There is more to driving that meets the eye.

If people think that learning to drive is simply about making a vehicle run on the streets, they better think again. Driving does not merely cover the act of holding the steering wheel.  More than anything else, driving is also steering the vehicle to its destination without hurting anyone or producing damage to property.  In essence, responsible driving is a direct result of proper driving education.

The Basics of Driving Education

When Bertha Benz took her husband’s invention for the very first long distance automobile road trip, she officially started what we now call as driving.  Her husband, Karl Benz, created the first patented motor car and went on to build what will eventually be known as the Mercedes-Benz Company.  His wife’s stunt turned out to be the publicity that was critical to his success.

As a general rule, driving is learned and is not an activity that can be carried out purely through instincts.  It requires physical skills as well as understanding of the rules that govern driving.  It likewise requires mental skills since decisions will have to be made at any given time.  There are documentary requirements needed to earn the privilege of driving on public roads and these includes driver’s license and passing certain examinations such as drug test and vision screening test.  Formal training is offered by driving schools although many have learned through training of family members and friends.

Expected Skills of a Driver

The basic physical skills are the most obvious.  All forms of driving instructions teach students to start the vehicle, set the transmission gear properly, accelerate and stop the vehicle, steer to the proper direction, and use car devices such as headlights and wipers.  For student drivers to be considered educated drivers, they must also learn and master the skills related to proper decision-making and responsible use of the road.

Since the road will almost always be shared with other drivers, student drivers will have to learn techniques in maneuvering, control, and positioning applicable to emergency situations.  Public roads seldom provide ideal situations thus drivers will have to contend with speed, obstructions, pedestrians, distractions, and even extreme environmental conditions that all affect driving.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving is basically about anticipating dangerous situations in driving and aiming to minimize related risks in spite of the mistakes of other drivers  or adverse environmental conditions while on the road.  The first defensive driving courses were offered in 1964 and these continue to be offered up to the present.  These courses teach advanced driving skills that are beyond general existing rules and practices.

Drivers who take these courses are offered certain incentives by some local governments.  In some countries, online and DVD courses are offered aside from the usual courses offered in training centers.  Statistics would show that drivers who took these courses are the least likely to be involved in vehicular collisions and accidents.

Driving Attitude

The most common driving concerns stem from problems with attitude such as overconfidence, lack of respect for others, or self-centeredness.  Learning the right driving  attitude would require unlearning these bad habits.  No amount of mastery of physical driving skills can neutralize bad driving attitude.

My Say

Road rage has become a fairly common occurrence which has led to many lost lives and injuries.  So many vehicular accidents could have been prevented if only the concerned drivers knew how to conduct themselves properly on the road.  Many advocate behavior change over attitude change because of the extreme difficulty in effecting the latter while the former can be more realistically achieved with repetition and practice.