Force of habit
Discussion
Now then, as you all know, I drive a big lorry for a living.
Having previously had a trailer/railway bridge interface scenario, I am understandably a little paranoid about checking bridge heights to make sure I will fit under them.
Thing is, this paranoia spills over into my private life and I find myself noting bridge height signs when I'm in the Caterham - a car that fits easily under the "security" barriers at work and is therefore unlikely to be troubled by any low bridge in the country.
Does anyone else find themselves doing unnecessary stuff through "force of habit"?
Having previously had a trailer/railway bridge interface scenario, I am understandably a little paranoid about checking bridge heights to make sure I will fit under them.
Thing is, this paranoia spills over into my private life and I find myself noting bridge height signs when I'm in the Caterham - a car that fits easily under the "security" barriers at work and is therefore unlikely to be troubled by any low bridge in the country.
Does anyone else find themselves doing unnecessary stuff through "force of habit"?
Similar but even worse as I wasn't even ever doing the driving...
My late Father used to own a 1946 ex-London double decker bus (Leyland RT).
Inside the cab, there was a sticker warning of the minimum height - 14' 6".
Sometimes, on the way to bus rallies etc. we had to make a detour due to the height - and he was always very careful about checking the height signs on bridges, obviously.
We sometimes found that bridges with a marginal height marked on them - i.e. 14' 6" or 14' 5" etc...were actually a little higher than marked, and using external spotters and driving slowly and carefully through the very middle, could actually be driven under despite the signage.
This was all over 25 years ago when I was a kiddie - but the paranoia was drilled into me so deeply, even now driving cars, I check the bridge's height markings and subconsciously decide if it will be safe for the bus or not!
Mental!
My late Father used to own a 1946 ex-London double decker bus (Leyland RT).
Inside the cab, there was a sticker warning of the minimum height - 14' 6".
Sometimes, on the way to bus rallies etc. we had to make a detour due to the height - and he was always very careful about checking the height signs on bridges, obviously.
We sometimes found that bridges with a marginal height marked on them - i.e. 14' 6" or 14' 5" etc...were actually a little higher than marked, and using external spotters and driving slowly and carefully through the very middle, could actually be driven under despite the signage.
This was all over 25 years ago when I was a kiddie - but the paranoia was drilled into me so deeply, even now driving cars, I check the bridge's height markings and subconsciously decide if it will be safe for the bus or not!
Mental!
Then I thought to myself "what the f
k are you doing?"
I drive Lorries, I find I look for the kerbing mirror in anything I am driving.
We have a Ford Ranger pick up at work and it has one of those umbrella handle type handbrakes which is next to the drivers left knee, It has conditioned me to flail my hand uselessly around my left knee trying to find the handbrake there in pretty much anything I drive.
My Golf has conditioned me to try for 6th gear in everything. (in the trucks it's ok, they have a gear where I am looking, in fact they have more after that )
We have a Ford Ranger pick up at work and it has one of those umbrella handle type handbrakes which is next to the drivers left knee, It has conditioned me to flail my hand uselessly around my left knee trying to find the handbrake there in pretty much anything I drive.
My Golf has conditioned me to try for 6th gear in everything. (in the trucks it's ok, they have a gear where I am looking, in fact they have more after that )
Pilsner said:
VinceFox said:
If i go into a room in any social capacity i have to stop myself doing a headcount.
Are you Jason Bourne?I also notice empty glasses on tables which haven't been collected.
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