West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

1. dawsonct
   Member Profile

   These are my new least favorite people on the road; lurching from lane to lane, usually at the last possible moment, completely oblivious to the drivers around them, because, well, their little dashboard computer requires their rapt attention.
   Just coming across the low bridge, I had some idiot in a mini-van right in front of me. He would split lanes; move to the R. lane, suddenly realize they needed the L. lane (or the other way around). In front of the Chelan, spends the whole time in the L. lane, then jerks into the R. lane when his stupid little computer tells him to at the last second. Then sat through the whole R. turn light. Under the viaduct, he stopped at the ped. crosswalk. Very courteous, but there were NO pedestrians around.
   Then he's going to Admiral, NO, wait, Avalon, where he is going to turn left, NO, wait, turn right. This whole time, maintaining JUST enough distance so I couldn't get past him.
   ---
   Got a problem reading maps or memorizing directions? PULL OVER!!

   Posted 1 year ago #         

2. KBear
   Member Profile

   Remember that old Almost Live sketch about the "RV-Be-Gone"? It was a little magic box, and you pushed a button to make road signs appear, such as "Yard Sale" and "Giant Ball of Twine Next Exit". Then the retirees in the lumbering RV in front of you would suddenly feel compelled to take the next exit.

   I'm thinking of an updated version... "GPS Genie"...

   Posted 1 year ago #         

3. WMO
   Member Profile

   This type of behavior belongs in politics with our elected officials, not on the road. I wonder how fast he would drive down Admiral?

   Posted 1 year ago #         

4. Zenguy
   Member Profile

   

   I agree with you. In their defense under the West Seattle freeway and around the First Avenue bridge are pretty confusing, even for long time residents.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

5. dawsonct
   Member Profile

   True enough ZG, but the lurching began long before we hit the low bridge.
   I think some people have become so dependent on them, that they basically mindlessly do whatever the little computer voice tells them.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

6. Genesee Hill
   Member Profile

   

   There was an interesting article on MSNBC recently that theorized that habitual use of GPS causes a part of the brain to atrophy.

   Don't get me wrong, I am drawing no conclusions, but it was interesting. Google "GPS and brain" and you will see the article.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

7. ws4ever
   Member Profile

   Makes me laugh. That part of my brain must be huuuuge due to the overwork of constantly being lost. But I don't think the neurons are talking to each other yet.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

8. JoB
   Member Profile

   I confess.. the droid lady and i have become friends..
   oh.. i know,... she's really the google map lady
   but there is something about the way droid rolls off the tongue and makes me think of primeval forests...

   I can drive without her ...
   and i do..
   but some days i wouldn't find my way home without her
   and i love that she knows how to find all the best places to shop.. and eat.. and where to get gas when i finally notice that the tank is on empty and have no idea how long that funny little light has been on..

   I admit that i pay just about as much attention to her as i do to back seat drivers...
   did i just miss that turn?

   but she is so much more forgiving than my friends
   no matter how many wrong turns or side trips i take
   she simply corrects my course and tells me how to get out of the dead end i just got myself into...

   None of us should be a slave to voices...
   even when they aren't in our heads.
   but sometimes it's good to have someone to tell you where to go :)

   Posted 1 year ago #         

9. yeah-me
   Member Profile

   

   On a much less humorous note, there have been many deaths in Death Valley that they attribute to GPS. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/01/modern-times-death-by-gps-in-calif-desert/1
   Wow!

   Posted 1 year ago #         

10. elikapeka
    Member Profile

    There's usually one or two every winter in mountain country as well - people who drive onto closed roads and get stuck in the snow. I don't care what the nice voice says, if I'm in the middle of nowhere and it's telling me to go down an unplowed Forest Service road in the middle of winter, I'm not going - geez!!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.