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- When more spaces mean less space
- Speeding motorists becoming rarer
- Unlucky registration plates
- Distracted driving during the summer
- Gone driving
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Monday, March 5, 2012
From A to B on autopilot
Have you ever driven somewhere you didn’t mean to drive to, like your office, or reached your destination without any memory of making the journey?
Well, worryingly, according to new research which was undertaken by a car insurance company, a lot of motorists have done these things and it means that many of us aren’t paying attention to the road.
Reportedly, drivers making a long journey ‘turn off’ mentally after just 11 minutes behind the wheel, completing the rest of the trip on autopilot without really taking note of the highway around them.
A spokesperson for the insurer stated, "Advances in technology have revolutionised the way we keep our brains stimulated. We all love playing with our gadgets but as this study shows this can become problematic when we get behind the wheel.
"Even on a short journey it is important for all motorists to focus on the road ahead and not let technology withdrawal systems get the better of them whilst driving."
Some of the motorists surveyed for this research also admitted to switching to autopilot while in control of a vehicle because they were tired or thinking about work.
Our advice is, if you’re tired or have a lot on your mind, why not use public transport or get a lift off someone? It will reduce your risk of suffering a car accident, and it’s nice to have a little break from driving once in a while.
Well, worryingly, according to new research which was undertaken by a car insurance company, a lot of motorists have done these things and it means that many of us aren’t paying attention to the road.
Reportedly, drivers making a long journey ‘turn off’ mentally after just 11 minutes behind the wheel, completing the rest of the trip on autopilot without really taking note of the highway around them.
A spokesperson for the insurer stated, "Advances in technology have revolutionised the way we keep our brains stimulated. We all love playing with our gadgets but as this study shows this can become problematic when we get behind the wheel.
"Even on a short journey it is important for all motorists to focus on the road ahead and not let technology withdrawal systems get the better of them whilst driving."
Some of the motorists surveyed for this research also admitted to switching to autopilot while in control of a vehicle because they were tired or thinking about work.
Our advice is, if you’re tired or have a lot on your mind, why not use public transport or get a lift off someone? It will reduce your risk of suffering a car accident, and it’s nice to have a little break from driving once in a while.
Photo © miguelphotobooth via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: autopilot, car accident, car insurance, destination, drive, driven, driving, highway, insurer, journey, motorist, public transport, road, trip, vehicle, wheel
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Alarming car research
It’s never nice having something stolen from you, and it’s even less pleasant having something stolen from you and having your car window smashed in the process.
With the Easter and Spring holidays just round the corner, a large UK vehicle insurer is warning motorists to take extra care of their cars since statistics show that there is often as much as a 10% increase in car crime at these times.
However, research has proven that installing an alarm in your vehicle may not be enough to save it, or its contents, from the hands of opportunist thieves.
In a social experiment, which involved setting off car alarms in busy areas of London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester, it has become clear that car alarms “have become like urban white noise – as commonplace as dogs barking, sirens and everyday traffic”.
Out of all the pedestrians who walked passed the wailing vehicles used in the study, only 17% acknowledged the alarm with a brief glance, and 83% completely failed to register the noise at all.
So, to avoid your car, or the belongings within it, getting stolen – it seems as if an alarm just isn’t enough.
To reduce the risk of automobile theft, don’t park in a quiet or poorly lit area, hide all your possessions so that your car doesn’t look so enticing, and perhaps invest in a wheel lock.
And now, with the lecture out of the way, you can enjoy the warm sunny (fingers crossed) holidays.
With the Easter and Spring holidays just round the corner, a large UK vehicle insurer is warning motorists to take extra care of their cars since statistics show that there is often as much as a 10% increase in car crime at these times.
However, research has proven that installing an alarm in your vehicle may not be enough to save it, or its contents, from the hands of opportunist thieves.
In a social experiment, which involved setting off car alarms in busy areas of London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester, it has become clear that car alarms “have become like urban white noise – as commonplace as dogs barking, sirens and everyday traffic”.
Out of all the pedestrians who walked passed the wailing vehicles used in the study, only 17% acknowledged the alarm with a brief glance, and 83% completely failed to register the noise at all.
So, to avoid your car, or the belongings within it, getting stolen – it seems as if an alarm just isn’t enough.
To reduce the risk of automobile theft, don’t park in a quiet or poorly lit area, hide all your possessions so that your car doesn’t look so enticing, and perhaps invest in a wheel lock.
And now, with the lecture out of the way, you can enjoy the warm sunny (fingers crossed) holidays.
Image by rick via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, car alarm, insurer, stolen, vehicle, wheel lock