celphones was Why not methanol 4859

JP White

The message on the display does not need to be fully in focus to read, in fact knowing the context of the message can allow you to read it even if you can only recognize part of it. It's similar to the effect of reading "chinglish" or some other not-quite-translated text, after some time of reading it you find that you are subconsciously retranslating it and not even noticing the errors in it.

I also do not "look down at the speedometer", I know the layout of the speedometer and I am able to tell my speed, certainly within 5mph simply by noting the orientation of the needle in my peripheral vision.

For years I have also been able to subconsciously map the fixed radar signals in familiar areas to the point where without conscious though I can identify a cop hiding in the same area where there is a microwave door opener. Door opener = level 2 radar reading, cop hiding = level 4 reading.

No, not ever. This is one of the reasons I drive a truck, it allows me to see further ahead and plan my braking so I can synchronize with traffic lights as much as possible. Saves gas and brake wear as well as being safer.

My normal braking is such that I would be able to come to a complete stop at least 40' from the next vehicle without requiring a "nose dive" maneuver, I roll in the last 30' at 5mph or less.

I have friends who brake late and I drive them nuts quite often with my cringing. Granted they drive small cars that do have shorter stopping distances than my 6,700# truck, but one spot of oil or diesel on the road and they would rear end someone.

I drove 1,700 mi while pulling a 24' 10,000# trailer, 49' total length with truck. This was completely unfamiliar territory and I was relying on GPS for navigation. At one point I was paged by work and spent 45 minutes on the phone with a headset troubleshooting a problem while driving. I did an 18hr 800mi non-stop (except for gas and lunch) arriving home at midnight. I drove through several 4-5mi sections of construction zone with 10' wide barriers in an 8' wide truck. I phoned home several times in route to check in. I checked the GPS many times. I drank a case of Powerade and ate a box of granola bars. I was indeed bored out of my mind and couldn't even find a good radio station. Despite all that I maintained my focus and I had not a single issue on the trip. This was of course an almost exclusively highway trip.

Pete C.