The good oil: Zip in and get zapped

Dennis writes that he is tired of being "squashed from two lanes to one" in Auckland traffic. This in response to last week's piece about how the right-turning rule - the dumbest in the world - and the "merge like a zip" code both intimidates and aggravates drivers. "The law on overtaking is quite clear," says Dennis. "You cannot overtake on the inside, at all, ever." Very little is clear, Dennis. On merging, the New Zealand Road Code says: "The best way to merge is like a zip - where a vehicle from the left lane goes and then a vehicle from the right lane goes, and so on. As you merge, let one vehicle from the other lane go first, and then go." Translation: "Just go for it."

Inside out

On overtaking, the rule book says: "You can only pass on the left when there are two or more lanes on your side of the centre line and you are able to pass safely by using the left-hand lane." Yeah, right. On following distance, it advises drivers to talk to themselves: "To check if you are travelling two seconds (in normal conditions) behind the vehicle in front: watch the vehicle in front of you pass a landmark - such as a sign, tree or power pole - at the side of the road. As it passes the landmark, start counting 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two' ... If you pass the landmark before you finish saying those eight words, you are following too closely - slow down, pick another landmark and repeat the words to make sure you have increased your following distance." If it's wet, says the book, add two seconds: count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, one thousand and four".

Let's play distraction

A survey of more than 3000 motorists in Britain found that texting at the wheel is the biggest distraction for drivers. Just over 51 per cent of respondents blamed texting, against 45 per cent for mobile phones. The remaining eight of the top-10 distractions: changing radio/CD player - 40.4; staring at an accident - 39.8; eating or drinking - 37; children in the car - 36; chatting to passenger - 32.3; road rage - 32; having an argument - 31; lighting a cigarette - 29. In addition, men were twice as likely as women (35 per cent against 15) to let their attention wander when spotting someone they fancy. Women, however, are almost twice as likely as men (25 per cent against 13) to have their attention diverted by trying to avoid an animal.

Fickle fathers

Further research in the Old Dart reveals that more than two out of three men change their opinions of what's important in a car when they become a dad. It found 68 per cent of new dads looked for reliability above any other factor when buying a car for the new family. It also found that 48 per cent of couples admitted to constant in-car arguments about the air-conditioning temperature. In seven out of 10 cases, men wanted the temperature lower than women. But when driving alone, only one in 10 men bothered with the temperature.

We are the world

Patricia Edwards, 51, was arrested in Sanford, Florida, after being identified as the woman who walked into a Bank of America branch, handed over a robbery note and walked out with money. She told police: "There was no plan, no nothing, just impulse. I think everyone should have a list of things they want to do before they die."

alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz