Wednesday, May 27, 2009

It's all about the numbers

--Or, maybe 90% about the numbers, and 10% about bragging rights--when it comes to the whole issue of which state has the safest drivers. Or the "least worst" if you can say that.... The article, Where the Worst Drivers Live, indicates that Idaho (with a nod to my internet friend Carl out in Wisconsin, the state which duplicated the highest test score) tied for the highest test average (80.6%) on a test which "measures basic knowledge of driving laws", according to the article. Hey, I'll take all the good news I can get...and avoiding an automobile emergency because you know what you're doing is really good news....

--Numbers, of course, are the heart of polls, and when it comes to having a garden in your front yard, here's how the numbers played out according to those who responded: (Thanks everyone!)

Do you have a garden in your front yard?

Yes 25%
No, but I would if I had to 50%
No, and I would never choose to 16%
Not applicable--I don't have a yard 8%

I just think that it's good to think about all our options, however many options we may happen to have....

--Five is the number of people still left in the experience in "Out of the Wild", which I posted about on May 14th. Some of them are understandably getting pretty discouraged, seeing as how winter has settled in, and one day there was game to be had, and the next day there was nothing. They don't know the number of days they have left if they continue to make it out of the wild, but they do each have their own emergency button to press that they can use any time that they want to get them out of their situation. That one button is what I see as the biggest difference in what they're doing and an actual emergency--in an actual emergency you can't push any number of buttons and have things go back to normal, or go back to your old life immediately. I do have to say I admire their fortitude and willingness to stick with the task at hand, perhaps especially because it would be so easy (and I imagine really tempting) to simply push a button and get out of the obvious misery they're going through...

Well, that's some numbers, anyway...I'm still pretty excited that Idaho came out number one, in a good way, on the driver list. Didn't expect it, with so many in the running, but it's nice to see.... :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I figured Kentucky would be closer to the top. We have some horrible drivers around here.

matthiasj
Kentucky Preppers Network

Marie said...

MatthiasJ--It seems like there are drivers that you can complain about everywhere--we do around here, too, so I was pretty surprised about Idaho's ranking. Guess knowledge doesn't always match up with practice, unfortunately--thanks for your comment!

Anonymous said...

Marie, I had to chucle at this, I cannot imagine how us cheddar heads go such a high score.

Drunk driving seems to be a sport here and certainly seems to be participated in by many.

Speeding is another sport wisconsin seems to excell at, at least the ones on the road by my house. They simply ignore the 25 limit and go 60..

Carl

Marie said...

Carl--I think every state has their own complaints that seem specific to their area...apparently here in Idaho and in Wisconsin (and most likely everywhere) people need to be more consistent in actually applying the driving laws consistently...still nice to be #1 on paper though, huh? :)

APN said...

I've noticed that Idahoans drive better on average than others...As much as I love Texas and the people, (I've spent 8 years living in texas and still have my heart planted there)I still have to admit they are pretty low on the list of safe drivers, or at least in Dallas, Houston and Austin anyway....Very few know how to properly merge. Now go to Southern California....By far the worst in the nation. Both places, I swear people must believe that the people merging have right-of-way and expect highway traffic to move over...Little do they know that sometimes that's impossible because there is another vehicle on your left, so if you're in a big rig and unable to move over and can't speed up or slow down enough to let the merging vehicle in (out of courtesy) They end up biting the shoulder and then come around you and give you the finger like you did something wrong.

Marie said...

American Prepper--Thanks for the input. I've often thought how tough your job would be, and am grateful for those who are willing to do it and help keep everyone supplied with the things they need. I have wondered if traffic here in Idaho is better in part because it's less populated than a lot of other places...thanks for your comment!

APN said...

I think it's the beauty of the state, there's no reason to be in a hurry. People slow down to enjoy the ride.

Marie said...

American Prepper--Well said!