When a person first gets their licence they may google the content you describe. Then they drive to work and home - down the freeway - every day for years.
They quickly learn that leaving too much space in front means people keep jamming in front of them. And the vehicle in front is the one you react most to - when it slows down or speeds up a little. So they pay attention to the car in front rather than down the road. Why look down the road? It hasn't been relevant for XYZ hours of driving so far...
Eventually they confirm to the norms of traffic. And why not? They haven't seen an accident in ages and if they have, they likely drove past it after the fact without knowing how the accident happened and believing it to be a "freak thing". Thus the deviation from what they should do is rationalised and then normalised through daily use.
Then an accident happens and a multi-vehicle pile up occurs because the "norms of traffic" are NOT what people should be doing.
Sadly most people do that. While continuing to believe that their initial conscientiousness (first impressions!) - since slackened/eroded - means they are an above average driver.
And I too am subject to this human behaviour as much as I try to be conscientious about it. I know I will have some bad habits learned in similar fashion. But I don't know what they are because I have rationalised all my actions to myself. I should go do some training again...
When a person first gets their licence they may google the content you describe. Then they drive to work and home - down the freeway - every day for years.
They quickly learn that leaving too much space in front means people keep jamming in front of them. And the vehicle in front is the one you react most to - when it slows down or speeds up a little. So they pay attention to the car in front rather than down the road. Why look down the road? It hasn't been relevant for XYZ hours of driving so far...
Eventually they confirm to the norms of traffic. And why not? They haven't seen an accident in ages and if they have, they likely drove past it after the fact without knowing how the accident happened and believing it to be a "freak thing". Thus the deviation from what they should do is rationalised and then normalised through daily use.
Then an accident happens and a multi-vehicle pile up occurs because the "norms of traffic" are NOT what people should be doing.
Sadly most people do that. While continuing to believe that their initial conscientiousness (first impressions!) - since slackened/eroded - means they are an above average driver.
And I too am subject to this human behaviour as much as I try to be conscientious about it. I know I will have some bad habits learned in similar fashion. But I don't know what they are because I have rationalised all my actions to myself. I should go do some training again...