What our driving says about us (conclusion)

It's not the inadequate number of roads or the fact there are too many drivers. It is our brains that provide much of the dysfunction on the highways. Our brains, lack the willpower, to remain focused and process everything that happens on the road. The book Traffic, why we drive the way we do, puts this in perspective. Harmony, has been sharing the information, in this very astute look at ourselves as drivers over the last three weeks post's. This week, we conclude the series and offer a review. However, do to the great response, we will give one last snippet from the book next week that will cover driving abroad. It should be interesting. The author of Traffic, Tom Vanderbilt expands on our opening, by stating "Once we feel we have things under control, we begin to act differently. It doesn't take much to distract a driver, whether it's slowing down to look at a couch dumped by the side of the road or fiddling with the radio." He would mean, it's like riding a bike or taking out the trash. Once learned, it doesn't require our full attention. Therefore, our wandering minds, become otherwise occupied, when we should have our complete concentration on the road and our driving.

Vanderbilt believes, we could learn a lesson, from the New World army ant. For complex systems like highways, to work effectively, we must play by the rules. The army ant, as described by Vanderbilt, is one of the worlds best commuters. "When the ants leave the nest to forage for food, they follow a well defined set of rules" says Vanderbilt. "The ants create a three lane highway. They use the outer two lanes to leave the nest, and the returning ants use the center lane. The secret to their efficiency is that unlike humans, the ants are truly cooperative."
So how do we counter the human traits of terrible drivers? Well, the book gives these tips:

If someone pulls out in front of you- DO NOT "target fixate." Instead, look where you want to go and steer away to avoid the vehicle. This would also apply to intersections with pedestrians and making turns. Look ahead to where your desired action will take you.

Forming your own opinions of what's risky and what's safe- First consider, you are using your own flawed judgment. For example, most drivers believe large trucks are dangerous yet, they drive in an unsafe manner around them.

Choosing to drive when we don't understand why the conditions exist- Why are there more people on the road Saturday at 1pm than during regular rush hours? Simply, affluence breeds traffic. If people feel they have extra money to spend, then they feel they have more choices of places to spend it. Almost half of the grocery trips we make are to markets not close to home.

Assuming certain times are more dangerous than others- As we have mentioned several times at Harmony, statistics show, that morning and evening rush hours are the safest drive times in terms of fatal and non-fatal incidents. Morning rush, being the safest of the two.
(visit our site or attend our course to get more info on this topic)

Believing work zones are more dangerous for workers than the drivers going through them-Actually, drivers are more at risk for incidents due to constricted space, unpredictable traffic flow, poor markings and diversions of attention.

Braking first and steering last-That is the majority of drivers. For some reason drivers will hit the brake and then signal their intention or steer into their intended maneuver, if they steer at all! Even if steering is the ONLY way to avoid an incident.

Harmony would like add, that the book points out safety features, as a contributing factor in our poor driving decisions. We would absolutely agree. Features like the high center-mount, third brake lamp, that has not had the intended impact on safety as once suggested. Other features such as air-bags, seat belts, anti-lock brakes and back-up cameras, have just been an invitation to take even greater risks. Vanderbilt says "We have deemed the rewards of mobility worth the risk" Traffic, detailed in nine chapters and 286 pages, is an enlightening "wake-up call" and a comprehensive look at everyday driving. Harmony will recommend this read to all it's clients and
students. Followers of this blog should also consider checking it out.

Thanks for reading and please think before you make that driving maneuver.