4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Ygerna]

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/drive-smart/article/587/

 

Personally, I am not keen on the idea, as someone who has a sat nav, which makes a very loud 'Bing! Bing! Bing! sound to tell me I am breaking the speed limit for the road I am on, I am often frustrated to realise that actually I am NOT breaking the limit for the road I am using but the one of the road that runs either parallel, such as at off ramps of 'A' roads (we live near the A3) or at underpasses when it registers the road overhead. If the car were fitted with one of these devices it would be forever slowing down, then speeding up unnecessarily throwing my fuel consumption into scary zones and of course the general flow of traffic would be hindered.

[majorbloodnock]

Ouch. That article misses possibly the most important point; driver concentration.

 

Cars already come with cruise control so drivers don't have to worry about speeding up unconsciously, automatic wipers so they can ignore that it's raining, satellite navigation so they can ignore direction signs (and tend to ignore width restrictions, height restrictions, signs denoting access only and a whole host of others), light sensors in case they forget it's night time and proximity sensors so they don't have to remember how big their car is.

 

Theoretically, that should mean they've more time to devote to concentrating on their driving. Yeah, right.

 

In practice, many drivers (not all, I hasten to add) simply pay less attention, relying on the car and other drivers to keep them out of trouble. Speed doesn't kill so much as its inappropriate application (sometimes too slow as well as to fast for the prevailing conditions), and speed is usually inappropriately used because the driver isn't paying proper attention.

 

Until technology is sufficiently advanced to take over driving completely, technology will not be the answer to road safety. The only thing that will dramatically reduce road deaths and injuries is a cultural change (when the default attitude is that bad driving is socially unacceptable) combined with better enforcement (letting the police concentrate on driving that's likely to be dangerous rather than lawbreaking from which it's easy to get a conviction).

 

All IMHO, of course....

[Ygerna]

I have to agree with your honest opinion, makes total sense.

 

I've always said that the key to being safe on the road is not more air bags but a wacking great big spike in the centre of the stearing wheel. That would keep peoples concentration on the road and not their mobiles, maps, crisps, drinks, stereo....

[The Dogmother]

Don't start me on a rant...

 

In a recent experiment in Europe (can't remember exactly which country) they removed all road markings.

 

Drastic I know, but it slowed people down no end and dragged their attention right back to the road and other drivers. One side effect was that they were all more courteous and let people out/take turne.

[Lesley]

We have a couple of roads nearby where satnav 'bings' because of the parallel residential road.

 

That was Holland, Clare - and they are more courteous there......can you imagine it here? one massive pile up at every crossroads

 

Mind you..... might be a way of getting club cyclists off narrow rural roads - sorry, that's a different rant........

[Couperman]

Don't like the sound of that! not that I am a fan of the government money spinning cameras.

 

Sometimes it is necessary to temporarily break the speed limit to overtake or get out of a dangerous situation, slowing down isn't always the best option.

 

I am sick and tired of interfering busy bodies telling us what to do, what to eat, what to drink and where. Why can't this bunch of wet ninnies leave us alone?

 

Best go now I am starting to sound like Jeremy Clarkson

 

Kev.