Welcome to the IHoP

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

I do need a drink after watching those drunk driver vids...

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

which is ironic if you think about it

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

[///M5 2,833]

iconic indeed

[ssh 924]

Or are you just ChiLLing on us?

Rofl.

[///M5 2,833]

Shit is done!

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

When you drive, distractions are everywhere, not just in your vehicle.

At a typical intersection, you are surrounded by other drivers that are distracted or not paying attention.

• 77% of drivers talk on the phone
  
• 65% listen to the radio
  
• 30% listen to a portable music player
  
• Up to 45% of drivers eat or drink
  
• 27% interact with child passengers
  
• 6% do personal grooming
  

This module is about how important it is to stay focused on the task of driving when you are behind the wheel. Inattention and distraction are becoming more difficult to manage. Topics to help you manage your distractions include:

• Importance of Staying Focused
  
• Inattention and Distraction
  
• Distractions You Can Control
  
• Managing Distractions You Can Control
  

You need your eyes on the road ahead and both hands on the wheel to be capable of reacting quickly and controlling your vehicle.

Split attention or focusing on distractions may narrow your field of view, shrink your peripheral vision and may cause a delay in hazard recognition.

Distractions may also cause your hands to come off the wheel and steering can be affected.

The average driver travels 24 miles per day to and from work in heavy, or rush hour traffic.

For each mile driven, there can be up to 200 events that you have to see and decide what to do. During that single mile, you will make approximately 20 decisions - decisions that tell your hands to steer, your feet to brake, or both.

Out of those 20 decisions, most drivers make two driving errors; that's one out of ten. Drivers make about two incorrect decisions per mile, which averages 48 incorrect decisions per day, per driver.

To be able to steer effectively and react quickly while driving, you need to be focused on driving with:

• Your eyes and mind on the driving environment.
  
• Both hands on the wheel to be prepared for the unexpected.
  

Inattention is a general lack of focus on the task of driving.

Inattention is generally caused by intense mental concentration on highly emotional issues, such as relationships, health problems, family events, and money issues. It is also associated with daydreaming when your mind just wanders away from driving onto another subject.

When these problems consume your thoughts, it's hard to focus on driving.

If you are experiencing a highly emotional event in your life, assess your capability to remain focused behind the wheel.

Clear your mind so you are able to react quickly to the unexpected events that you will encounter.

Driver distraction is characterized as any activity that takes a driver's attention away from driving.

Outside of the vehicle there are more distractions than inside. External distractions could include:

• Other drivers
  
• Crashes
  
• Road signs and billboards
  
• Unpredictable things, such as animals, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles.
  

Distractions inside the vehicle could include:

• Music
  
• Navigation systems
  
• Talking
  
• Wireless devices
  
• Drinking and eating
  
• Your passengers
  

Reading road maps, signs, and looking for street addresses are also visual distractions.

It is important to remember that any distraction has the potential to cause or contribute to a crash.

Eliminate as many distractions as you possibly can while driving. Do an inventory of the distractions you actually can control.

Inside the vehicle there are obvious potential distractions you can prevent - using a mobile phone, text messaging, tuning the radio, changing CDs, eating, and grooming.

Passengers also have a large potential to distract the driver. Control conversations and actions of those sharing the vehicle with you - including children and pets.

You have no real control over events that occur outside the vehicle. You can plan your route to avoid construction zones and watch the traffic report to avoid congestion. When driving, you consistently encounter events that are unexpected - prepare for them by being focused on the task of driving while your vehicle is in motion.

Before driving, become familiar with the features of your phone and program the numbers you use most often. If you have a phone in your vehicle, do not use it while the vehicle is in motion. To avoid the distraction of it ringing, turn the phone off or set it to go to voicemail.

If you need to have a conversation, pull over and use the phone only when you are parked in a safe and secure location.

Text messaging or surfing the internet on your wireless device while driving takes your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road. This makes using a wireless device a distraction with one of the highest risks. When texting you are not looking at the road ahead and you are not using your hands to control the direction of your vehicle. To compound the risk, using a wireless device requires your thought process to be diverted from the task of driving. National statistics show that about 20% of fatal accidents are due to texting and driving.

Several states have already banned cell phone use while driving. In May 2007, Washington became the first state to ban the practice of driving while texting. The fine for Driving While Texting (DWT) is set at $101. It is illegal in Texas to use a wireless communication device in a school zone unless the vehicle is stopped or a hands-free device is used. If you are under 18, it is illegal to use a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

According to AAA, in 2007, up to 46% of drivers admit that they text while driving. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute came to some shocking conclusions about texting while driving:

• If you choose to text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to get in a collision than if you were unimpaired.
  
• 71% of drivers age 18-29 said they texted while driving in 2009.
  
• It takes nearly 5 seconds to look at a texting device. This often happens moments before a crash.
  
• 95% of drivers would admit that texting while driving is unsafe, but 21% do it anyway.
  

If you are traveling at 60 mph, you will travel almost the length of a football field in three seconds. A lot can happen in that amount of time with your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel.

Program stations in advance. Load CDs and ensure they are not loose inside the vehicle. Keep the volume down so you can hear events outside of the vehicle. If you need assistance, have your passenger adjust the audio device.

The new high technology systems being introduced into today's vehicles such as in-vehicle navigation systems, embedded cellular phones, and forward looking infrared warning systems offer incredible capabilities to the operator. However, they also bring with them distraction from the task of driving.

The new technologies can actually place inordinate mental and physical demands upon the driver at very inopportune times. Studies done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that operating the controls on in-vehicle navigation systems impacts the ability to control the vehicle.

The most distracting telematic activity, resulting in the greatest number of momentary losses of control, was inputting data into a navigation system using touch keys. Follow the manufacturer's warning and only input data when your vehicle is stopped. If you have a passenger in your vehicle let him or her operate the system for you.

Passengers are serious distractions. Keep passengers and conversation to a minimum. Try to let the passengers do most of the talking.

Refrain from emotional conversation and do not look at your passengers when you are talking with them. You are not the entertainment. If you are traveling with children, plan to keep them occupied with a quiet activity. Ensure they are safely secured and cannot move about the vehicle.

Avoid this distraction because it takes both your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road.

Reading includes looking for street signs, reading maps, or trying to follow directions. Reading takes your focus away from driving and your eyes off the road. Avoid this distraction by knowing your destination before getting behind the wheel.

If you need directions, stop your vehicle, then read the map. If you have a passenger, have him or her assist you in locating your destination.

Plan to eat in advance of driving. On long trips, stop to eat and obtain rest so you do not get fatigued. If you have to eat, purchase car-friendly food. Prepare drinks so they fit in your vehicle's drink holder and will not spill. Plan ahead to minimize the mess of eating and drinking and the distraction that goes with it.

Inattention and distractions are dangerous because they take YOUR MIND off of driving. Inattention is a general lack of focus on the task of driving.

Stay focused on the task of driving because in one split second an unexpected event can occur, and you have to be ready to see it and react quickly!

Most distractions are outside of the vehicle, and you cannot control them, but you CAN control the urge to look and stare. Do not take your eyes off the road ahead and keep both hands on the wheel so you can control your vehicle. Plan your route to avoid distractions outside of your car.

Keep in mind that there are occasions when your vehicle can become a distraction.

When engaged in a conversation, even on a hands free phone, the conversation involves your thought process and often emotions, which take your mind off driving. If you need to have a conversation, pull over and use the phone only when you are parked in a safe and secure location.

If you need directions, stop your vehicle and then read the map.

Groom yourself before your vehicle is in motion. Control your passengers - while you are driving, you are responsible for their lives. If you have to eat or drink, buy "car-friendly" food and get it ready before you are in motion.

Enjoy the radio and CDs... load your CDs and set your radio stations before driving. Keep the volume down so you can hear events that occur outside of the vehicle.

Watch out for others who are not paying attention - they are everywhere! And always stay focused behind the wheel.

[jonbearsmt 919]

crazy hair is really trying to force his way to youtube stardom

[ricksi30 923]

crazy hair is really trying to force his way to youtube stardom

Haha I noticed too, his videos look like they are recorded with a flip phone from 1999.

[jonbearsmt 919]

crazy hair is really trying to force his way to youtube stardom

Haha I noticed too, his videos look like they are recorded with a flip phone from 1999.

lol with a brick as a tripod, .....bill.. your no CEO.

the parts i love about his videos are when he speaks... he has no fucking clue what to say next...."uhh your not gonna believe" "uh IM CRAZY HAIR " UH im hurr crazy hurr"

[MKader17 332]

Puppiez!!!!!

I always love puppy pix.

My pup just got done getting spayed. The Vet said not to let her jump or run. Girlfriend goes to pick her up and first thing she does is sprint to her and jump on her.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Artsy photo of Ferdinand sleeping under the stars:

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Recent one of Arthur and Ferdinand:

[MKader17 332]

Love the pics, hate the instagram edges.

[MKader17 332]

I've spent a lot time in a newer F250 recently. It's a 2wd gasser but dang its sooo much nicer than my dads truck in basically everyway.

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Recent one of Arthur and Ferdinand:

This is awesome!

[///M5 2,833]

Recent one of Arthur and Ferdinand:

This is awesome!

Agreed!

[ricksi30 923]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

[nem 2,019]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

I beleive they have been the same since day one for the line.

[nem 2,019]

Can I ask why?

[ricksi30 923]

Can I ask why?

Grabbed one for a very good price (225), but is says 09 XCON in his ad. Didn't notice until after I payed.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

I beleive they have been the same since day one for the line.

The spiders were recently upgraded. The original Xcon had a pole vent, the new model has a solid pole with axial cooling channels, both versions use a shorting ring.

[ricksi30 923]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

I beleive they have been the same since day one for the line.

The spiders were recently upgraded. The original Xcon had a pole vent, the new model has a solid pole with axial cooling channels, both versions use a shorting ring.

Thanks Aaron are they okay to use together?

[nem 2,019]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

I beleive they have been the same since day one for the line.

The spiders were recently upgraded. The original Xcon had a pole vent, the new model has a solid pole with axial cooling channels, both versions use a shorting ring.

Sorry I was wrong, I thought they were the same.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Are all XCONs the same? I know the spiders were changed but are all XCON motors and everything else the same?

I beleive they have been the same since day one for the line.

The spiders were recently upgraded. The original Xcon had a pole vent, the new model has a solid pole with axial cooling channels, both versions use a shorting ring.

Thanks Aaron are they okay to use together?

You should be fine. The coil did not change, and neither did the moving mass.