Drivers can easily get distracted
There’s nothing better than taking to the open road, letting the wind blow through your hair, left alone with your thoughts. Ah yes, driving can be an absolute pleasure. It’s when you introduce other people into the mix that it can become less delightful.
Distraction has been big in car news lately. Perhaps unsurprisingly, interference from back seat drivers causes traffic accidents. Those transporting passengers with a ‘Hyacinth Bouquet-esque’ demeanour, telling drivers to “mind the pothole” or “watch out for that cyclist” are more likely to experience confidence-shaking incidents and near misses, than those driving alone.
It would appear that the wailing, jumping, screaming and continued commentary from passengers contributes to a cavalcade of traffic accidents. Admittedly, applying make up, reading maps and fiddling with the radio; all tasks that can be carried out solo, cause accidents too, but it would appear being distracted by others is a huge danger.
No one group forces a motorist’s eye off the road more than children. Driving a baby around is pretty simple. Yes, they may cry, but at least they can’t climb out of the car seat. Not so the adventurous toddlers, some of whom need to be restrained by other means to keep them safely in their seats.
The situation worsens when they find their voice. Motorists suffer from screaming tantrums, fights with siblings, requests for the toilet and that eternal question: “are we there yet?” How many times did your parents threaten to pull the car over? Driving with children most certainly detracts from the pleasurable aspects of motoring.
Of course, even when you are happily driving alone, you have no control over other motorists. While efforts are being made to clamp down on aggressive, boy racer behaviour, finding yourself almost intimate with the car behind is most disconcerting.
Then there’s the irresponsible people who are steering round corners and roundabouts with one hand while the other is clamped to their mobile phone, a sight that aggrieves many. Plus, have you ever noticed that no matter what time of the day or night it is, you always seem to end up trapped behind a caravan on a winding, country road?
The key to maintaining a love of driving, of course, is to manage your temper through all of these scenarios. Let bad drivers overtake and get far away from you. Do pull over to stop warring children. Try and adopt a ‘smile and nod’ approach to back seat drivers. After all, this is your car and you are behind the wheel.
Relatted posts
