersection was clear of obstructions.

In the first accident a newspaper was found open in the front seat.
In the second accident witnesses saw the driver using his cell phone.
In the third there was nothing solid pointed at, but the drivers clothing was in a state of disarray.
In the fourth there was a cell phone found open and on on the floor boards of the car.

None of the drivers acknowledged they were distracted. They claimed they were excellent drivers and were doing nothing wrong.

Now all of us are guilty of not concentrating on our driing. I am guilty of it. I smoke. I drink my coffee. I eat. Yet how far do you push it?

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

I don't drive. I know how easily I can become distracted.

 

[Missdemeanour]

This morning we had an accident on the road out front of my place. A car rear ended a Garbage truck. (I was sitting on the patio and heard the crash. I was able to hear the conversation between the driver and the cop.) The driver said he didn't notice the truck.

The other day a car pulled into a line of bikes. It pulled in halfway through the pack. Two bikers were wiped out and shipped to the hospital. The driver said he didn't see the bikes.

A week ago we had a car go through the barricades then end up in a ditch in the local highway. (Just missing several workers.) She didn't see the contruction zone.

A little over a week ago we had a car with two people end up in a canal. Both got out alive. The driver didn't see the curve.

North of me a car pulled out onto a main road and was hit by two cars at 50 MPH. He didn't see them coming even though the intersection was clear of obstructions.

In the first accident a newspaper was found open in the front seat.
In the second accident witnesses saw the driver using his cell phone.
In the third there was nothing solid pointed at, but the drivers clothing was in a state of disarray.
In the fourth there was a cell phone found open and on on the floor boards of the car.

None of the drivers acknowledged they were distracted. They claimed they were excellent drivers and were doing nothing wrong.

Now all of us are guilty of not concentrating on our driing. I am guilty of it. I smoke. I drink my coffee. I eat. Yet how far do you push it?

Cat

This is out of context but thought I'd tell it anyway..

I once rear ended a stationary car waiting to turn. I saw it, I knew I needed to stop but left it too late, no distractions. Luckily no one was hurt. The car in front was barely scuffed however the front of mine was damaged. I put my car in for repair and had a leased car. 10 days later I while still using the leased car I was waiting to turn at the exact same place I had rear ended someone and lo and behold the same thing happened to me!!

The look on the guys face when I drove in ANOTHER wreck was priceless lol

 

[glynndah]

The trouble is you never know how distracted you really are until you're made aware of it. If you're lucky, it's just honking from the other cars, but sometimes it's a crash.

 

[starrkers]

As far as I'm concerned "I didn't see it" should be grounds for automatic removal of licence, testing of eyesight and driving ability before reinstatement.

But then, I've seen a woman drive a small car into the side of a semi-trailer loaded with four decks of sheep, bounce off and drive into it again, because she didn't see it.

 

[rgraham666]

As far as I'm concerned "I didn't see it" should be grounds for automatic removal of licence, testing of eyesight and driving ability before reinstatement.

But then, I've seen a woman drive a small car into the side of a semi-trailer loaded with four decks of sheep, bounce off and drive into it again, because she didn't see it.

What? The air bag going off in her face didn't tip her off?

 

[Missdemeanour]

As far as I'm concerned "I didn't see it" should be grounds for automatic removal of licence, testing of eyesight and driving ability before reinstatement.

But then, I've seen a woman drive a small car into the side of a semi-trailer loaded with four decks of sheep, bounce off and drive into it again, because she didn't see it.

So me SEEING it and STILL hitting it should mean i lose mine for life!!! lol

 

[TheeGoatPig]

When I was younger there was a movement to ban double long and tripple long semi trailer trucks. People were afraid of changing lanes and hitting the second or third trailer, as if they couldn't look to the side of their car and double check that the truck and all of its trailers had fully passed them.

Morons...

And I have been hit by the woman that claimed she didn't see me as she was pulling out of a stop sign. This was before the popularity fo cell phones though, so I can't really blame anything but her directly. Stupid bitch...

 

[buxxxom]

I am a magnet for bad drivers and deer. I have been hit by an 87 year old gentleman who couldn't remember his name nor where he was going, by a 16 year old in a car she "borrowed" from her neighbors, and more deer than Santa has in his stable.

I know my limits. I'm a safer driver because of it. I'm a good driver, but a terrible navigator.

I'll drink and snack, and yes, I'll answer my cell phone if it's relatively safe to do so; never know when it might be one of my kids needing me. I won't make a call unless I'm pulled over, though.

Yesterday, I followed the paper carrier on part of his route. He was alone in the car and was stuffing the plastic bags, driving, and throwing them at the target houses. He crossed the center line at least 5 times, and ran off the road at least that many. Scary.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

CAT

What you report is common. Almost every fool driver I see has a cell phone stuck in his ear, oblivious to anything else. Missing a garbage truck must be a new record for unplugged.

 

[McKenna]

I don't use my cell phone while driving unless I have my handsfree set attached. I just don't. The U.S. is FAR behind other countries in mandating the use of handsfree sets. It's deplorable.

I push the distraction limit by drinking my water, or eating a breakfast bar. I hate to be distracted while driving because one never knows when the next cell phone idiot will wander into my lane and I'll have to perform evasive maneuvers.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Some ass in a huge Suburban didn't see my Big Black Car...the only one coming down the street and just decided to pull out of the grocery store at me...now I have no brakes in my car.

 

[Guest]

I used to get into this mindless set of mind where the driving becomes automatic...but now I am getting the pilot's license, it does not happen anymore.

I don't agree about cell phones being the problem though. People who take their minds off the road to talk on a phone, will do other things which are also dangerous.

One of the latest trends here is people FLOSSING while waiting on traffic. How sick is that?

Maharat