Safe Speed Forums

"What makes me think that I am a safe driver? Well I concentrate very hard on being one - and by that I mean 100% concentration on driving"

Just a quick observation,
The human mind cannot concentrate 100% for any length of time, I cannot remember where I read this, but the time is not long!
10 - 20 minutes comes to mind, before concentration shifts without you perceiving a change, when you become aware of the change, you switch back to what you were observing. Some people can concentrate longer than others on one thing,

Next time you sit and watch TV you can 'see / feel' this mindset in operation,

It would be interesting if any doctors out there could expand in this?

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Brian of Plymouth
When will the government realise , that to err is only human, to be perfect is to be GOD.

Personally I do not see the need for 100% concentration on driving all the time.

When the road is clear and there are no signs of danger ahead it is the perfect time to let the "lizard" take over and relax a little.

The "Lizard" will restore your concentration at the first sign of danger and having rested for a short while you will be able to concentrate on the more difficult parts of the journey (such as towns or cities / animals / other cars / pedestrians on the road etc) without tiring.

For the newer members the "Lizard" is the "Lizard Brain" as discussed at length in another thread - too lazy to find it.

I feel I am a "safe driver" because although I almost always drive quickly and often over the speed limit, sometimes a lot over the limit, I have very rarely had a "moment" while driving on the road. The only times I have had a moment is when driving slower than my comfort speed and becoming bored (VERY rarely but it does happen). In fact the three car accidents I have had were all at or well below the speed limit and were all caused by the other driver (turned against a red light, driving with no headlights and being in a spot where they should not have been - long story).

I always read the road ahead as far as I can see and make changes in my speed / lane selection long before I actually have to thus ensuring a smoother flow and keeping my passengers comfortable.

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Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!

I suppose it all depends on where you are driving as to whether you have time to relax - I am sure that I used to concentrate less, but these days the roads are always packed and you are either in heavy traffic where anything could happen (for me this is typically motorway or urban) - you can of course relax a little bit when stationary, but I find the relaxation quickly turning into wondering why I am stuck in stationary traffic...

And when the concentration is not directly on the actual act of driving or hazard anticipation, it has been forced into looking for artificial hazards such as speed cameras, unmarked traffic police and talivans, or if you are really lucky - the now oh so rare possibility of overtaking. The looking for speed traps takes place even when going below the limit - it is now really engrained.

And on those nice open country roads where the level of traffic is not high enough to to justify the placement of cameras, then I need to concentrate because that is when I can finally give the turbo some exercise

And yes I do notice that I need to take a break after an hour or so, a few minutes standing by the car is normally enough.

Thinking about it, the need for the higher concentration level didn't come about until the roads were swamped in scameras - and this is why I hate both them and other traffic "calming" techniques; they force me to concentrate a lot harder on things that are not connected with safe driving.

Yes, a very large measure of agreement from here on that one.

I try to avoid ever having to do anything in a hurry, and almost invariably that's the way it works.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

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Brian of Plymouth
When will the government realise , that to err is only human, to be perfect is to be GOD.