How dangerous of a driver are you?

[groar]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

The phone question is a bit unfair. I do use a bluetooth device integrated into my radio. It's not like I have my phone in hand while leaning on the door frame.

Last French & European studies has shown that phoning with phone in hand multiplies by 5 the accident risk. With hand less systems, whatever king of it (bluetooth ear or bluetooth through radio), the accident risk is multiplied by 4.

Personally I let it on vibration all day long and I put it far from me when I drive. If I have to drive a long trip then I switch it on ringing so I know than I have to stop at next area to consult my messages.

Now I regularly interact with my (GPS) navigator and (too) often look at iMPG, speed, RPM...

Denis.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by groar

Last French & European studies has shown that phoning with phone in hand multiplies by 5 the accident risk. With hand less systems, whatever king of it (bluetooth ear or bluetooth through radio), the accident risk is multiplied by 4.

Personally I let it on vibration all day long and I put it far from me when I drive. If I have to drive a long trip then I switch it on ringing so I know than I have to stop at next area to consult my messages.

Now I regularly interact with my (GPS) navigator and (too) often look at iMPG, speed, RPM...

Denis.

Ay... must... avoid... flamewar...

Okay, what kind of tests did they do? The tests I've seen done are not realistic. They typically place you in a simulated driving situation where you're right off the bumper in front of you, and require you to maintain a high level of concentration on the phone conversation while testing your response time.

In reality, most people who recognize the possibility of risk will be more alert, keep a greater distance, ignore the conversation if a risky situation presents itself, and generally being more vigilant than the guy doing 65 and running on "autopilot", or, God forbid, eating and fiddling with the stereo.

In the past year, I've witnessed two serious rearenders on the freeways. In both cases, I was on the phone (Bluetooth), and in both cases I saw the crash coming 10-15 seconds ahead and was able to slow down and change lanes way in advance of any danger. (In one crash, the guy didn't notice that the traffic was stopping, and in the other, a guy plowed into a broken down car in the fast lane.)

And, yes, I've recognized where a situation was too dangerous to hold a conversation at all (fog, heavy rain, etc.), and didn't drive while on the phone in those situations. I also turned off the radio.

[Nevyn]

Originally Posted by Clev

And, yes, I've recognized where a situation was too dangerous to hold a conversation at all (fog, heavy rain, etc.), and didn't drive while on the phone in those situations. I also turned off the radio.

Agreed. If I'm in low-speed traffic, I'll sometimes also crack a window a little bit, so that I can hear sounds from outside the car better as well - things like approaching sirens and such.

[groar]

Originally Posted by Clev

Ay... must... avoid... flamewar...

Sorry if anybody interpreted my message as such. I didn't wanted that. I was also confessing that I can have dangerous behavior myself...

Very little can distract myself so I decided to never use a phone when I'm driving. This is what I was attempting to express. I'm also only earing the radio/music, not listening to it, this is why I never listen to talking shows while driving. The only moments I'm listening to the radio is during traffic flash (2 minutes every half hour) on highways (a dozen times per year). This is why I have to pause during 1/4 hour every 2 hours when I'm driving so long.

Once I was driving one people and after a while I totally "disconnected" from him. He counted loudly up to 200 before I realized what he was doing...

Denis.

[Doofus McFancypants]

90% -

fun little quiz - probably show people who do not even thing about what they are doing and how it impoacts safety.

I have sent a like to several frends with the idea - This is totally subjective - but it makes you think about what ACTUALLY COULD impact your driving.

[TomO]

95% Woot. I've been driving since I was 13, now I'm 30. Taken many HPDC (High Performance Driving Classes) and I autocross to this day.

I did have my stupid teenage year stunts though. Glad I made it through that.

[MetroMPG]

92%. Fun quiz, but too many "it depends" situations.

Originally Posted by Clev

In reality, most people who recognize the possibility of risk will be more alert, keep a greater distance, ignore the conversation if a risky situation presents itself, and generally being more vigilant

Agreed. However I think that most (?) drivers aren't good at risk assessment!

[wagonman76]

Another thing that relates to radio/cds, or other things. If I am going to change a station, or take a drink of pop, adjust the heater, etc.. Ill wait till theres a clearing in traffic. I wont do it when I got a zoo of cars around me or coming at me. Some people do those things absolutely whenever, and might lead to more risk for accidents.

[i_am_socket]

I've literally yelled at people driving me around who fiddle with everything too much. Leave the radio alone. Can't find what you want? Turn it off. I think it has something to do with receding attention spans and a constant need for entertainment. Oy.

I think I scored a 92%
I scored a 44% (that's passing?!) using answers I'd give when I first started driving.

One study I've seen on attention and driving was on a tiny coned off course and the driver was asked to do ridiculous things like alphabetize the cd collection. Some tests make sense and have applicable findings. Others..... not so much.

[atomicradish]

I scored a 59%.

I didn't like some of the questions. Particularly, "do you feel like other drivers around you are going to slow". Just because I feel like other people are going too slow doesn't mean I'm actually going to drive aggressively to get around them. Even stranger is that question deducted more from my score than having driven intoxicated.