2 weeks Ago
Unnecessary distractions can be highly dangerous when you're behind the wheel. Photo: Getty Sometimes, little bits of tech such as Fitbits can play games with your mind. Like when I was test driving the new Toyota Land Cruiser in Scotland earlier this year.
I seemed to have put up an awful lot of steps for someone who was seated/driving for hours (I took a wrong turn and went completely astray). And I had spent a good while driving over rough, harsh terrain so relentless it rattled my teeth. We also plunged through deep sludge, heaved over rocky outcrops and clamoured up slippery river exits.
Part of the time, I was just clinging on and letting the technology do the hard work. But I was seated all that time. How could my wrist-based bit of tech record more than 7,000 steps? My amazement knew no bounds.
Had I found the perfect way to get thousands of steps on the clock while never leaving my car? Alas, that was not to be the case. You have probably got what happened. A colleague explained the phenomenon, pointing out how the heavy clattering my arms, hands and body had taken over the rough, harsh route registered as steps on the device.
Why am I telling you about something that happened months ago? Because I got into the habit after that of checking – for a bit of fun – if the Fitbit had picked up ‘steps’ when I went over a rough stretch of road. And believe me, there are plenty of them to go over. Especially on ill-kept rural routes and, acutely, the flurry of sliced up roads in suburban south Dublin at the moment.
You’d get a right old rattle/clatter if you weren’t watching out. But I’ve suddenly realised what I am doing is mad and dangerous. I am distracting myself, taking my eyes off the road.
It’s just a silly habit but it could be a lethal one. I’ve taken steps to end it. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.
