Male drivers waste six million hours a year

[MackemX]

imagine how many more it would be if we let the women drive or be in control of the map


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060314/wl_uk_afp/britaintransportdriversmenoffbeat

Male drivers waste six million hours a year

LONDON (AFP) - British male drivers waste nearly six million hours a year lost on the road because they are reluctant to ask for directions.

Men who are lost wait an average of 20 minutes before giving up and asking for directions, while women only wait 10 minutes before seeking help, according to a survey from Royal Automobile Club Direct Insurance.

Men even endure a "nagging period" of around 10 minutes from their partner before throwing in the towel and stopping to ask the way, the poll showed.

[BJ_M]

hahahaaha - how true !!

[AlecWest]

imagine how many more it would be if we let the women drive or be in control of the map

No kidding, hehehe. If somebody asked me for directions to my local library, I'd give them the address. If somebody asked my ex for directions to the same library, they'd get something like, "You know that brown house across the street from the MinitMart? Well, you go down Holgate until you see the house. But don't make any turns. Just keep on going past the house until ..." zzzzzzz

Of course, wasted time behind the wheel costs gas-money. Wasted time taking directions before driving only challenge's a person's patience (grin) ... but may still make them just as late as they would have been if they'd not taken the directions.

[ZAPPER]

I ain't proud, I'll ask directions, as soon as I see someone that looks like they have even half of a brain.

Typical Zapper and wife exchange when lost driving:

Zapper: What was the name of the road we are looking for?

Wife: I don't know.

Zapper: What was the name of the road we just crossed?

Wife: I don't know.

Zapper: Did you bring the directions?

Wife: No, I left them on the table.

Zapper: Will you get the map out of the glovebox.

Wife: I took it in the house yesterday.

Zapper: What?

Wife: Are you deaf? I said that I took it into the house yesterday.

Zapper: NO! I AM NOT DEAF! What I should have asked was WHYYYYYY did you take it out of the car?

Wife: Don't get snotty with me, prick! You're the one that is driving and you're the one that is lost.

Zapper: OK, Just tell me why you took the map book into the house.

Wife: So I could figure out how to get there.

Zapper: OKaaaaaayyy, and what did you figure?

Wife: I told you that I don't know, I left everything on the table, Prick.

Zapper: OK. Do you remember anything about the names of the streets or anything?

Wife: I told you NO! Prick!

Zapper: Great.

Wife: Why don't you ask that guy?

Zapper: Who?

Wife: That guy on the corner. Idiot!

Zapper: Because he is a crack dealer!

Wife: Well pull over at a gas station and ask.

Zapper: No problem. But what exactly am I supposed to ask?

Wife: How to get there. Stupid!

Zapper: Where?

Wife: To the dinner party. You idiot.

Zapper: And these people at the gas station are gonna know your freinds and where they live?

Wife: So kill me.

Zapper: Your too fat to have to dig a hole for.

Wife: Bawh...Boohoo...

Zapper: OK, shut up with the crying and call them.

Wife: I can't.

Zapper: Let me guess. The number is on the table?

Wife: Screw you prick!

Zapper: Call information

Wife: I'm not calling, you call.

Zapper: What? They are your freinds, you call, I don't even know their names.

Wife: I am never taking you anywhere with me again!

Zapper: Promise?

Wife: Prick!

Zapper: OK, just call Information and get the number and then call your freinds and get the damn directions again.

(wife complies and calls information and her freind and gets new directions)

Wife: Turn around and go home.

Zapper: What?

Wife: Jeeeese? Are you deaf? I said turn around and go home!

Zapper: Why? I can figure out how to start in the middle of the directions. I don't have to go all of the way back home and start again.

Wife: Go home!

Zapper: Why?

Wife: Because the party isn't until tomorrow! And If you say one more thing I am going to rip your beard out!!!

Zappers nervous twitch returns to his left eye and the corner of his mouth

Wife: I think I wanted to wear a different outfit anyways.

Zapper forces a smile to attempt to overcome the twitching

Wife: And You really need to just shave that beard of anyways.

Zapper can feel the blood clot roaming around his brain, just looking for a place to cause a stroke.

Wife: And you really should get a new suit...And while we are out you should...And... And...Blah blah blah And................

[Conquest10]

Boy, I'm glad I live in a city that is completely set up in a grid. I have never gotten lost (and I can't see how somebody could but they do). The city is split up into 4: north, south, east, and west. Very easy to figure out where an address is.

[ZAPPER]

Boy, I'm glad I live in a city that is completely set up in a grid. I have never gotten lost (and I can't see how somebody could but they do). The city is split up into 4: north, south, east, and west. Very easy to figure out where an address is.

You need to get out more

I am from just east of Chi town, a little stink hole called Gary, IN. Most of the flat land is laid out in grids. I don't really get lost all that much, but it is fun to mess with the Ole lady.


Now a buddy of mine told me a story about when he was a MP in Germany how he was tapped out at the last second to lead a convoy to area "C". So he leads about a hundred or so vehicles up this 20 mile one lane road winding all thru the hills or something. Well it turns out it was supposed to be Area "D" or "Z" or anything but "C"

It could be an urban legend of sorts, but knowing this guy...

[BJ_M]

not me -- i still am not sure which way my house is pointing

[MackemX]

I ain't proud, I'll ask directions, as soon as I see someone that looks like they have even half of a brain.

Typical Zapper and wife exchange when lost driving:

Zapper: What was the name of the road we are looking for?

Wife: I don't know.

Zapper: What was the name of the road we just crossed?

Wife: I don't know.

Zapper: Did you bring the directions?

Wife: No, I left them on the table.

Zapper: Will you get the map out of the glovebox.

Wife: I took it in the house yesterday.

Zapper: What?

Wife: Are you deaf? I said that I took it into the house yesterday.

Zapper: NO! I AM NOT DEAF! What I should have asked was WHYYYYYY did you take it out of the car?

Wife: Don't get snotty with me, prick! You're the one that is driving and you're the one that is lost.

Zapper: OK, Just tell me why you took the map book into the house.

Wife: So I could figure out how to get there.

Zapper: OKaaaaaayyy, and what did you figure?

Wife: I told you that I don't know, I left everything on the table, Prick.

Zapper: OK. Do you remember anything about the names of the streets or anything?

Wife: I told you NO! Prick!

Zapper: Great.

Wife: Why don't you ask that guy?

Zapper: Who?

Wife: That guy on the corner. Idiot!

Zapper: Because he is a crack dealer!

Wife: Well pull over at a gas station and ask.

Zapper: No problem. But what exactly am I supposed to ask?

Wife: How to get there. Stupid!

Zapper: Where?

Wife: To the dinner party. You idiot.

Zapper: And these people at the gas station are gonna know your freinds and where they live?

Wife: So kill me.

Zapper: Your too fat to have to dig a hole for.

Wife: Bawh...Boohoo...

Zapper: OK, shut up with the crying and call them.

Wife: I can't.

Zapper: Let me guess. The number is on the table?

Wife: Screw you prick!

Zapper: Call information

Wife: I'm not calling, you call.

Zapper: What? They are your freinds, you call, I don't even know their names.

Wife: I am never taking you anywhere with me again!

Zapper: Promise?

Wife: Prick!

Zapper: OK, just call Information and get the number and then call your freinds and get the damn directions again.

(wife complies and calls information and her freind and gets new directions)

Wife: Turn around and go home.

Zapper: What?

Wife: Jeeeese? Are you deaf? I said turn around and go home!

Zapper: Why? I can figure out how to start in the middle of the directions. I don't have to go all of the way back home and start again.

Wife: Go home!

Zapper: Why?

Wife: Because the party isn't until tomorrow! And If you say one more thing I am going to rip your beard out!!!

Zappers nervous twitch returns to his left eye and the corner of his mouth

Wife: I think I wanted to wear a different outfit anyways.

Zapper forces a smile to attempt to overcome the twitching

Wife: And You really need to just shave that beard of anyways.

Zapper can feel the blood clot roaming around his brain, just looking for a place to cause a stroke.

Wife: And you really should get a new suit...And while we are out you should...And... And...Blah blah blah And................

, don't tell me that's a true story Zapper

reminds me of a time I went down to London to pick up a new car with a chick. I got so sick of her lack of map reading, I flung it out of the car and just used the road signs instead

[Cobra]

"You have arrived at your destination. Route guidance is now finished."

That's all I hear these days.

[MackemX]

I've always wanted a sat nav's but I just know I'll either lose it, break it or have it stolen so I've purposely not bought one. If I'm going out of town on a journey I'll normally just take my laptop as it has a roadmap of the UK. It doesn't speak but it's real handy neverless 8)

I'm hoping my next car just has it built into the car itself and I remember messing with one a few years ago as it was a new toy. It would tell me to go left so I'd go right just to see what it did . I suppose it was a little like giving a woman directions and she then goes the wrong way

another good one is when people in the car tell you to go right and then point to the left or vice versa

[Cobra]

I learned to drive, and spent my first year of driving, in a Toyota Avensis. That had integrated sat nav. It had a small, pixellated LCD display - not even colour, just light and dark grey. However, the verbal instructions were outstanding, and because they came through the car speakers they were very clear.

I'd still go for one now, MackemX, if you want it. Then, if you get a car with sat nav, you can always put the portable unit into another car or sell it. Insurance isn't too bad, either, so if you do lose it or break it you won't be too badly out.

EDIT - Have a look here:

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/

...but if I were you, consider a TomTom system. Not as slim or stylish as my one, but trust me, they're better.

[MackemX]

I learned to drive, and spent my first year of driving, in a Toyota Avensis. That had integrated sat nav. It had a small, pixellated LCD display - not even colour, just light and dark grey. However, the verbal instructions were outstanding, and because they came through the car speakers they were very clear.

that's the car I was playing around with as it was a hire car. Your right that's the display it had . Real nice car to drive though as were the Corolla's 8)

I'd still go for one now, MackemX, if you want it. Then, if you get a car with sat nav, you can always put the portable unit into another car or sell it. Insurance isn't too bad, either, so if you do lose it or break it you won't be too badly out.

EDIT - Have a look here:

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/

...but if I were you, consider a TomTom system. Not as slim or stylish as my one, but trust me, they're better.

I've looked at Tom Tom's and regularly get emails from Maplins about them dropping in price . I saw yours and I actually liked it better than the TT

what would be cool is an mp3 player (compatiable with car)/phone/sat nav all in one 8). It would be expensive to lose or break but it would save carrying 3 things around as I hate too many things in my pockets

[lordsmurf]

My problem is finding somebody who knows anything. Most gas station clerks seem to barely know where there own house is, much less anything else. A few times, they don't even know what road the station is on where they work.

Don't get too attached to those electronic maps. I have a friend who is addicted to those. He has been to my house at least a dozen times now, and he still does not remember how to get here, he does not even know where major highways are. It's like that thing is his brain. Without it, he's a total dumbass, in terms of roadways.

[MackemX]

My problem is finding somebody who knows anything. Most gas station clerks seem to barely know where there own house is, much less anything else. A few times, they don't even know what road the station is on where they work.

that's why they are on minimum wage (should be less!) as all they have to do is press the flashing to button to start the pump and then swipe a card to accept payment . It says nothing about giving directions in their job description . In fact don't you get these automated stations now with just the pumps and machines for you to swipe your card?

If I am in a strange place without a map then I normally just pick up a map in the gas station as there's normally one about and have a quick peep :P.

[lordsmurf]

I walk up to a pump, swipe my credit card, fill up, and leave. I don't go in the store unless I want a snack or drink (or a 6-pack), which is not often. It's been this way for many years.

[waheed]

I'll normally just take my laptop as it has a roadmap of the UK. It doesn't speak but it's real handy neverless

You can convert your laptop into a GPS, all you need is a USB GPS reciever, pick one up on ebay quite cheaply and a software that supports GPS, like Autoroute or anything else. And it will speak to you. Just a suggestion

[MackemX]

thanks for the info waheed . I've seen those receivers before but I don't think I travel enough to use my laptop and justify buying one :mellow:

I manage quite well making my own directions first as I normally check my route first using something like www.multimap.com also.

I'm quite good with directions and even if I get lost I soon sort myself out. I hate being in a car with someone who doesn't know the roads and then is afraid to 'go up that road'

the times I do get lost are when someone gives me bad directions to their place . You eventually get there thinking 'why the hell did you give me those directions when you could have given me these'

it's a little like AlecWest's comment above

imagine how many more it would be if we let the women drive or be in control of the map

No kidding, hehehe. If somebody asked me for directions to my local library, I'd give them the address. If somebody asked my ex for directions to the same library, they'd get something like, "You know that brown house across the street from the MinitMart? Well, you go down Holgate until you see the house. But don't make any turns. Just keep on going past the house until ..." zzzzzzz

[ZAPPER]

I just bought a cheap Earthmate GPS for my laptop but haven't had time to mess with it yet. The mapping part of it is spot on excecpt for some new roads. A buddy of mine swears that it is a killer little set up for the money. Maybe this weekend I will let the wife drive while I check it out. I don't really need all of the real time voice controls and such, just a good map and a you are here prompt.