Maybe Gran Turismo 5 Could Fix The Driving Problem
View Large ImageI'm sure this changes depending on where you are in the country, but there are some spectacularly bad drivers in my neck of the woods. It's just...obscene.
And when I say "bad," I mostly mean incompetent. Perhaps it's a combination of massive over-medication and prescription drug abuse and an aging population, and nothing more. They've also made it so a well-trained dog can get a driver's license now, and the way they make cars these days, they're basically idiot-proof. ...and yet, the idiots somehow find a way to do the stupidest things imaginable.
This is why I think driving simulators should, in some capacity, be used in testing people for driver's licenses. I'm dead flat serious. Nothing too strenuous; we don't have to be racing professionals, so you don't have to spin a perfect Nurburgring lap to pass, or something. But it would really help to give people a better idea of what to do in case of various emergencies, and I think it would give drivers an overall better feel for the vehicle. That's probably the biggest problem: everyone seems to suffer from a surprising lack of feel. They just have no clue what's going on.
Things are just getting worse and worse. I don't think I've been behind a single solitary person in the past week who actually knows how to merge. Isn't that on the test? Or is that something else they took out to make it easier? You have to match the speed of the traffic flow, people; your car doesn't magically shoot from 35 to 75. You're not driving a Ferrari but I absolutely guarantee it can do 75 and it needs to do it before a hundred vehicles going 75 have to radically change their course to adapt to your incompetence. But it doesn't end there...
Slowing down to go up a hill in the snow. Turning left to right (and vice versa), as if a Hyundai Accent has the turning radius of a semi. Keeping a constant speed appears to be a nigh-on impossible chore. I mean, it just goes on and on. A driving simulator would at least make them more comfortable; I'm almost sure of it. I also firmly believe it would cut down on the instances of panicking behind the wheel. More often than not, people in cars that start to slide do the worst things imaginable. They stomp on the brake (feather it, or don't touch it at all), wrench the wheel, or worse, do nothing and throw their hands up. Slides are relatively easy with minor touch, especially with all the safety stuff most cars have.
The pluses are endless. You could learn how to drive better in bad weather conditions, how to drive better in heavy traffic, how to drive better at high speeds (is it my imagination, or is everyone driving around like they're catatonic?), and how to achieve better overall control of the vehicle. You could even have them train with whatever they're actually driving; if they've got one of those front-wheel drive pieces of crap (the American public was lied to in the promotion of that mechanic, by the way), they can learn why they won't be able to steer if their rear end begins to spin. That's just one example; a simulator should be able to simulate most any situation.
I'm very serious about this. It's not a joke. Given the technology we have today, why not? The Army uses simulators and that's life and death on a daily basis. This is just for the sake of better drivers. Insurance companies should embrace the idea...
3/23/2012 Ben Dutka
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Comments (42 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:35:18 PM
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Lawless SXE
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:56:10 PM
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Oyashiro
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:04:09 PM
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I began to honk my horn, But ultimately had to slam on my brakes to prevent myself from being pushed into the concrete barricades that divide the freeway from the on-coming traffic. I was lucky no one was behind me or I would have been rear ended.
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fatelementality
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 11:14:07 AM
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Qubex
Monday, March 26, 2012 @ 12:40:40 AM
Which is worse, the idiot driver or the idiot bus driver...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:34:12 PM
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BorrowedTime
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:39:56 PM
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In over 20 years of driving, I have never been the cause of an accident (although, I was rear ended recently while at a yield sign), and have a perfect driving abstract. But, I'm not sure that Gran Turismo can take all the credit for that. When I was in high school, I took a driver's education course (where my instructor was a rally car driver, and taught me lots about oversteer, understeer, and how to recover from slides and spins), something that no one else I know has done. I am also required by my company (as is everyone else in their employ), to attend a defensive driving course once every three years.
There is no shortage of idiotic drivers in my city either, and I'm not sure that Gran Turismo (or any driving simulator for that matter) is going to change that. As much as I love the Gran Turismo series, I don't think it can cure inattentiveness and stupidity.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:43:00 PM
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BorrowedTime
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 11:03:03 PM
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BikerSaint
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:59:01 PM
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You have to ride & think like everyone's a stupid A-hole around you that's about to do the worst case scenario. So that way if it does happen, you're already mentally planned out your escape from injury seconds before it actually happens.
And if they don't do anything stupid, then it's considered a bonus.
I don't know how many times I've been almost run off the road by careless or "just-don't care" A-holes that want my lane at all costs.
Anyway, when on my MC, I consider cutting me off the same as attempted murder & I will respond to that.
So I'll pull up to the drivers side of them at the next light and make a few choice threats at them.
"I didn't see you isn't an excuse, it's admitting your guilt"
FYI, another thing that gets my goat while on my Harley is whenever somebody in the a car in front of me(driver or passenger, makes no difference) throws their lit cigarette out the window once they're done it. & I'll pull next to them, motion them to roll down their window so I can chew them out. BTW most do wind up not realizing that their cigarette just hit me, & they're apologetic.
But for those few A-hole's that act like they could care less, well....I also smoke & they WILL get my lit cigarette back in return, thrown right into their laps.
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dmiitrie
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 11:11:16 PM
However, I've seen and I know sever bike riders who think they can do all the crazy stuff they see in movies. Perhaps I just happen to know a higher percentage of douchebags compared to most bikers, but having heard what they say about how they ride, and having seen them ride a couple of times, there are certainly a lot of things bikes can do that make it super difficult for cars.
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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 12:58:20 AM
Sorry to hear about your cuz.
Yeah, "If Sears gave out drivers license's, even they'd be shocked"
And unfortunately for us, 87% of all MC accidents are cause by those careless/inattentive and/or irresponsible 4-wheeled drivers.
I agree with you about some riders being a-holes too, but for all of my years of MC experience, it seems that it's a few bad apples with the sport bikes that gives rider's a bad name.
I think it's due to those kids that just got their 1st sport bike that will do 80 in 1st gear, which is way too powerful for their severe lack of skills.
And then some of them just want to show off doing wheelies, stoppies, & high-speed weaving thru heavy traffic, while racing thru the gears, etc, etc.
And with some other riders, it's just that they don't have any real experience on their new bikes & never bothered to take a MC safety course that most of the states, dealerships, or motorcycle community now provide.
Plus a new rider should be starting out on a small bike, with no more than a 250 to 450CC displacement.
BTW, I've taught many people to ride right, and a lot of them women.
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dmiitrie
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 1:05:44 AM
And the point you made is probably pretty accurate. The guys I know, definitely fit that picture.
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dmiitrie
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 10:59:39 PM
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Something that just made me furious a few days ago was when I turned right onto a street and nearly ran into some lady who was stopped halfway in my lane while trying to turn left out of a parking lot. I slowed down and eventually stopped to wait for her to back up into the lot (as any normal person would), but by the time I realized that she wasn't going to move, there was traffic in the other lane. So I was stuck there for a few minutes. And to top it all off, she had the nerve to flip me off when she was finally able to turn because I had honked at her a couple of times. Some people....sigh.
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BTNwarrior
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 11:35:29 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 11:41:46 PM
;)
But that's really more of a this-country phenomenon. The street racers in Tokyo? They can DRIVE.
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maxpontiac
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 12:16:21 AM
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After that I realise that T10 will most likely read this and sell Microsoft on the idea thus resulting in Forza Driving Exam kiosks everywhere.
Seriously though, some people are helpless behind the wheel and might be unwilling to learn.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 3/24/2012 12:17:39 AM
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kraygen
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 12:36:09 AM
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Maintain speed, well that's impossible for people to do, they're too busy texting while they drive. I find it nearly impossible to find another driver on the road that isn't on their cell phone.
Cell phones are great, but when you're driving, drive, don't text your mom to say hello.
Last edited by kraygen on 3/24/2012 12:36:49 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 9:59:22 AM
I also live within minutes of very busy areas, though, and let me tell you...it sucks no matter where you go.
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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 1:12:35 AM
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The secret sauce from that guy's triple-Big Mac that's being balancing across the top of the steering wheel, would still fall into his lap.
And GT6 would need to install a big-a$$ inside rear-view mirror to the game just for women, so they won't accidentally be poking their eyes out with the cruel end of their Mascara brushes.
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Crabba
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 2:14:25 AM
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Or the 95% of people who don't use turn signals, don't stop at stop signs, or think that red lights are more like guidelines anyway...
Sadly, no amount of hours in a simulator would help bad behavior like that.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:02:51 AM
And one of my biggest pet peeves are people who slow down to turn, stop, and THEN turn on the signal. ...yeah, I don't need to know now. I KNOW you're turning. I needed to know BEFORE you started to alter your speed. That's the POINT of the signal, genius.
'sigh'
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fatelementality
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 11:22:25 AM
Last edited by fatelementality on 3/24/2012 11:23:24 AM
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THEVERDIN
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 7:00:15 PM
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tes37
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 7:56:04 PM
@ fatelementality
If I notice that their window is down, I always holler out, 'don't flip it'.
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___________
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 3:04:26 AM
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problem is people dont give a flying f*ck about the road rules they just think there the only ones on the road!
so hows a driving sim going to help that?
its exactly like that wherever you go!
problem is people have got this mentality that driving is a right not a privilege.
so many people drive around like there the only ones on the road and road rules dont apply to them.
allot of people dont think about what their doing either.
example last thursday i went to the shops and i was stopped at a give way sign.
a lady came the other way, i have to give way to her and she is sitting there telling me to go.
ahhhhh, lady you do realise that i have to give way to you right?
again on my way home i was coming down a narrow street and again another bloody women comes down and stops in the middle of the road.
then tells me to come through.
ahhhh, women how am i suppose to come through when your blocking the road?
my car has the magic ability of driving through things without getting damaged does it?
thats one problem people just dont think about what their doing.
another problem is people just think they own the road.
if i had a nickle for every time i saw someone change lanes, turn a corner, do anything that by law requires the use of a blinker, but they did not use one id by rich enough to never work another day in my life!
no one gives a sh*t about the road rules, they just drive with their blindfolds on oblivious to whats happening around them.
another problem i always have is again if i had a nickel for every time someone turned a corner and cant keep in their lane again id be rich enough to never work another day in my life!
seriously, turning within the lines is that difficult is it?
oh and my personal favorite if i had a nickel for every time i drove down the M4 doing 110KMPH and saw a women doing her mascara with her right hand, her lippy with the left, and steering with her knees id be rich enough to never work another day in my life!
again problem is people just dont give a f*ck about the road rules and think there the only ones on the road.
i mean how much dog food do you have to have caught in your head to steer down the motorway at 110KPH with your knees?
seriously, how are these people not scared sh*tless by the idea?
i know i am!
i wont even go on people who cant do the freaking speed limit!
doing 30KMs below the speed limit in the right lane on the M4, yea perfect way to cause a accident!
explains why every day theres a pileup there.......
this is exactly why every time i go out i grab my rosary beads.
honestly i dont think ive ever been out on the road in the past 10 years without almost having 10 accidents!
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Ludicrous_Liam
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 4:54:31 AM
Walking to school, there's this entrance to the school car-park that I have to cross - and you wouldn't BELIEVE how many idiots turn in while I'm crossing WITHOUT indicators! THEN they have this 'look' at me as if I'M in the wrong! Grrr.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:01:22 AM
Even if they continue to ignore the rules of the road and be inconsiderate drivers, at least they'll be BETTER drivers and hence, less accidents. Pretty simple.
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___________
Sunday, March 25, 2012 @ 7:30:24 AM
ok there better DRIVERS but that does not help the fact that there not following the road rules.
you can be sebastian vettel but if you go through a red light your pretty much f*cked no?
no matter how good a driver you are!
the problems not that people cant drive.
a friend of works with the cops her job is analysing accidents and helping determine what caused them and whos at fault.
shes always said at least 86% of accidents are caused by someone not obeying road rules has nothing to do with inadequate driving skills.
the other 14% are brought down to speed.
again no matter how good a driver you are if you take a corner too quickly your going to crash simple as that!
so i still dont see how a driving sim would help fix these problems on our roads.
only thing that will fix that is if people stop treating it as a right and treat it as a gift that can very easily be taken away!
that way they will obey the road rules because they know if they dont they will loose it.
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tes37
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 3:37:34 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 10:00:26 AM
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That's new.
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fatelementality
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 11:28:32 AM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 1:59:14 PM
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And just when that restricted "no-passing" area is finally over & right when I move my Harley into the passing lane to get around her, she has that uncanny ability to actually start making that left turn right when I'm along side her.
And then when she actually hears my super-load Harley(straight pipes) right next to her, she has that look of bewildered astonishment of a young fawn caught in my spotlights.
It's got to be something in that blue hair dye.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 3/24/2012 2:01:03 PM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 7:19:46 PM
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Although it's certainly not a driving simulator by any stretch of the word(or imagination), I've been playing L.A. Noire & there's quite a few $^&^%$#%^ idiot drivers(and pedestrians) in that game.
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fatelementality
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 7:24:30 PM
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sha4dowknight05
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 7:24:56 PM
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Qubex
Monday, March 26, 2012 @ 12:41:30 AM
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
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JBLAZE
Monday, March 26, 2012 @ 7:30:19 AM
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Lawless SXE
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Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 9:52:50 PM
A driving simulator would be a good idea (I know GT5 has improved my ability to take corners on dirt ;)), but I think mandatory defensive driving and anger management courses could go a hell of a lot further in improving the situation of the roads. There's only so far that you can go, no matter how good the simulation. We are not, and nor do I believe that we ever will be, at the point where technology is capable of 1:1 reproduction of reality.
Nevertheless, it would certainly help with most of the examples listed in the article. And it'd be a fairly cheap option too.