I have always loved the 'rants' that Rick Mercer has done. Informative, provocative, funny and on the mark with sometimes brutal honesty.
This video is no exception.
Thanks to Rick Mercer and the Ministry of Transportation for doing this.
You can follow Rick Mercer on Twitter @rickmercer His website is www.rickmercer.com
For more information on distracted driving, click here.
Now it's your turn...what do you think? Why do people feel the need to talk, text, type or read while driving? Is eating, drinking a beverage or talking to someone else in the car just as much of a distraction? Let me know your thoughts.
Multitasking is a myth. Any task, which requires focused attention, conscious processing or decision making, cannot be accomplished while doing a similar task. Our brains are just not "wired" for it.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible, to some extent, to carry on with brain-requiring tasks, while doing another, "automatic" function, such as walking or listening to music. However, I consider the latter concurrent activities, NOT real multitasking.
Driving (in traffic) is highly "brain-demanding". It requires complete and continuous attention. Distractions, which also require some "brain function" will, therefore, inevitably reduce one's ability to focus on driving.
Anything, which will divert the brain and/or the eye, even for a fraction of a moment, must be considered hazardous.
Alex...I want to argue with you but I can't...I'm cooking and typing, my tasking is out. You win!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Well said Alex! You are exactly right. We are not multi-taskers. Our brains operate in a linear fashion. The ability to to rapidly flip from one train of thought to the next is what is confused for multi-tasking. The problem is that is that the brain takes a few moments to refocus on tasks.
ReplyDeleteChanging the station on the radio or sipping your coffee are so repetitive in nature that they really require no thought at all. More like muscle memory. You don't even have to take your eyes off the road. But if you hit a pothole, suddenly all your attention goes to the mess you made from spilling your coffee and all thoughts of driving go right out the window.
TSC - Go back to cooking. You may starve if you type too much before you get a chance to eat. :)
Alex's comment about "automatic" functions makes me wonder if one can learn "multitasking".
ReplyDeleteCan someone be so good at something or do it so often that it becomes automatic, like walking? If so, is that person better at so-called multitasking with that specific task than another person?
Obviously, I don't endorse this while driving, but I think it's an interesting concept in general. I wonder if Alex--who seems to have more knowledge than me on this topic--has any thoughts.