Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.

Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road. Driving over a long distance is referred to as a road trip.

History [edit]

In 1899 an automobile was driven to the summit of Mount Washington for the first time.

The world's first long distance road trip by automobile^[1] took place in Germany in August 1888 when Bertha Benz, the wife of Karl Benz, the inventor of the first patented motor car (the Benz Patent-Motorwagen), travelled from Mannheim to Pforzheim^[2] (a distance of 106 km or 66 miles)^[3] and back in the third experimental Benz motor car, which had a maximum speed of 10 mph or 16 km/h, with her two teenage sons Richard and Eugen but without the consent and knowledge of her husband. Her official reason was that she wanted to visit her mother; but unofficially she intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention, which had only been taken on short test drives before. The automobile took off greatly afterwards and the Benz's family business eventually evolved into the present day Mercedes-Benz company.^[4]

In 1899, F. O. Stanley and his wife Flora drove their Stanley Steamer automobile, sometimes called a locomobile, to the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire in the United States to generate publicity for their automobile.^[5] The 7.6-mile (12.2 km) journey took over two hours (not counting time to add more water); the descent was accomplished by putting the engine in low gear and doing lots of braking.^[5]

Driveability [edit]

Driveability of a vehicle means the smooth delivery of power, as demanded by the driver. Typical causes of driveability degradation are rough idling, misfiring, surging, hesitation, or insufficient power.^[6]

Driving skills [edit]

Driving in traffic is more than just knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control the vehicle; it requires knowing how to apply the rules of the road (which govern safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling and can drive responsibly.

Driving as a physical skill [edit]

In terms of the basic physical tasks required, a driver must be able to control direction, acceleration, and deceleration. For motor vehicles, the detailed tasks include: ^[7]

• Starting the vehicle's engine with the starting system
• Setting the transmission to the correct gear
• Depressing the pedals with one's feet to accelerate, slow, and stop the vehicle, and if the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission, to modulate the clutch
• Steering the vehicle's direction with the steering wheel
• Operating other important ancillary devices such as the indicators, headlights, and windshield wipers
• Observing the environment for hazards

Driving as a mental skill [edit]

Driving as a mental skill is like a constantly re-adjusting flowchart.

Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve the following skills: ^[8]

• Making good decisions based on factors such as road and traffic conditions
• Evasive maneuvering
• Proper hand placement and seating position
• Skid control
• Steering and braking techniques
• Understanding vehicle dynamics

Distractions can compromise a driver's mental skills. One study on the subject of mobile phones and driving safety concluded that, after controlling for driving difficulty and time on task, drivers talking on a phone exhibited greater impairment than drivers who were suffering from alcohol intoxication.^[9]

Another survey indicated that music could affect adversely a driver's concentration.^[10]

Seizure disorders and Alzheimer's disease are among the leading medical causes of mental impairment among drivers in the United States and Europe.^[11] Whether or not physicians should be allowed, or even required, to report such conditions to state authorities, remains highly controversial.^[11]

Driving laws [edit]

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A driver is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which he or she is driving. The rules of the road, driver licensing and vehicle registration schemes vary considerably between jurisdictions, as do laws imposing criminal responsibility for negligent driving, vehicle safety inspections and compulsory insurance. Most countries also have differing laws against driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Most countries require a vision screening test for individuals to acquire or renew a driver's license.^{[citation needed]} A 2010 systematic review^[12] found insufficient evidence to assess the effects of vision screening tests on subsequent motor vehicle crash reduction. The review concluded that there is a need to develop valid and reliable tools of vision screening that can predict driving performance.

Motorists are almost universally required to take lessons with an approved instructor and to pass a driving test before being granted a license. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision and health to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads. Saudi Arabia, however, bans women from driving vehicles (whether pedal or motor powered) on public roads.^{[citation needed]} Saudi women have periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.

In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new motorists are initially subject to special restrictions. For example, in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P" ("provisional") plates, and are subject to alcohol limits, and other restrictions, for their first two years of driving. Many U.S. states now issue graduated drivers' licenses to novice minors. Typically, newly licensed minors may not drive or operate a motorized vehicle at night or with a passenger other than family members. The duration of the restriction varies from six months to until the driver is 18 years old. This is due to the mental aptitude of a young or unexperienced driver not being fully developed.^[13] This law is strictly enforced in the United States.

See also [edit]

Winter driving can pose serious hazards in countries with colder climates. (Hwy. 11 in Ontario, Canada).

References [edit]

Further reading [edit]

• Pease, Robert A. (1998). How to drive into accidents and how not to. San Francisco, CA: Pease Pub. ISBN 978-0-9655648-1-6.  — An idiosyncratic, entertaining, and insightful book on safe driving techniques, written for novices and experienced drivers alike
• Vanderbilt, Tom (2008). Traffic : why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us) (1st ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-307-26478-7. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Driving

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Driving

• Driving and Safety at the Open Directory Project