texting while driving

[d A n i]

SRM - I've never veered into another lane. I can actually control my car. My "near accidents" are other people veering into mine, or pulling out infront of me while they think they have enough time but don't because they're idiots who can't drive and have absolutely shit depth perception. I'll say it again, I know my limitations when driving, and I don't do anything overly stupid. Who even bothered to take in that I said that I rarely ever text anymore while driving and when I do it's during a red light. Everyone's so quick to attack.

[Dustwave]

Originally Posted by d A n i

My "near accidents" are other people veering into mine, or pulling out infront of me while they think they have enough time but don't because they're idiots who can't drive and have absolutely shit depth perception.

Fact remains that you have many near accident situations. Even with the large number of idiotic drivers on the road that's not normal. They may be the ones to initiate a certain dangerous situation, but if you pay attention you can prevent even being in a situation that could potentially become a near accident.

Originally Posted by d A n i

I can actually control my car.

...

I know my limitations when driving

Don't get this the wrong way, but...you've been driving for two years. Unless you've done serious mileage in those two years i don't believe you really know your limitations. You may think you do but few people actually do. Knowing your limitations and real car control come with experience. For most people many years if not decades of experience.

[StarkRavinMad]

Originally Posted by Dustwave

Fact remains that you have many near accident situations. Even with the large number of idiotic drivers on the road that's not normal. They may be the ones to initiate a certain dangerous situation, but if you pay attention you can prevent even being in a situation that could potentially become a near accident.

Exactly. Recognizing the potential for stupid behavior and acting accordingly prior to the idiot making his move is the key to successful driving on public roads. Car control (in terms of what you need for public roads) is easily mastered. A 6 year old can keep a car going in a straight line given a little practice. If you are aware of what's going on around you, you have little need for anything more than remedial car control. Situational awareness comes with experience, and paying attention.

[Dustwave]

Originally Posted by StarkRavinMad

Exactly. Recognizing the potential for stupid behavior and acting accordingly prior to the idiot making his move is the key to successful driving on public roads. Car control (in terms of what you need for public roads) is easily mastered. A 6 year old can keep a car going in a straight line given a little practice. If you are aware of what's going on around you, you have little need for anything more than remedial car control. Situational awareness comes with experience, and paying attention.

Couldn't have said it better. +1000

[d A n i]

Firstly, how would I prevent a near accident? The fact that it's a "near-accident" means that the accident was prevented. One second makes a difference, if I didn't pay attention when driving I probably wouldn't be here to type this at the moment. I can't make a person not do something stupid just because I'm paying attention, it's them who's lack of attention leads to a stupid act. I've prevented several accidents by paying attention to drivers around me and predicting their moves and then acting accordingly, but when you're driving 100km/h and a person decides to change into your lane without indicating or looking to see if there's actually a car there, then there's not much you can do. I've been in this situation on a bridge before where the lane I was in was right up against the edge of the bridge, what would you do in that situation? swerve into a river?

Secondly, I'm not sure whether my "mileage" will satisfy you but I've driven in more than just Melbourne. My last holiday to Macedonia I was the designated driver. I know I'm a better driver for that experience. I've learnt to pay more attention to the road cause people in Macedonia drive like crazyyy. Try passing another car going in the opposite direction on a road that's no more than 3 meters in width while trying to avoid pot holes and falling off the edge of the road into someones crops, with a car that's unfamiliar and larger than the one I drive at home, on a road where you depend entirely on your headlights because it's all open country, in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road, with maniacs who drive more than double the speed limit on EVERY road. Let alone when you meet a massive harvester because the majority of the country is farmland. Not to mention roundabouts on the opposite side of the road, WHAT THE HELLL!!?!?! Fair enough, Macedonia is a small country, but I've literally driven from one end of Macedonia to the other. And I did it without ANY accidents or near accidents with less than a year and a half of driving experience (I don't count my 2 years of Learner's).

I'm sorry, you guys are those typical older drivers who complain about younger, newer drivers; the reason we've been getting new laws in regards to passenger restriction in P-plated drivers and a minimum number of logged hours for L-plated drivers and all that other new crap. Fact is, once people have 10 years of experience or however many you may all boast about having, is when those drivers think their "experience" means that they're actually good drivers, which isn't the case in many. In saying this, I'm not saying that older drivers are worse than younger drivers, I'm not saying this at all, I'd just like to point out that once people have those years of experience they get cocky.
As a new driver, I was no doubt safer than those older drivers (like my mother!!) because I didn't assume that my having a licence meant that I was a good driver. I discovered this fact by watching other drivers on the road while I was driving and watching my friends and family when they drive.

And thus, I have discovered that I can safely text while driving, because when I do text, I pay even more attention to the road than I would if I wasn't texting to compensate for the fact that I'm doing something that's potentially very distracting. Fact is, when I text I spend a fraction of a second (with only a fraction of my attention) focused on the phone and then a good while on the road with my FULL attention. If I was, say, listening to music, I would be singing along, and paying more attention to the music and my singing than the road.

Do with this post what you will.

[StarkRavinMad]

Neither Dustwave nor I said that older drivers are good drivers. By definition, most drivers are average, but they all think they are above average or better. What we both have said, if not directly, is that experience is a prerequisite for being a good driver, but you also have to constantly apply what you've learned. The fact that you've learned that people will swerve into your lane without signalling and that fractions of a second count means you have some experience, the fact that you refuse to apply that knowledge means you can't claim to be a good driver. I don't care if it's Michael Schumacher behind the wheel, if he's not paying attention to the road at the moment evasive action has to be taken, he will be in an accident.

Originally Posted by d A n i

And thus, I have discovered that I can safely text while driving, because when I do text, I pay even more attention to the road than I would if I wasn't texting to compensate for the fact that I'm doing something that's potentially very distracting. Fact is, when I text I spend a fraction of a second (with only a fraction of my attention) focused on the phone and then a good while on the road with my FULL attention. If I was, say, listening to music, I would be singing along, and paying more attention to the music and my singing than the road.

That is called rationalization. You can't split your attention between 2 things and claim to be paying more attention to either of them. Until you stop texting while driving, you are NOT a good driver, you are a hazard, and your time will come.

[HudsonHawk]

Originally Posted by d A n i

And thus, I have discovered that I can safely text while driving, because when I do text, I pay even more attention to the road than I would if I wasn't texting to compensate for the fact that I'm doing something that's potentially very distracting. Fact is, when I text I spend a fraction of a second (with only a fraction of my attention) focused on the phone and then a good while on the road with my FULL attention. If I was, say, listening to music, I would be singing along, and paying more attention to the music and my singing than the road.

Do with this post what you will.

All this is saying that you're not paying enough attention to begin with. Also I'm aware that young ladies are extremely proficient at texting, but fraction of a second, really?

[Dustwave]

Originally Posted by d A n i

Firstly, how would I prevent a near accident?

By observing the traffic around you and anticipating what they are going to do!

Originally Posted by d A n i

but when you're driving 100km/h and a person decides to change into your lane without indicating or looking to see if there's actually a car there, then there's not much you can do.

And that's where you go wrong. Most times you CAN see it coming if you pay attention to the right things. Look ahead, way ahead, and see situations coming where another car MIGHT have a reason to change into your lane and then decide whether it's likely or not based on their driving behaviour etc and your experience. If a car is nearing a situation where they either have to slow down or overtake and you are approaching significantly faster, just slow down and take the sure way!

I drive a hell of a lot, every day, very often at high speeds. My personal rule is not to overtake at over 250kmh because i know how much time and distance i need to slow down or come to a full stop if necessary. I've had grannies move into my lane at 70 while i was approaching at 340kmh, i've learned my lesson and i've learned to take no chances. If there's any doubt about what a car might do, assume it'll move into your lane.

Originally Posted by d A n i

I've been in this situation on a bridge before where the lane I was in was right up against the edge of the bridge, what would you do in that situation? swerve into a river?

I would have kept my distance so the situation wouldn't have existed in the first place.

Originally Posted by d A n i

I'm sorry, you guys are those typical older drivers who complain about younger, newer drivers

hahah typical older drivers. Actually Dani, i'm 23, i've got my race license, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of experience both on public roads and on the racetrack in cars from normal everyday sedans to supercars and pure track machines. I'm everything but the typical old driver. Most drivers just really do drive like complete idiots, and not just young drivers.

Originally Posted by d A n i

Fact is, once people have 10 years of experience or however many you may all boast about having, is when those drivers think their "experience" means that they're actually good drivers, which isn't the case in many.

Who said so? Not us. Definitely not.

Originally Posted by d A n i

And thus, I have discovered that I can safely text while driving, because when I do text, I pay even more attention to the road than I would if I wasn't texting to compensate for the fact that I'm doing something that's potentially very distracting.

Contradictio in terminus.

[StarkRavinMad]

Originally Posted by d A n i

I've prevented several accidents by paying attention to drivers around me and predicting their moves and then acting accordingly, but when you're driving 100km/h and a person decides to change into your lane without indicating or looking to see if there's actually a car there, then there's not much you can do. I've been in this situation on a bridge before where the lane I was in was right up against the edge of the bridge, what would you do in that situation? swerve into a river?

There is a very simple solution to this that guarantees you won't ever have a problem. Don't drive next to another car at the same speed. Either speed up or slow down just long enough so that the other car(s) are either behind you or far enough in front of you that they can make whatever dramatic moves they want into you lane.

Originally Posted by Dustwave

I drive a hell of a lot, every day, very often at high speeds. My personal rule is not to overtake at over 250kmh because i know how much time and distance i need to slow down or come to a full stop if necessary. I've had grannies move into my lane at 70 while i was approaching at 340kmh, i've learned my lesson and i've learned to take no chances. If there's any doubt about what a car might do, assume it'll move into your lane.

This actually speaks to something else people don't do enough at highway speeds...pay attention to what's coming up behind you. If you see someone coming up fast in an adjacent lane make sure to leave enough room in front of you that they'll be able to get into your lane if they need to. Yeah it's dangerous for them to be approaching that fast, but better to give them an escape route than to have them rear-end the car next to you at highway speeds.

[Xyz_39808]

Why can't I just accellerate to the same spot the adjacent blocking car would be and give a big ol' F U YOU DON'T OWN THIS ROAD to the overly fast approaching car

But yeah, profiling really will save your arse. No if I could just do something about my total lack of depth perception...

[Observerward]

Originally Posted by Kavz

Luckily nobody thought of sexting while driving... yet

[ArmySniperDan]

Originally Posted by DJ Xenomorph

[]

A parody of the first video. I was in tears.

soo wrong, but soo funny, this should be on Tosh.0

[ChipperJones]

Google VOICE - FTW

[AtlantaRaveNet]

I always almost cause an accident when I text and drive. Even if everything stays safe or nobody's around, it still tends to stress me out and make me nervous.

Don't like it.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Nuggs

Texting while driving pisses me off like no other.

Same with me!!!

People are quite stuipid for sure!!