Distracted by Distractions

First of all, if you’re reading this article while driving… stop it.  Secondly, although texting and phone calls have gotten quite a bit of attention when the topic of distracted driving comes up, it seems that there are other things that can take your eyes off the road.

A new study shows that parents are at risk of distracted driving because of the simple fact that their kids are in the car with them.  Australian researchers found that in a 16 minute trip, the average parent takes his or her eyes off the main job of driving for a total of three minutes and 22 seconds.  In fact, babies in the car can be eight times as distracting as just having an adult sitting next to you.

This bundle of joy is a HUGE distraction!

While it’s not practical to NOT have your kids in the car, it’s also impossible to leave home the other thing that has been cited.  Your own daydreaming brain.  

According to Erie Insurance Group, 62 percent of the crashes that were caused by distracted driving can be attributed to people being lost in thought.  Daydreaming. 

Distracted driving is a pretty serious problem, and the more buttons, lights, sounds, and devices that are put into are cars, the bigger the problem seems to get.  Despite all the technology that is out there, it’s important to remember your number one job while driving… is to drive.

The Driverless Car

It was bound to happen at some point – you need a ride, don’t feel like driving or maybe you have been drinking and shouldn’t. No worries, you have an automated car! Hop in the passenger seat and let the robot drive you home!

The Lexus equipped to be driverless

Toyota and Audi this week introduced the driverless car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Toyota says the technology is similar to Google's with the use of electronics, but that "the Google focus is on software mapping, that's what they're really good at. Toyota focuses on safety programs and more integrated programs", says Jim Pisz, corporate manager at Toyota North America.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-01-driverless-car-concept-gains-traction.html#jCp

While letting the car drive itself is in the not-so-distant future (none of the makers of the auto-car will let it go on the road on its own but some states have passed laws allowing that to occur), the electronics used on these cars are what is interesting to those of us who fix cars for a living. There are already sensors that let you know when your car might need a tune-up. But this technology can possibly prevent accidents by realizing potential danger seconds before the human driver does. We all get distracted on the road. Now, you will have a co-pilot who will be keeping a close “eye” on what’s going and keep you safe when you decide to answer your cell phone!

While this is really interesting stuff, we aren’t too worried about auto mechanics becoming extinct like the dinosaurs. We still need to help people with their maintenance and other issues. Hopefully, those robots are a century or two away!