Impaired Depth Perception Or Poor Decision Making Skills?

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 10/09/2013 at 10:54 • Filed to: None

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Which affliction is a bigger problem among drivers in the U.S.?

I tend to think drivers have terrible decision making skills. I often wonder what is going through the mind of a driver as they contemplate pulling out into traffic. "Do I have enough time? Is there enough room? Will I spill my coffee? Ok that car has gotten close enough, now I'll pull out in front of them and make them slam on their brakes even though there isn't another car for miles behind them because I can't wait another 5 seconds for them to pass even though I already waited 10 seconds for them to get so close."

Nibbles > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 10:59

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I've been seeing a large resurgence of this issue lately. I can't wrap my head around what they are thinking. Since my horn doesn't work, I'm thinking I'll just strip the exhaust back down again so I can voice my anger with 8 old sloppy cylinders.

Agrajag > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:00

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I would never attempt it near a Neon. Every near miss I've had has involved a Neon.

Brewman15 > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:12

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Poor decision making skills.

If it were impaired depth perception, I would expect the person to be overly cautious and end up stuck behind them waiting for them to turn when there's a massive opening for them.

However, I'm also giving random drivers the benefit of the doubt that they know what they're doing, which typically bites me in the ass.

ATX211 > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:18

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I have to go with poor decision making skills.

I pay attention when I am driving. Won't shock many here, I think we all do. What's interesting, and terribly aggravating for people who do may attention though, is that you see exactly how things went wrong when they involve you. You saw that guy getting ready to pull out in front of you...then he did...but you had already lifted (sometimes it's ok to lift bro) and were ready for it. He gets to go along his merry way having an animated conversation on his phone about soy milk vs dick cheese, you have to keep paying attention.

Jagvar > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:22

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Ugh, something like this happened to me yesterday, except this one was too cautious.

I was driving down Route 7 in Tysons Corner, and there was a long line of cars waiting to get out of an office parking lot. At the front of the line was a woman in an older Chevy Malibu. I slowed down to let her into traffic. She didn't budge. I stopped and flashed my brights. I waved. She just continued to sit there, frozen, chewing her fingernails and quickly glancing left and right. After a few seconds, I said "fuck it," and continued on my way. All the while, about eight cars behind her were laying on their horns in frustration.

She wasn't just gutless, she was an idiot.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:23

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My girlfriend has been in several T-bone accidents where she was the passenger (all of which where one of her sisters was driving). As such, she is terrified of even the largest gaps in oncoming traffic. It irks me so much. Sometimes she can sense that I'm getting frustrated, and then she'll go, after wasting several seconds. This causes her to nearly get hit.

Then I get blamed.

#womanlogic

Chris Clarke > Brewman15 10/09/2013 at 11:23

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Maybe it a dirty window epidemic?

Chris Clarke > ATX211 10/09/2013 at 11:26

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You just wish for a way to let them know, but you can't tailgate or offer the bird. Maybe a respectable horn toot but otherwise you know the next time he might not pop out in front of someone who's actually paying attention.

Chris Clarke > vdub_nut: scooter snob 10/09/2013 at 11:30

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I love to drive, but my wife only considers it a necessary form of transportation, so when we're in the car together, I do the driving. Maybe that helps overcome woman logic. Except when I've been drinking, then she drives. Fortunately she's still a good driver.

Chris Clarke > Jagvar 10/09/2013 at 11:31

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I think that's a perfect example of poor decision making skills and poor situational awareness.

ATX211 > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:36

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Oh man. I lost my cool so bad one day driving up the drag through UT campus. Everyone knows the right lane is going to be jammed up with commuter buses, so cars stay in the left. Except for the dicks that have to get that extra car length by jumping to the right, then cutting you off because there is a fucking bus. So this dick does it to me, only there is literally no room for him to cut in, so he just drove over on me, forcing me into oncoming traffic. He knew I would move. I fucking lost it. Flipped him off. He flipped me off. I gave him both fingers. He made a face at me in the mirror and gave both fingers back.

I was about to get out of the car...Two bike cops pull up next to him and tell him to pull off to the side and start waving people around. As I went by (laughing my ass off) one of the Officers said "Have a nice day sir". Best Austin PD moment ever.

Ilike_cougars > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:54

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Yeah there are some people like this around especially the imbecile in a 98 Nissan sentra that decided to go then brake mid corner and ended up with me rear ending and totaling the said Sentra. Suffice to say my insurance company had a field day, and I ended up getting a ticket that I was able to pay off for $400, in addition to $200 lawyer fees.. But atleast my car wasnt damaged badly, just got a nickle sized paint chip on the front bumper.. Just goes to show how badly Sentras are made I guess..

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 11:56

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I try to drive whenever possible, however, sometimes she insists. Also, my car is older and in a state of disrepair. And gets worse mileage. And takes premium. etc etc.

Chris Clarke > ATX211 10/09/2013 at 11:57

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Its not everyday that justice is served so sweetly. I'm always thinking "where the cops at".

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 12:08

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I would say both... I couldnt count how many times in a week a random driver just decides that there's enough room to pull out in front of me...and sometimes there is enough room...BUT THE MUTHERFUCKERS DONT EVEN TRY TO MATCH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC...honestly if there's no one on the opposite side I just pass the bastards, and with as much noise as my exhaust can muster. 'Fuck you'...yea that's what I make it sound like.

fink stinger > Jagvar 10/09/2013 at 12:58

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"I get a safe driver discount because I have been driving for 58 years and have never been in an accident"

Casper > Chris Clarke 10/09/2013 at 12:59

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Poor decision making skills/failure to commit. People seem to think if they are "cautious" they are being safe. The problem is that they don't know what cautious really means. It doesn't mean to be indecisive or hesitant, it means to make the most prudent decision. If you are going to execute a traffic maneuver, doing so confidently and with a good amount of premeditation is how it should be done. Nothing should be done pensively or half way. Starting to pull out and stopping half way in the lane is not better than just stomping the gas and hoping for the best.

The basics of driving well are very different than what most bad drivers think they are. Bad drivers think acting slowly and hesitating are good policies, which in fact they are more dangerous than someone recklessly diving into traffic. The key is predictability. Predictability and control are paramount to everything else. It doesn't matter if it's at 5 MPH or 100 MPH, if what you are doing is predictable to the rest of traffic and you are in control of the vehicle, you will almost never be the center of a problem that was caused by yourself. Likewise, you can't possibly prevent others from failing at their duties. People may think you are an asshole for violating some other policy of driving politeness because you didn't have a chance to be polite in lieu of a properly executed merge, but those are minor details in the scheme of driving. They will still hate you less than the idiot who turns on their blinker for 20 miles, occasioning swerving partially into other lanes, while trying to decide if they can commit, only to give up and turn the blinker off or randomly jerk into the other lane.