K53 Intersection Panic
Do intersections just get to you?
You know, the way you get all anxious, sweaty palms, heart beating…that tricky “when-is-it-my-turn-to-do-what” feeling pestering you while trying to remember all the K53 stuff? Why is it that intersections make you so uncomfortable; make you feel that you may never get the hang of it?
Two words – Brain Conflict.
Let me show you what I mean by using a simple demonstration.
Taking note of the difference in speed at which you manage to do this;
First read the list below and say the word and then read the list again but say the COLOUR!
|
YELLOW |
BLUE |
ORANGE |
|
BLACK |
RED |
GREEN |
|
PURPLE |
YELLOW |
RED |
|
ORANGE |
GREEN |
BLACK |
|
BLUE |
RED |
PURPLE |
|
GREEN |
BLUE |
ORANGE |
Fascinating Isn’t it!
Why did you slow down so much trying to read the colour?
Your Right Brain tried to read the COLOUR, but
your Left Brain insisted on reading the WORD
Your LEFT BRAIN processes slowly, is verbal, logical, and analytical in its thinking. It loves naming and categorizing stuff, symbolic abstraction, writing, reading, speech and maths. The left brain is straight as an arrow and uses linear processing: it loves neat sequential order and processes things step-by-step – first things first and then second things second…
At an intersection it says: “Now the truck in front is indicating to the left and it’s slowing down to approximately 40km/h, while the red car to its left is speeding up to approximately 80km/h, the truck is swerving slightly to move into the left lane, and in front of me the green car has increased its speed to approximately 90km/h while indicating to its right; a black car is swerving into the left lane in front of the truck; the truck is braking; the truck is slowing down to approximately 10km/h; the traffic light has turned red and nowthe truck stops at the intersection.”
Your RIGHT BRAIN processes fast, looks at the whole picture and quickly determines the spatial relationships of all the parts as they relate to the whole and it’s not hung up on how things fall into patterns due to prescribed rules. It thrives on ambiguity, paradox, a good splash of intuition and complexity to such an extent that it defies logic, pardon the pun.
At an intersection it says: “Average traffic flow, traffic light should be green when I get there; truck, red car, green car, black car, enough gap, right lane good choice – Let’s Go!”
It’s no wonder intersections can be so overwhelming!
Take it from me – it takes a looooooong time for adjustment to take place to the point where you instinctively know what to do while you’re in the thick of things. This simply can’t happen in a few driving lessons because your brain needs time to adapt and, albeit very willing, it has its own pace. Even after you have your licence, the brain will still be adapting constantly, building on new experiences, referencing previous ones.
You’ll get to a point where the right brain takes over and reacts according to a quick assessment of what needs to be done in a driving situation. That is when you’ll start feeling at ease at intersections; feel in control; know instinctively when to do what; knowing that it “feels” right.
At this stage I describe, your left brain sorta relinquishes control to the right brain and it steps back. It is also at this right-brain-focussed point where most creative thinking takes place – it can be while having that regular morning coffee, in the shower, walking the dog…
Simply, the more repetitive an action the more the left brain “suspends” itself and allows the right brain to surface as the more dominant half.
Like with driving…eventually
Until then, be safe, take care, be gentle with yourself…and be PATIENT!
ADVICE: Take your Right Brain off to the gym – Do yourself a favour and read the colours on the list above over and over….and often.
