State of Mind Highway

This month Toni Marshall asks what is your state of mind each time you hop into the driver's seat?
By Toni Marshall

I had reason to use an automated toilet this week. In Picton, with enough time to stop in the town itself, I wandered the main street and chose to use the public loos. It has been a while since I have navigated these self-clean, self-lock, self-flush … well self-everything models and I must say the concept is quite fascinating. Immediately upon entering, the door closes automatically, lights come on and an authoritative voice announces that you have ten minutes of use available to you. While the tone of the delivery was somewhat terse, I did feel comforted by the knowledge that I had a very good amount of time to complete the job at hand. As I shut the door music filled the air from somewhere above me.

Somewhat distracted from my original reason for entering I began to explore every inch of this modernist incarnation of Thomas Crapper. Not one aspect of a 'normal' loo was in view. No basin, taps, hand towels or soap dispenser … even the loo roll was a push-button-and-wait-for-a-trail-of-paper-to-emerge type gadget. Being comfortable with most things mechanical I didn't exactly panic with this new environment, but I was certainly out of my comfort zone at a time I do normally like to be at ease.

All went well with the length of loo paper being automatically dispensed after a quick wave across a sensor (I wonder exactly how they determined the 'best' length for this) and I began to navigate the final operations of my visit. Soap, water and air-drier were all located in a recess in the wall. Moving from left to right in the recess the design clearly indicated that hands beneath soap section would result in a small amount of soap being dispensed, hands under the water sensor would release water to wash and rinse and a final move left with said wet hands would activate the air drier. Very clever? No!

Sensors not working on soap – I locate the sensor and tap with finger and a minute amount of 'soap' oozes out? Now to wash - again have to 'finger' sensor to get it to work - water runs but not enough to rinse an ants bum! Many sensor prods later I finally manage to complete the 'washing' element of my hand cleaning. One final sensor to navigate and I should be home and hosed … not on your nelly! Automated dryer unit will simply not react to any form of sensor stimulation. Thankfully the automated door does respond to my damp touch and I am able to leave this tardus of absolute frustration.

This ‘automated loo’ moment really does highlight how the simplest of life's moments can be over complicated beyond belief, and just how much of our lives are 'evolving' beyond our own abilities, leaving us helpless to control many daily operations quickly and independently.
My stop in Picton was the only lengthy respite in a 2,000 km drive I undertook over a two day period. That's about 24 hours of serious thinking time as I got in the zone and focussed on the task at hand. In this case a quick run down the North Island, across the Strait and down to Christchurch, and then back again via Nelson. I have to confess to using most of my driving time thinking about stuff. I often turn off the radio and work through job lists, new ideas and I even frame up an article or two.

This trip was however quite different. Not only did I have to complete this 2,000 km drive in just two days, it had to be completed in shocking weather. A BIG wet had just come up the South Island and was just extending its reach into the middle of the North Island as I left. As the first leg of the trip had the time constraint of reaching the InterIslander on time I really did have to focus on getting on with the job at hand.
It was during this lengthy road trip that something very interesting happened to me. Suddenly the drive was my total focus. I had to be in control of not only my driving but my timing, my rest periods, eating and comfort stops. My state of mind was set on alert. I wanted to drive quickly but safely. I wanted to use every chance to make good progress, but I wanted to keep calm and rested too.

In this absolutely focused state of mind I found that my driving skills, awareness and road courtesy improved exponentially. Any wee frustration with traffic or road conditions was managed calmly. As the rain obscured my visibility for a great deal of the trip I waited patiently for passing lanes before over taking. Given the duration of the trip I concentrated on my speed to ensure maximum economy, and I followed my planned rest stops strictly to ensure I could drive through to Christchurch and arrive ready to work.
Wow! How come I don't always set my state of mind like this?

I must confess to still thinking about issues during the trip and road safety, and reducing deaths on our roads was one of my topics of thought. After 2,000 km and over 20 hours of driving I came to the conclusion that there are only two certain changes required to save lives on our roads. Road conditions in our country are very poor. The improvements that have been made certainly stand out against what really are poorly maintained and designed stretches of highways. There is very little you or I can do about these road conditions except to be prepared for them, especially on longer journeys.
However, the second change we can all make is very achievable! It is absolutely under our control and each of us needs to react immediately. It is our ‘State of Mind’.

Two recent road crashes that resulted in multiple fatalities could have been avoided! As it happens both of these accidents involved international visitors to our shores, but this was not the only commonality of the accidents. Both involved moments where the 'State of Mind' of both drivers would have to be questioned. Was there an absolute focus on the job at hand? Did distractions lead to bad decisions being made? Had the drivers forgotten just how serious their responsibilities were as the drove others to their planned destination?

On day two of my big drive I decided to drive up through Lewis Pass to Nelson – stupid idea with light fading, continuous drizzle, unfamiliar road, slips and flooding. Given I had already driven an hour and a half up State Highway 7 I was committed to completing the drive. I had time, I had awareness of the risks and I was focused. Boy, did I have to focus! But despite the worst conditions I have ever experienced while driving, at no time did I feel at risk. My state of mind was clear and alert.
My toilet experience aside - and perhaps that was just my state of mind too - my trip really has reminded me of my responsibilities as a road user. What is your state of mind each time you hop into the driver's seat?
Toni Marshall