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Opening Arguments

Beep, beep

Purdue University did a driving-accident study, and all I can say is, "Look out, boys and girls, I'm coming your way, and I'm in a dangerous mood."

"Probably the biggest surprise was that older men, 45 years old and older, were the most likely age/gender group to be severely injured in snow/ice conditions," he said. "We initially expected this age group to be conservative and cautious under these conditions, but they are significantly more likely to be severely injured.

"And, of these older men, those driving pickup trucks were even more likely to be severely injured ... 81 percent more likely than older men driving other vehicle types."

You should be glad I don't drive a pickup. Sorry, all you "Women are lousy drivers"

Comments

Harl Delos
Tue, 12/13/2011 - 3:52pm

Men aren't supposed to admit any weakness - but I'll admit it. In good weather, I'm too inattentive to be a good driver. Bad ice or snow commands my attention, though, and I easily drive through conditions in my too-light two-wheel drive minivan that flummoxes many in 4WD jeeps. I think it comes from years of driving tractor in muddy fields.

One thing that's improved my driving, though, has been Kindle. These days, newspapers are only about 28" wide, and the pages are easier to turn (I remember when the Sidney, Ohio newspaper was on a 36" web), but it's easy to hold a Kindle-ized newspaper with one hand, and turn pages with one finger. What, officer? Talking on the phone while driving? Never do it, even hands-free. That's dangerous!

littlejohn
Tue, 12/13/2011 - 11:03pm

I'm very suspicious of statistics in the hands of journalists (including me). Correlation isn't necessarily causation. Here's a plausible alternative explanation:
Pickup trucks get notoriously bad traction from their rear tires when the bed is unloaded (which is most of the time). Men are far more likely to be driving pickups than women. Ergo, men will have more accidents. It doesn't mean they drive any worse.

Harl Delos
Wed, 12/14/2011 - 7:31am

"It doesn

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