I just completed an online course to keep a speeding ticket from appearing on my driving record. The course does have its merits and I did learn a few things from it. They explain a lot of rules and go through the common mistakes that people make while driving, but I feel they missed out on something important, Self Analysis. After all, each person should know what kind of mistakes he or she usually makes. Recognizing the pattern and correcting it should be advised by the course. So, here is what I do wrong.
At times, the mind becomes too preoccupied with something that is not connected to driving. I tend to go into an autopilot mode in which I don't proactively look for signs and signals, but just follow the herd i.e. take cues from other cars. When there are no other cars to give cues or at times when they give wrong cues I tend to make mistakes.
E.g in a red signal stop, I was in the right most lane and there was a car in front of me. The driver in that car wanted to turn right when it was sage, but I had to go straight. When that car turned right, I thought it was time to move and drove into the middle of the road before realizing my mistake in alarm. At times, during the night, When there are no other cars stopped in a red signal, I have had difficulty realising that it was a red signal and I needed to stop. I have been inattentive while backing i.e reversing. This is again because, there was no one else doing the same.
The remedy is to never go on this autopilot mode. The conscious mind should always be actively thinking about driving safety. My mind shouldn't get carried away by the music, it shouldn't be worried about work, it shouldn't be trying to solve any problems. It should be present right there on the road, clear and calm. All perception, no thoughts.. Is this what they call "No Mind"?
E.g in a red signal stop, I was in the right most lane and there was a car in front of me. The driver in that car wanted to turn right when it was sage, but I had to go straight. When that car turned right, I thought it was time to move and drove into the middle of the road before realizing my mistake in alarm. At times, during the night, When there are no other cars stopped in a red signal, I have had difficulty realising that it was a red signal and I needed to stop. I have been inattentive while backing i.e reversing. This is again because, there was no one else doing the same.
The remedy is to never go on this autopilot mode. The conscious mind should always be actively thinking about driving safety. My mind shouldn't get carried away by the music, it shouldn't be worried about work, it shouldn't be trying to solve any problems. It should be present right there on the road, clear and calm. All perception, no thoughts.. Is this what they call "No Mind"?
11 comments:
Rats.. rear-ended another car. Was at a red light waiting to turn right with another car in front of me. That car started moving ahead. Seeing this, I made a check, i.e turned left to see if there were any cars in the other road and stepped on the gas pedal.
The car ahead of me had stopped, and I crashed into it. Luckily, there was no major damage.
Solution: Make the check i.e turn left to see if there are other cars but always look ahead before speeding/ giving gas. That way you'll know if the car in front of you stopped..
See where you are going..
Almost drove into a red light again...No autopilot.. drive safe moron..
was waiting to turn left..almost mistook a green to go straight for my green..
Almost drove into the freeway barrier/ shoulder.. was trying to reach for the phone in storage compartment..
Don't handle the phone while driving.. use the vehicle's built in handsfree
Interesting Situation:
- Was waiting at a red light, a pedestrian was crossing
- Started fiddling with Sync and Ipod
- The pedestrian crossed the street and there was no perpendicular traffic.
- somehow took the pedestrian completing the walk as a cue to continue and proceeded.
- came to screeching halt in a sec after being warned by roomie
Moral of story: Distracted mind takes wrong cues and doesn't process them correctly.
NEVER WRESTLE WITH A MALFUNCTIONING/STUCK ELECTRONIC DEVICE UNLESS IN PARKED GEAR. NOT EVEN WHILE STOPPED.
Know this by heart and use it Sync notes
NEVER try to get the device in your hand and see what's happening while driving. Ignore the problem, come to a stop, then investigate..
went through a red light..didn't know the way.. was trying to read the freeway entry signs and missed the red traffic signal.. came to a screeching halt..
Seem to have problems with lane changing on right side
1. Evening, central expressway near bowers
2. On san tomas, with beetle
3, On san tomas , with old guy in military uniform
1. Check blindspots better
2. verfiy if you blindspot light is working fine
Checked the blind spot sensors:
1. working fine.
2. They don't activate while driving past parked vehicles
3. The activate both while you overtake and while you are overtaken..
4. The lights come on only when the other vehicle is actually in the blindspot. So, it means it could be unsafe to switch lanes when the light is off. The bogey could be close by.
5. When the bogey is overtaking very fast, the lights come on pretty fast
Keep testing this over the week.
super scary, was driving on the freeway with headlights turned off..
When you take the car for servicing, they turn it off, didn't realize it.
since the daylight hours are long in summer, didn't notice that the headlights are off. If the instrument panel is not backlit, then headlights are off
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