Men and women are equally unequal and whilst there may be debate about gender equality in the workplace, cultural gatherings, sport and even restaurant restrooms, we become equal once behind the wheel. Men of course will continue to believe that they are the better drivers; they also mistakenly think they are handsome, intelligent and interesting!
If I am to be honest - men wore the “better driver” badge - back in about 1300BC, but the advent of the metro-sexual male has seen more men emulate women than ever before. Nowadays, there are an equal number of men who lose man points by grooming themselves whilst driving as there are women who apply makeup. In fact, you can almost always spot a lady who has applied her ‘war paint’ in traffic by the unnaturally high arch of her penciled in eyebrows, which usually gives her the same expression of disbelief and surprise that other drivers had when they witnessed her blatant display of distracted driving.
Whilst I do not believe women are lesser drivers than men, I do acknowledge that the prevalence of distracted driving is higher among women than it is men, probably because we multitask. We ladies generally have more than a few things on the go at any given time, and we are likely to continue multi tasking whilst driving. Men however, do not have such problems probably because they have mastered the art of mentally keeping life’s varied issues in separate little boxes (‘little’ being the operative word). A woman on the other hand is a kaleidoscope of emotions, work related deadlines, school kids lunches, diets, spa visits and more, all jostling for attention in her mind as she drives.
Distracted driving knows no gender hence both men and women should consciously change their driving habits and attitudes, starting with our cell phone usage as we drive. If everyone switched off their cell phones before starting the engine, there might be a reduction in road accidents. But as long as your mobile is on, the temptation to send / read smses, update Face Book / Twitter, make / receive a call is equivalent to the discovery of cellulite reducing properties in chocolate – irresistible.
A brief survey conducted on our website revealed that 90% of respondents (male & female) admitted to having interacted with their cell phones daily whilst driving. The incredulous reality is that taking your eyes off the road is considered more dangerous than driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A 5 second glance at your mobile is equivalent to driving the full length of a soccer field at 88km/h – blindfolded! Every time anyone talks or smses whilst driving, they may well be Stevie Wonder driving at 28km/h above the average speed limit of 60km/h. If that visual doesn’t help turn on the lights in your head urgently find a crisp white jacket which ‘fashionably’ ties only at the back!
Although hands free kits are readily available and legally acceptable, using these is still rolling the dice of death. Research shows that up to 50% of a driver’s attention is diverted when anything takes the focus from the road. It also states that less visual information is absorbed as a result of the distraction, meaning that brake lights, traffic lights, pedestrians, cyclists & motor cyclists are virtually non-existent for as long as you are focused on your phone.
If the dangers of DWP (Driving Whilst Phoning) still have not hit home, then consider the following. An average phone call lasts roughly 3 minutes (slightly longer for women. Ok much longer among women), and that per 5 seconds that you are on a call is equal to travelling the distance of a soccer field. Now add the fact many people are naturally heavy footed and drive well about the legal speed limit, further add that whilst on the phone, your brain digests 50% less of all visual data, and you may agree that the term ‘recipe for disaster’ does not begin describe the potential life threatening situation each of us poses to one another.
Mobile phones, shaving machines, mascara, changing radio stations or CDs etc whilst driving are not the problem. The fact that driving has become a lesser function to these and other distractions is the culprit. Unless we re-adjust our driving habits and attitudes, the predictions made by Minister Ndebele in January 2011; that we stand to lose 1000 lives on our roads per month will become our fateful truth. The question is: Are you are going to kill someone or will you get killed?
Vuyi Jabavu
Driving In Heels
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