Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 at 19:35
I can not agree that either sat nav or cruse controll are bad things.
The problem lies with the fact that there is no specific or required
training for either, and there is no public safety information circulated or published about them.
I learned about GPS in a marine environment where it is
well known a publicised that you must know where you are going and what you should be independednt of the GPS.....
I do use an incar GPS, but I almost always look in a paper directory first......
If correctly operated, once the destination is selected there should be little need to touch the GPS in a car......in unfamiliar areas the line guidance can be very helpfull and reduce confusion and indecision.
In a heavy vehicle, you can not depend on the GPS taking you the best way......but if it saves you from missing a single turn in a day......it can realy make your day and save you a hell of a lot of frustration and fatigue.
BUT the issue is dependence........if you know what you should be doing and more or less where you are going......they can be a very profitable AID.
The issue is very similar with cruse controll........thay can allow a fatigued
driver to contiune longer than they should......but the managing of fatigue is a seperate issue.
If used wisely and where appropriate, they can reduce fatigue considerably....the
driver can then concentrate on doing propper observations.
Those observations will then prompt the
driver to switch in and out of cruse controll and make fine adjustments to regulate following distances and the like.
Again if used wisely cruse controll is a great thing....but all too often people use it as a lazy choice......and very often stay in cruse controll when they should have kicked out.
Very few people have any idea of driving stratigicly.....for example managing following distance any more than for colision prevention........no idea of managing following distance to account for variations of the
driver in front...very little idea of making room for a calm run up for a passing manover..and knowing where the next likely safe oportunity is.
Same with auto transmissions...I am not keen on autos...but when I drive one I drive it.....a great many people buy autos because they realy don't want to drive at all.
If you are practicing the craft of driving, making all the frequent observations that are realy required, looking a head and constantly working your stratergy, these device should not creat a problem any more than the radio.
the difference is being lazy and dependent rather tha using the technology activly as an aid.
Cheers
AnswerID:
504615
Follow Up By: Member - Richard L (WA) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 at 19:53
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 at 19:53
Bantom
Your last 2 comments hit the nail on the head
So how many drivers actually do this?
Given the need to follow the above I say my original statement stands
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
781460