This article was inspired by a recent visit to a small, old New England town. An older and slightly larger place than here, where long ago the winding streets were laid out on hills for strollers and horse carriages, and everything ran to the sea. Those roads are barely wide enough for bicycles yet here we are in the twenty-first century, most people driving big rigs and SUVS, and many people in a rush all the time. (Saying nothing of the large number on their phones while driving) I did see many occasions of courtesy and an ethos of yielding, but it was hardly a given, and it’s the bad apple that spoils the barrel.
On several instances I witnessed ’accidents’. In these cases, that term is a gross misnomer. They weren’t accidents at all, they were pushy people driving killing machines and for whatever reason, demanded or assumed the right to go first, even if the protocol of the road didn’t warrant that. I see this all the time, especially on my motorcycle, where a larger vehicle will bully me with its mass, saying in effect, my metal is heavier, so back down or pay the price. In psych terms, compensation.
It’s of abiding interest to me, this idea of altruism or deference vs. egotism and entitlement. Author Daniel Quinn, in a series of books that includes, Ishmael, and the Story of B, among others, uses the terms “Leavers”, as opposed to “Takers”. A society of Leavers uses only what it needs. It bends and gives as a matter of principle as well as practice. Takers are the Flip side. As in, Flip the Bird. For them all the trays at the banquet are victuals for their gullet, and if a Takers is stuffed at the moment, there’s always the doggie bag for late night snacking later. This idea, applied to the road, so common, and telling, is my barometer of human pressure systems.
When an oncoming driver sees a stopped car waiting to make a turn, and speeds up to block that possibility…that’s an example. When a driver is on the highway in the right lane and another vehicle is on the on ramp, and the first driver speeds up or doesn’t move over, preventing the merge…that’s an example. When two drivers arrive at an intersection at more or less the same moment, and one pulls out without any eye contact…that’s an example. When cars are backed up because of some stoppage and another driver pushes as far ahead as they can before cutting in…that’s an example. These instances of Takers, however low percentage they may be, tell the tale of human woe. We can see manifestions in every aspect of life.
“Might makes right.” That saying could be re-written, more accurately, “Might makes fight”. “Might fakes right”. I’d prefer to see more of the ideal, “Right makes might”.
After me, please.
The most amazing take I ever saw was on the NY Turnpike. Everyone puttering along at about 75 mph in the slow lane, others faster in the passing lane, and this SUV decides to floor it and pass everyone on the right median. At an off-ramp.
Driving safely is about expectations to some degree. I make my decisions expecting that others will be following the rules of the road. If someone doesn’t follow an expected rule, it becomes more dangerous fro everyone.
Around town, the major takers seem to be:
– talking on cell phones (I see this all the time)
– cutting out in front of someone from a side street, parking lot, or driveway. I think this comes from frustration with our overcrowded roads, making some feel like if they don’t go NOW they’ll never get in.
– not knowing how to drive at the rotary circles. The only reason to be in the outside lane is to turn immediately out of the circle. It is not for coasting around 1/2 or 3/4 of the way then exiting. If a driver needs to go past the first turn option, they must get into the inner lane.
– slowing and stopping at the wrong time. It’s happened more than once that someone has slowed and stopped at the on ramps to 91, just at the point they need to be speeding up to match the speed of the existing traffic. Stopping in the middle of a traffic circle also seems too common.
– I’ll add that I see people cutting off bikes, or driving dangerously close and fast near them at times.
….
Right makes might is comes from leading by example and education.
….
One stupid cell phone call while driving on 91 can cause an accident that can shut down the highway and further cause thousands of cars to be detoured and delayed as they get re-routed through town. Might also get injured! Don’t be that person, please.
…
I like to always give motorcycles lots of room, and pay special attention around them to make sure we’re all doing what’s expected. I also like to pay attention to larger trucks, since they can see further down the road. Big rigs switching lanes in a traffic jam makes me want to follow them.
Autopilot Version 8
I read that Tesla is adding radar to its camera systems. “While there are dozens of small refinements with Version 8 of our software, described in addendum below, the most significant upgrade to Autopilot will be the use of more advanced signal processing to create a picture of the world using the onboard radar.”
Taking the driving out of human hands might not solve the problem of “pushy people driving killing machines” too soon, but autopilot is a good step.
trust the machine
Until we can hop in the back seat and take a nap while the car drives us somewhere, an alert driver watching over the “autopilot” will be necessary, making it not so autopilot.
They did a study once with calculators that were programmed to give wrong answers, and had people do math problems with them and pencil and paper. People favored the results of calculator over their own math skills, even though it was wrong. I can imagine many people “trusting” their car’s “judgement” over their own, even if it is incorrect.
Who’s at fault when an autopilot rams into someone else? (Get rich quick: start a legal firm to defend autopilots and software in car accidents). Right now, Ford isn’t responsible for someone’s bad driving. If they are providing the autopilot one day, will they be taking the responsibility? My sense is that buried somewhere in the user agreement one will sign to “own” a car, the owner (whether or not they are actively driving) will be at fault. But the owner didn’t make the driving decisions that led to the accident.
Conundrum
You present a cogent conundrum facing policy makers and vehicular and public saftey issues.
Tesla Autopilot
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-use-tesla-autopilot,review-3870.html
Can't climb in back and take a nap, though
“Tesla tells drivers not to take their hands off the wheel…”
Auto-pile-up
Thanks for the link.
I can’t imagine handing over controls not being nerve wracking. And not in some semi-luddite spoiled westerner way- it’s not like me rather having a barista than a vending machine make my latte.
Drunj or AndroiDriver
There’s a lot that baffles me about this push to auto-pilot. Class issues (used cars vs. high end models), motorcycles, interface with busses and commercial trucks… But all that aside, this one line from the article jumped out.
How is a discerning driver, when observing such wandering, (at 65 mph no less) to know if the vehicle is “under the control” of a robotic intelligence, or a drunken driver. Either way evasive action is called for, the human must err on the side of caution. But to start a chain reaction on miscues, how can that be a good thing?
The thought of autopilots
Before I read your comments I was even excited at the thought of autopilots (not that it will be in my lifetime) but I think it bears closer watching.
Behind the wheel, humans can have a cyberman mentality
Encapsulated and armored, an auto driver can slip into narcissistic feelings. You are an important person, going somewhere: Other people are impediments.
Or, as a sensitive human being, you may feel that the “other guy” is the aggressive driver, and then get pulled in by your desire to “teach him a lesson.”
A few days ago, I was driving at the speed limit (50 mph) on Route 30. One by one, a line of cars aggregated behind me. The one immediately behind me (Connecticut plates) started to tailgate, way too close. I slowed down to 40 mph. When he kept tailgating, I tapped the brake lightly a couple of times. He “got it” and backed off to a safe distance and I resumed my speed at 50. I think the maneuver worked well, but how easy it could be to get pulled into a “tit for tat” contest: “I’ll show you what aggressive driving looks like, you bastard you!”
A windshield can be much like a computer screen: your window on the world, yet at the same time isolating you from other human beings. Unless we exercise strong intent to stay connected, we may lose empathy without even realizing it. How different is hitting the gas angrily from hitting the keyboard, oblivious to “do unto others…”
The isolation of a compute screen or the encapsulation of an auto, can be seductive. It can be so temping to say horrible things to another person online, which you would never say in person. Or for a person who would otherwise be sensitive to others, to drive in a threatening way. The challenge for all of us is to stay consciously aware.
Living on Canal Street, I see a lot of dangerous driving. Less, now, since police enforcement has become more common on my very busy street. I am also gratified to see quite a bit of courtesy: cars stopping to allow another driver to make a difficult left, or to wave a pedestrian across the street.
The honkers
My pet peeve is the driver behind me who lays on his horn if I do not begin moving in less than two seconds after the light turns green or some similar variation of that scenario. I have been known to deliberately stop and exit my vehicle to confront such drivers. Not the smartest thing to do, but it makes me see red.
You are right...
that it is not the smartest thing to do. It sounds the driver behind you has been annoyed, and his or her reaction annoys you to the point that “seeing red” you allow a minor annoyance to escalate to road rage.
Undoubtedly we have all, at times, allowed anger to cloud our good judgement and prompt us to take foolish risks. Mostly, we are lucky and avoid the worst consequences of our foolish behavior, but eventually you could get seriously hurt.
Please, Fisherman, rethink whether this type of behavior is worthwhile, and stay safe!
The gentlest persons
“Happily violence is shortlived, only for a very little while do even the gentlest persons ‘see red’.”
The History of Sir Richard Calmady
A man’s complaint
Since women have not commented as yet (as least, as going by our use of pseudonyms), and the article doesn’t mention women specifically, except as embodied in the broader context of “people,” I wonder if these are manly complaints. It seems some of our New England menfolk haven’t spent much time driving in NYC or LA. A couple years driving in those cities will toughen you up and have you hittin the horn and the gas pedal at the same time.
find myself a city to drive in
Where one drives matters.
In Boston, the rule is that if your car is even an inch ahead of any other car, you have permission to cut the trailing car off anytime. Also, yellow lights mean “the driver behind me has to stop.” My sister learned to drive in Boston and is probably the most aggressive/boldest driver of us kids.
In DC, it’s all about defensive driving. Drivers come from all over the world, and all tend to obey the rules of the road – of where they came from. DC is a place where drivers make U-Turns anywhere.
In NYC – it’s bumper to bumper on highways, then very “active” once you get on the streets. Intense attention is required to keep aware of all the one way streets, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and delivery trucks.
Haven’t driven in LA.
And here, well, I think we’re covering the issues here in Brattleboro. : )
Huh?
I have driven a cab in NYC, driven in Boston a few times, and driven a rental car for a few days in San Francisco but not LA. NYC (particularly Manhattan) driving can be intense, but I find Boston much worse.
I am puzzled by the comment, which seems to imply that men complain about Brattleboro traffic because, unlike women, who have spent time driving in big cities; our “menfolk” lack that experience, which “will toughen you up.” I doubt that he means that, as it would not make sense, so perhaps Vidda can clarify his comment.
A huh.
Oh, I think a few of the menfolk might have gotten some humor out of it. Of course, the little smiley is usefully employed for those who see the black and white of the page without benefit of color…
Moments ago
Let’s see…
a. not one but two cars racing out in front of traffic from a side street. The first pauses, causing the other to stop between lanes on Putney Rd, with oncoming, not-slowed-down traffic.
b. another car drives too slowly, until the stoplight changes and races through it just after it turns red.
c. another car pulls into a parking lot next to us, waiting for us to open the car door before doing so (and nearly clipping us.)
d. another SUV, trying to park in a space, repeatedly misjudges the turn and backs up to try again, finally giving up and plowing over a curb to get into the space.
e. another car slows to let us back out, but when we start to move, they move forward. We stop. They stop. We back out again. They move forward again. We stop. They stop.
Arrrgh.