Yet another cause of inattentional blindness: remembering your sat nav screen

[chasio]

Story on Stuff today.

It seems it's not just the distraction of using the thing, but the effect that remembering an image has on your ability to process information.

The thing is, I already know that other road users often won't notice me so take care to ride accordingly.

For me, looking at the GPS unit when I am riding is obviously risky, but it seems the effect lasts longer than the glance. Yet even looking at it while stopped and about to set off increases my risk of inattention. The latter is what I just learned to take extra care over.

- Chasio

[ducatilover]

That's ground breaking... people are fuck tards when distracted? Who would have thunk it?

[chasio]

That's ground breaking... people are fuck tards when distracted? Who would have thunk it?

I think you may be over-simplifying the findings... But yes, they are. And I am people, too.

[bogan]

I'm not sure if that research is really applicable. Though I don't use satnav, when I remember map directions, its a count and a direction, related to the shape of the road. So its more about fitting what I'm seeing onto the map I remember, than ignoring what I'm seeing to remember what the map looks like. I would have though with satnav, the lady tells you where to turn and remembering pictures is not required anyway?

[chasio]

I'm not sure if that research is really applicable. Though I don't use satnav, when I remember map directions, its a count and a direction, related to the shape of the road. So its more about fitting what I'm seeing onto the map I remember, than ignoring what I'm seeing to remember what the map looks like. I would have though with satnav, the lady tells you where to turn and remembering pictures is not required anyway?

Largely true, I expect, although I reckon people look at the display as well as listening to directions, at least some of the time. Then they cross-reference what they see and what they hear.

The learning for me is if I have pulled over to check directions (could be a map or GPS I guess), to be aware that I will have less attention available immediately afterwards. So maybe take a deep breath and a do a nice looong head-check before pulling off, not just a glance. That kind of thing...

[george formby]

I've done the odd lap of Yerp on a bike using Sat navs. Half the time you can't see the screen anyway because of sun, rain, vibration etc so you can spend a lot of time looking at the little telly. A wee ear piece with a sexy voice saying "turn left in 500 meters" is more than adequate.
When your looking for a turn off or directions on a strange road your mind is automatically being distracted away from hazards, whether it's sat nav, a map or direction notes (my fav). Just watch how tourists behave when they are cruising around looking for accommodation, they are all over the road, oblivious to following traffic & often oncoming, road signs, one way streets etc.

It's only human to be distracted or shift mental focus & it takes awareness of this & a conscious decision to save some brain & senses for hazards.

[Gremlin]

I've done more than 100,000km with a GPS on the bike.

How hard is it to prioritise the tasks when riding/driving? There's a bunch of people that shouldn't be allowed on the road

[FJRider]

I've never needed GPS. I know where I'm going ..

[Gremlin]

I've never needed GPS. I know where I'm going ..

Several of my mates reckon they've never got more lost than when following me with my GPS. I admit that I certainly get into some interesting places thanks to my GPS that I never would have found otherwise.

I guess I'm kinda speshul then...

[FJRider]

Several of my mates reckon they've never got more lost than when following me with my GPS. I admit that I certainly get into some interesting places thanks to my GPS that I never would have found otherwise.

I guess I'm kinda speshul then...

The way I look at it is .... the south island is only a small place. And I've been over all the roads at least once ...

[ducatilover]

I'm not sure if that research is really applicable. Though I don't use satnav, when I remember map directions, its a count and a direction, related to the shape of the road. So its more about fitting what I'm seeing onto the map I remember, than ignoring what I'm seeing to remember what the map looks like. I would have though with satnav, the lady tells you where to turn and remembering pictures is not required anyway?

When I use a GPS the sexy robot lady tells me to turn several times before the turn. This is not distracting in the least, in fact it's better than approaching a corner distracted by the thought of "fuck, where am I meant to go and what lane should I be in".
It's like saying rally drivers are going to die because they have a co-driver.
The issue is fuck tards, not GPS...

[schrodingers cat]

I think you may be over-simplifying the findings... But yes, they are. And I am people, too.

More than you know hunny bunny.
There is so much stupidity out there that it has its own theory
http://cantrip.org/stupidity.html?seenIEPage=1

[SuperMac]

That's ground breaking... people are fuck tards when distracted? Who would have thunk it?

There's more to it than that; the important thing from the OP is the persistance of that distraction - in the same way that drivers can be distracted by mobile phone calls upt to 20 minutes after the call ends.

The important thing for us is to use the knowledge that people will be distracted, particularly around major junctions etc.
- If there are any clues that the driver isn't local, then expect them to be making late decisions etc.
- If junction priorities have changed, lanes altered, new junctions built, then it's unlikely that satnavs will have been updated to cope, so drivers will be confused

I've never needed GPS. I know where I'm going ..

I like maps, but it was two instances of 'knowing where I was going' and 'missing' that convinced me of the value of satnavs

The first was a road which changed names half way along, so Istopped and knocked on the door of the wrong No. 108 - while the guy who lived in the 'right' 108 was outside his house waving at me from 100yds away.

The second was visiting some ancient Roman ruins (in the UK, the old 'lost' town of Silchester, Calleva Attrebatum) which I'd been to many times before but this time was travelling to a different way - but the local council had taken down all the signs to replace them! Little coutry lanes with high hedges didn't help direction choice, an when I chose a church steeple to aim at it was the wrong church! Got there in the end

[chasio]

More than you know hunny bunny.
There is so much stupidity out there that it has its own theory
http://cantrip.org/stupidity.html?seenIEPage=1

Hunny bunny? I feel all warm and fuzzy now...

And yes, I think the "news" is the persistence of the distraction as SuperMac says. It's obvious that someone looking at a SatNav / GPS is distracted while they are doing it. It is less obvious that they (I) will still be distracted some time later.

Chasio

PS I might need to get a GPS that talks to me: mine is not terribly sophisticated: just the odd beep I can't hear, so I have to glance down a fair bit.