Have you ever heard of a driver that ended up in the ditch? Or drivers who ignore the red “X” on smart highways? Why would a driver deliberately put themselves in a bad situation? Maybe blindly following a sat-nav?
Satellite navigation problems
Why do these things happen? Imagine you are driving somewhere new. You don’t remember where they are and have no idea how to get there, so you use your GPS in the hopes of a smooth journey. You faithfully follow the directions and find yourself in a field, stopping at a pond. This is not the place where your friend lives. What is going on?
Even something as fast and accurate as satellite navigation can make mistakes. It’s possible that something looks wrong. Don’t look at the screen for too long. Instead, continue to scan the road ahead, and listen and feel the sounds and sights.
Ignore signs
People will do that. There will always be someone who believes that the rules do not apply to them. The attitude isn’t the only thing that matters. Sometimes, the driver doesn’t see signs. They look at them but they don’t understand the meaning. This is especially dangerous for road workers who depend on drivers to be alert and follow emergency signs and notice the reflective livery. Find out more about Chapter 8 chevrons by visiting www.pvluk.com/chapter-8-chevrons/
The wrong direction
Imagine a card magician. A magician will use a distraction in order to draw the attention of the audience to one hand, while the other is left unnoticed.
Many people’s perceptions of danger are influenced by the idea that something could be “hidden in plain view”. We sometimes drive badly because we are unable to process information due to factors like speed, traffic, attitude, interference, and fatigue. It may not be that there are card magicians before us, but we can divert our focus from the road by focusing on other things.
To overcome this problem, you must stay alert and take sensible precautions. Pull over to a safe area and rest if you are feeling tired. Switch off the radio if you find yourself listening to it more than you’re paying attention on the road. If you fail to notice a sign, you may not be aware of a queue until you encounter it. Continue to scan in front and around your car, as this will give you the information you need to anticipate any danger.