Wreck By Beverage

[Patch]

We are currently stuck in traffic due to a single car accident in front of us. Actually it's a motor home (RV) in the accident. Tow truck is trying to move it, to open up the road. 

Except for numerous cuts, and bruisings, the two occupants are OK. Walking around, and cohearant according to my wife. They will visit the local ER for further medical evaluation. 

Their RV on the other hand, probably has an end date with the scrap yard. It "was" a nice RV too. The occupants are very lucky people as far as injuries go. 

Apparently what happened, according to a police officer, was the driver, while driving down the road, decided to get out of the driver's seat, and go to the fridge to get a soda, or something.  His better half was in the back of the coach resting, and didn't see him until it was too late. The RV drove itself off the road, hit a tree, and wound up back in the road on it's side. . 

I thought this was a little "out there". I mean who gets out of the driver"s seat, while driving, to go to the fridge? So, I googled it. Sure enough, this is not an uncommon occurance with RV drivers.   Not only going to the fridge, but the batroom too. ????

Apparently it has something to do with feeling quite at home while driving. The driver, some how forgets what the reality is. 

The article I read says it tends to be age related with middle age drivers more at fault. In the wreck in front of us this looks to be the case. 

We are currently traveling in our own RV. It's our home away from home. It's our third one. We have logged thousands of miles in our rigs with no problems. There is even a big yellow safety sticker, telling us not to not leave our seat while driving. I thought it was more funny than anything else. Now I understand the reasoning behind the message. This stuff really happens. 

[Kalnoky]

So, ostensibly, I could look up one day and see a "driverless" RV next to me on the highway? That is both terrifying and fascinating.

Do these RV's have technology that keeps them from drifting across lanes (like a lot of new cars do)?

 

[Lihu]

23 minutes ago, Patch said:

We are currently stuck in traffic due to a single car accident in front of us. Actually it's a motor home (RV) in the accident. Tow truck is trying to move it, to open up the road. 

Except for numerous cuts, and bruisings, the two occupants are OK. Walking around, and cohearant according to my wife. They will visit the local ER for further medical evaluation. 

Their RV on the other hand, probably has an end date with the scrap yard. It "was" a nice RV too. The occupants are very lucky people as far as injuries go. 

Apparently what happened, according to a police officer, was the driver, while driving down the road, decided to get out of the driver's seat, and go to the fridge to get a soda, or something.  His better half was in the back of the coach resting, and didn't see him until it was too late. The RV drove itself off the road, hit a tree, and wound up back in the road on it's side. . 

I thought this was a little "out there". I mean who gets out of the driver"s seat, while driving, to go to the fridge? So, I googled it. Sure enough, this is not an uncommon occurance with RV drivers.   Not only going to the fridge, but the batroom too. ????

Apparently it has something to do with feeling quite at home while driving. The driver, some how forgets what the reality is. 

The article I read says it tends to be age related with middle age drivers more at fault. In the wreck in front of us this looks to be the case. 

We are currently traveling in our own RV. It's our home away from home. It's our third one. We have logged thousands of miles in our rigs with no problems. There is even a big yellow safety sticker, telling us not to not leave our seat while driving. I thought it was more funny than anything else. Now I understand the reasoning behind the message. This stuff really happens. 

Yes, it happens. It's a weird phenomenon. I also read that to a lesser extent it can happen with a cruise control as well. You can fall asleep more readily. Agreeing with that article is one reason I don't use cruise control on long drives.

 

15 minutes ago, Kalnoky said:

So, ostensibly, I could look up one day and see a "driverless" RV next to me on the highway? That is both terrifying and fascinating.

Do these RV's have technology that keeps them from drifting across lanes (like a lot of new cars do)?

 

I was thinking that self driving technology might not be a bad idea for these monstrous vehicles. Same with Semis.

[Patch]

3 hours ago, Kalnoky said:

So, ostensibly, I could look up one day and see a "driverless" RV next to me on the highway? That is both terrifying and fascinating.

Do these RV's have technology that keeps them from drifting across lanes (like a lot of new cars do)?

 

Ours is a 2016 model, and does not have any anti drifting technology. Sounds like a good idea though, as long as the rig also came with auto braking to avoid rear ending someone. 

As for the cruise control, as  Lihu mentioned. i am addicted to cc, but only on long, flat stretches of highways. It's a gas milage thing for me. 

Edited January 29, 2018 by Patch

[Yukari]

Wow!  I've never heard of that phenomenon.  That automated car can't come soon enough.  It would be great for long distance trips.  Take a little nap, play a game, work, ... 

[NJpatbee]

I have been in IT Technology for almost 45 years and my real tech days are long gone.  But I can guarantee you that I will never ride in a self driving vehicle that is not on a track.  For any substantial piece of software there are always bugs that may just occur on rare occasions but they could be disastrous.  I have also witnessed many times where hardware goes bad and malfunctions.  Have you ever used your smartphone and it stops working?  We are nowhere near the point where we actually have AI and the only thing artificial about it is calling it AI.  I have managed projects using "AI" software and it took a team of 10 engineers to do in a full year what a developer could have done by himself in 2 months using standard programming techniques.   End of rant.

Edited January 29, 2018 by NJpatbee

[Zeph]

If the car has got "autopilot", that's one thing, but just an ordinary RV with cruise control? That's pretty weird. I know drinking and driving is no good, but didn't know this could include soft drinks.

There's something to be said about things becoming too comfortable and the car basically driving itself. Still sounds weird to just leave the driver's seat at sped. Mind blunder?

[Patch]

I found an article about a woman driving her rv down the interstate at 70 mph. She had her cruise control set. 

At some point she decided, while driving, to go make herself a sandwich. The rv ran off the road, and over turned. . 

The lady sued the rv company because no where in the owner's manual did it say she  could not get up while driving.

She was awarded $1.7 million, and a new rv. The rv company rewrote their owner's manual. 

[iacas]

38 minutes ago, Patch said:

She was awarded $1.7 million, and a new rv. The rv company rewrote their owner's manual. 

You should sue the maker of your bullshit detector. It's not working. 

https://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

https://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/cruise.asp

[saevel25]

It really is interesting, and somewhat scary, what our minds decides on what to ignore.

If you want some mind-bending stuff, read up on determinism. There is some serious consideration that free will is an illusion.

 

[Yukari]

On 1/30/2018 at 9:08 AM, saevel25 said:

It really is interesting, and somewhat scary, what our minds decides on what to ignore.

If you want some mind-bending stuff, read up on determinism. There is some serious consideration that free will is an illusion.

 

I often wonder that we are truly exercising our free will.  Sometimes it seems, what we do is not actually free will but are determined based on past experiences and knowledge.  If that is true, than everything is predetermined.

Thinking about this philosophical dichotomy gives me a headache.

[Buckeyebowman]

This is nothing more than some people being too damn dumb for their own, and our own, good! When I learned to drive I was taught that you "drive your vehicle", you don't let your vehicle drive you! I was also taught to look through the windshield of the vehicle in front of me. Then you won't be surprised when the driver in front of you mashes their brakes. I didn't have to be taught to leave the wheel to make a sandwich! That is idiotic on it's face, and no instruction is necessary to anyone with an ounce of common sense!

[saevel25]

More common than you think.

The human brain will F with you ability to do things logically. Basically, the person couldn’t differentiate between being at home and driving. 

[Buckeyebowman]

Then we need a test to determine this, and those people should NOT be driving!

[Missouri Swede]

34 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Then we need a test to determine this, and those people should NOT be driving!

Part of this is being human. There are errors/misperceptions that our minds and bodies are prone to make:

On 3/15/2018 at 8:54 PM, saevel25 said:

More common than you think.

The human brain will F with you ability to do things logically. Basically, the person couldn’t differentiate between being at home and driving. 

 

[colin007]

Man, I look for and take every opportunity to use my CC... Driving around town, a mile stretch at 30 mph, I set my cruise at 38 and forget about it.

I'm also the kind of guy that holds it so he can pee in the shower

[Missouri Swede]

18 minutes ago, colin007 said:

Man, I look for and take every opportunity to use my CC... Driving around town, a mile stretch at 30 mph, I set my cruise at 38 and forget about it.

I'm also the kind of guy that holds it so he can pee in the shower

TMI 

[Buckeyebowman]

21 hours ago, Missouri Swede said:

TMI 

Uhhhh, yeah!