Most households will have a car, and it’s even more likely that families will have more than one. Driving and access to cars have easily become a fact taken for granted by many people too used to commuting, getting around and using a car on autopilot.
Here are five interesting facts about that everyday privilege — driving — that you might not have known.
- Roads Were First Built with Cyclists in Mind
If you’re not a cyclist yourself, it can be a common feature of driving to become wary (or maybe even infuriated) with bicycles on the road. You may naturally feel like you have right of way, or wonder why cyclists are taking up the road so much at all.
Well, roads were actually first built for cyclists. Before cars and motor-vehicles even came along, cyclists were using roads for transportation, and it was actually cyclists that fought so hard to have road surfaces be made flatter and smoother for an easier ride.
2. You Might Spend Two Weeks of Your Life Waiting at Red Lights
Nobody likes to see the lights change just as they’re approaching, and especially during busy commuting periods, it can feel like red lights are really working against you. Just to increase that frustration, you might want to know that the average time spent waiting at a red light can be around two weeks of your life.
So, make sure you’re at least doing something productive during the wait, like listening to your favourite song or planning what to have for lunch!
3. The First Car GPS Was Launched in 1990
GPS has easily become an expected feature for driving; especially if you’re purchasing a brand-new car at the top end of the market, you would expect built-in GPS as an included feature. Even if you have a vehicle without GPS provided, the chances are high that you’ll set up your own GPS navigation, either on your phone or otherwise, to plan a new journey.
The first built-in GPS was in 1990, featured in the Mazda Eunos Cosmo. It took four years after that for GPS to be featured again, in a BMW 7 series E38.
You can find out more about GPS uses, with How does GPS tracking work? | a Talkie Spy post.
4. A Cheetah Could Easily Contend with a Car at Top Speed
Cheetahs are well-known for being the fastest animal on land, but you might think driving a car on the highway would easily overtake this impressive land animal. However, cheetahs can reach speeds of up to 70 mph, which means you’d be in a very close-cut race if you were to contend with one in your car.
5. The First-Ever Speeding Ticket was for 8 mph
The world’s first speeding ticket was in the UK, and was given to a man named Walter Arnold who decided to drive through Kent at four times the speed limit (which was 2 mph at that time) back in 1896.
Rather than a thrilling car chase, he was caught by a police constable on a bicycle — and fined a shilling.
Hopefully remembering these five fun facts about driving will entertain you in your next traffic jam!
FAQ
When did cars get GPS?
The first built-in GPS was in 1990, featured in the Mazda Eunos Cosmo. It took four years after that for GPS to be featured again, in a BMW 7 series E38.
How much time is spent in traffic?
Nobody likes to see the lights change just as they’re approaching, and especially during busy commuting periods, it can feel like red lights are really working against you. Just to increase that frustration, you might want to know that the average time spent waiting at a red light can be around two weeks of your life.
Additional Resources:
Robots
Self Driving Electric Trucks
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