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To: Hawkmoon who wrote (75823)	7/1/2011 3:36:50 AM
From: Maurice Winn	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217713

Hawk, back in the day, when I learned to drive trucks, and cars, we had what were called "crash" gearboxes. They required double declutching to effect smooth gear changes. When skilled one could change gears without needing the clutch, by timing the engine speed to the gearbox speed so that the cogs matched perfectly. Nowadays, people who drive automatic transmission cars don't need to keep taking their hand off the steering wheel, which did not have power steering and required significant musculature to turn the steering wheel. Steering wheels were large in diameter so that sufficient torque could be brought to bear. Nowadays, the diameter of a steering wheel is to match the shoulder width because having arms straight out is more comfortable than having hands close together. We used to change gear with our left arm [right hand drive vehicles] and put our right arm out the window to indicate a turn direction or stopping intention. We had to remember not to change gear and put our other arm out the window simultaneously because it made it hard to talk on our RT [radio telephone] which was a two way device for talking to the depot and other drivers. We used our knees for steering if needed, and our chins for honking the horn at gorgeous ladies on the footpath. There were few accidents due to inattention. People were not mindlessly bored in their vehicles. <It's when they start texting, or doing things that prevent them from having two free hands on the wheel, that should be regulated. > Do you really need two hands to steer your vehicle? Are you sure it's safe if it's that hard to keep it going in the direction you want? Sometimes vehicles had knobs on the steering wheel so that one handed steering was easier - change gears and steer simultaneously more easily. The problem with cellphones, texting, looking out the window at girls, tuning the radio, talking to passengers, thinking about an important matter and the thousands of other possible distractions, for which laws can't be individually passed, is the separation of the mind from the events on road ahead. It's not the hands, it's the minds. Drivers have to self-monitor to maintain sufficient attention to the events about to happen ahead of them, and behind them, and to the sides, and up above. The aviation jargon is situational awareness. If people fail to maintain due care and attention [as shown by their vehicle breaking laws of motion such as failing to give way, stopping in time, avoiding old people, children, dogs and objects on the road] then they should be prosecuted and banned from driving if they are unable to learn to maintain sufficient attention. The problem is the increasing kleptocracy, bureaucratisation and authoritarianism of life in "free" societies. Which are increasingly anything but free. Strangely, people vote for more of the same, every election. Mqurice