3 ms·

Is there any situation in which drivers disregard what they see and rely on sound instead? Sound informs what we look at, but we rely entirely on sight to drive

by ggreer 3y ago

Is there any situation in which drivers disregard what they see and rely on sound instead? Sound informs what we look at, but we rely entirely on sight to drive.

LeifCarrotson 3y ago
If an inner tire on the dually truck or trailer I drive at work blows out, I may be completely unable to see anything if there's no smoke or tire debris in the mirrors. But I absolutely know what a blown tire sounds like and feels like, and will absolutely pull over and come to a stop for repairs. Same as if I'm driving in winter and hit a patch of ice - Visually, it looks identical to the rest of the snowy, icy roads here, but I will drive if I feel and here that I'm spinning my wheels or sliding sideways. If I smell coolant, oil, or a belt, even if my eyes tell me my gauges disagree I'll be pulling over for those issues as well. Conversely, if I've replaced a tire and the TPMS light says the removed tire in the cargo area has low pressure (duh, that's why I changed it) but I know the spare (without a TPMS transmitter installed) is good, or otherwise know that the idiot light is a false positive, I'll trust my other senses over my eyes.
oxfordmale 3y ago
* A car accelerating fast from your left * Screeching breaks from the right * Sounds of a rattling bicycle trying to undertake you * An approaching emergency vehicle * Other cars beeping their horn at you Of course you will confirm such situations visually, but you definitely using hearing in addition to sight.
bagels 3y ago
Sirens from not-yet-seen emergency vehicles is the most basic example.
postalrat 3y ago
Not just sound but also touch and balance.
tamimio 3y ago
Disregard? Not entirely, but sometimes I will be driving my car and opening its top or window, and for few seconds I can hear that there’s another car next to me, however, it’s in my blind spot, so yeah it does assist in driving.

by ggreer 3y ago

Is there any situation in which drivers disregard what they see and rely on sound instead? Sound informs what we look at, but we rely entirely on sight to drive.

LeifCarrotson 3y ago

If an inner tire on the dually truck or trailer I drive at work blows out, I may be completely unable to see anything if there's no smoke or tire debris in the mirrors. But I absolutely know what a blown tire sounds like and feels like, and will absolutely pull over and come to a stop for repairs. Same as if I'm driving in winter and hit a patch of ice - Visually, it looks identical to the rest of the snowy, icy roads here, but I will drive if I feel and here that I'm spinning my wheels or sliding sideways. If I smell coolant, oil, or a belt, even if my eyes tell me my gauges disagree I'll be pulling over for those issues as well. Conversely, if I've replaced a tire and the TPMS light says the removed tire in the cargo area has low pressure (duh, that's why I changed it) but I know the spare (without a TPMS transmitter installed) is good, or otherwise know that the idiot light is a false positive, I'll trust my other senses over my eyes.

oxfordmale 3y ago

* A car accelerating fast from your left * Screeching breaks from the right * Sounds of a rattling bicycle trying to undertake you * An approaching emergency vehicle * Other cars beeping their horn at you Of course you will confirm such situations visually, but you definitely using hearing in addition to sight.

bagels 3y ago

Sirens from not-yet-seen emergency vehicles is the most basic example.

postalrat 3y ago

Not just sound but also touch and balance.

tamimio 3y ago

Disregard? Not entirely, but sometimes I will be driving my car and opening its top or window, and for few seconds I can hear that there’s another car next to me, however, it’s in my blind spot, so yeah it does assist in driving.