On 29 Mar 2009 14:37:37 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>Point.  But even sleeping separately while driving can cause automobile 
>accidents. :-)
>

Very True :-)

>>>Well, I'd say that *some* people are really bad at judging low-risk
>>>activities.  But why penalize the rest of us for it?
>>>
>> Because everyone thinks that they are the exception.
>
>80% of drivers think they're above average.  What scares me about that 
>statistic is that 20% think they're below average and they're still on 
>the roads.
>

Average? 
Besides that not being above average does not mean being below average. And even
if you think that you are below average that does not mean that you should not
be allowed to drive or 50% of drivers would loose their licences. Then 50% of
the remainder would be below the new average u.s.w.

>> "tend to get off the phone" Does that mean that sometimes you don't?
>
>Depends on the route I'm driving and how busy the road is.  I usually get 
>to the city after rush hour is over, so the surface streets are not all 
>that busy.  I also use a headset, both hands on the wheel at all times.
>

Better than using a handset, I admit, but your concentration is still not 100%
on the road IMO.

>> Have you ever heard anyone saying "I drive better after a couple of
>> drinks"?
>
>I have, and I think it's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard - 
>and I generally will tell people who say that exactly that.
>

Me too.

>That said, a good friend of mine (who lost his license as a result of the 
>incident) ended up with a shattered ankle after a head-on collision.  He 
>was over the legal limit, and the other driver died in the accident.  But 
>being the freak he is, it was 100% the other guy's fault - the other car 
>was over the centre line on a long curve and there's no way my friend 
>could've avoided hitting him.
>
>The constables on the scene - as well as the dead driver's family - felt 
>badly for him because his license was suspended.
>

I suppose that you had to be there.

>The guess is that the main reason he didn't die in the accident was 
>because he was relaxed as a result of the alcohol.  If he hadn't had a 
>few pints ahead of time, his injuries would probably have been more 
>severe or he might've died.

From my understanding of the way alcohol relaxes you he must have been blotto
then. That does not add up. If he was so relaxed then he would not have been
able to react swiftly and correctly. I presume that he was wearing a seatbelt
and in a safe car to escape serious injury.

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message