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On a more serious note...

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  Started By
  (Members Only)

  on
  July 28 2010

    http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/25/trooper_down/?page=full From the article: "Similarly, several studies conducted in driving simulators have suggested that drivers may “steer where they look.” As a study published in Journal of Experimental Psychology reported, “there is a systematic and reliable tendency for operators to follow their direction of gaze with their direction of travel, in many cases without the conscious awareness of doing so at all.” So, the thought is, drivers intrigued by a roadside emergency may subtly steer in the direction of the emergency. But whether drivers do this in the real world, or do it enough to cause accidents, remains an open question." I've found myself doing this on occasion. Since I know I have a tendency to do this, I try NOT to "rubber neck" when driving by accidents and the like.

   

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Comments

• Made By
  ronin
  on July 28 2010

  The guys at Car and Driver magazine put it this way once: "if you're not careful, your foot will take you where your eyes are going". I've also found it happening with my hands following my eyes as well, and try my very best to ignore roadside events and attractions and just keep on paying full attention to my driving and that of those around me. I've refused for a long time to rubberneck. If I'm driving my wife will say "Boy that was bad, did you see that?" and the answer is always "Nope". Of course, tunnel-vision must be avoided at the same time. Never let your brain go numb for a second, as a friend of mine says. A tall order, but I still try.
  

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• Made By
  TomCat1346
  on July 29 2010

   I agree, ronin, I'm always "scanning" when I drive. Looking forward, looking left and right, checking outside and inside rear view mirrors, checking instrument panel.

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• Made By
  oddjob3422
  on July 29 2010

  Maybe this is why people watching tv sets on their dashboards (or mounted on the windshield) are often even more inept than other drivers (which itself is shocking)!
  

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• Made By
  alaskan outside
  on August 04 2010

   I scan too, and try not to look around unless I am at a light or otherwise stopped. There are few curbs here to stop me if I wander off the road, just ditches and tall grass, I wouldn't go far, but I would never be able to live it down :D AO

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