Driving

Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle,

including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. Permission to drive on
public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met and
drivers are required to follow the established road and traffic laws in the
location they are driving. The word driving, has etymology dating back
to the 15th century and has developed as what driving has encompassed
has changed from working animals in the 15th to automobiles in the
1800s. Driving skills have also developed since the 15th century with A man driving a bus in Kigali,
physical, mental and safety skills being required to drive. This evolution 2015
of the skills required to drive have been accompanied by the introduction
of driving laws which relate to not only the driver but the driveability of
a car.

The term "driver" originated in the 15th century, referring to the occupation of driving working animals like
pack or draft horses. It later applied to electric railway drivers in 1889 and motor-car drivers in 1896. The
world's first long-distance road trip by automobile occurred in 1888 when Bertha Benz drove a Benz Patent-
Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany. Driving requires both physical and mental skills, as well
as an understanding of the rules of the road.

In many countries, drivers must pass practical and theoretical driving tests to obtain a driving license. Physical
skills required for driving include proper hand placement, gear shifting, pedal operation, steering, braking, and
operation of ancillary devices. Mental skills involve hazard awareness, decision-making, evasive maneuvering,
and understanding vehicle dynamics. Distractions, altered states of consciousness, and certain medical
conditions can impair a driver's mental skills.

Safety concerns in driving include poor road conditions, low visibility, texting while driving, speeding, impaired
driving, sleep-deprived driving, and reckless driving. Laws regarding driving, driver licensing, and vehicle
registration vary between jurisdictions. Most countries have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol
or other drugs. Some countries impose annual renewals or point systems for driver's licenses to maintain road
safety.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.35 million people are killed each year in road traffic; it is the
leading cause of death for people age 5 to 29.[1]

Etymology
The origin of the term driver, as recorded from the 15th century, refers to the occupation of driving working
animals, especially pack horses or draft horses. The verb ' to drive ' in origin means "to force to move, to impel
by physical force". It is first recorded of electric railway drivers in 1889 and of a motor-car driver in 1896.
Early alternatives were motorneer,[2] motor-man, motor-driver or motorist. French favors "conducteur" (the
English equivalent, "conductor", being used—from the 1830s—not of the driver but of the person in charge of
passengers and collecting fares), while German influenced areas adopted Fahrer (used of coach-drivers in the
18th century, but shortened about 1900 from the compound Kraftwagen Fahrer), and the verbs führen, lenken,
steuern—all with a meaning "steer, guide, navigate"—translating to conduire.

Introduction of the automobile

The world's first long-distance road trip by automobile was in August

1888 when Bertha Benz, wife of Benz Patent-Motorwagen inventor Karl
Benz, drove 66 mi (106 km) Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, and
returned, in the third experimental Benz motor car, which had a
maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h), with her two teenage sons Richard
and Eugen but without the consent and knowledge of her
husband.[3][4][5] She had said she wanted to visit her mother, but also In 1899, an automobile was
intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention, which had driven to the summit of Mount
Washington, New Hampshire,
only been taken on short test drives before.[6] for the first time
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.[7] 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
much braking.[7]

Driving skills
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 ensures 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.[8]

Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are

Driving a bus in traffic.
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.

In some countries, a basic both practical and theoretical knowledge of the rules of the road is assessed with a
driving test(s) and those who pass are issued with a driving license.

Physical skill

A driver must have physical skills to be able to control direction, acceleration, and deceleration. For motor
vehicles, the detailed tasks include: [9]

Proper hand placement and seating position

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
Control direction, acceleration,
Applying brake pressure to slow or stop the vehicle and deceleration.
Operating other important ancillary devices such as the
indicators, headlights, parking brake and windshield wipers
Speed and Skid control

Mental skill

Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can

involve the following skills:[10]

Observing the environment for road signs, driving conditions,

and hazards
Awareness of surroundings, especially in heavy and city traffic
Making good and quick decisions based on factors such as road Observing the environment.
and traffic conditions Driving in a snowy condition
can pose serious hazards. The
Evasive maneuvering snow affects the dynamics of
Understanding vehicle dynamics the car.

Left- and right-hand traffic

Distractions can compromise a driver's mental skills, as can any altered

state of consciousness. 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.[11] In the US
"During daylight hours, approximately 481,000 drivers are using cell
phones while driving according to the publication on the National
Highway Traffic Safety Association. Another survey indicated that music Distracted driving.
could adversely affect a driver's concentration."[12][13][14]

Seizure disorders and Alzheimer's disease are among the leading medical causes of mental impairment among
drivers in the United States and Europe.[15] Whether or not physicians should be allowed, or even required, to
report such conditions to state authorities, remains highly controversial.[15]

Safety
Safety issues in driving include:

Driving in poor road conditions and low visibility

Texting while driving
Speeding
Drug–impaired driving and driving under the influence
Distracted driving Safety is always the most
Sleep-deprived driving important thing.

Reckless driving and street racing

Teenagers
There is a high rate of injury and death caused by motor vehicle accidents that involve teenage drivers.[16]
There is evidence that the less teenagers drive, the risk of injury drops.[16] There is a lack of evidence as to
whether educational interventions to promote active transport and share information about the risks, cost, and
stresses involved with driving are effective at reducing or delaying car driving in the teenage years.[16]

Driveability
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.[17]

Driving laws
Drivers are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are driving.

International conventions

Some jurisdictions submit to some or all of the requirements of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of
1949.[18]

Additionally, the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals standardises road signs, traffic lights and road
markings to improve safety.

Local driving laws

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 while under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs. Aggressive driving and road rage have become problems for drivers in some areas.
Some countries require annual renewal of the driver's license. This may require
getting through another driving test or vision screening test to get
recertified.[19] Also, some countries use a points system for the driver's license.
Both techniques (annual renewal with tests, points system) may or may not
improve road safety compared to when the driver is not continuously or annually
evaluated.[20]

Ownership and insurance

Car ownership does not require a driver's license at all. As such, even with a
withdrawn driver's license, former drivers are still legally allowed to possess a Driver's license from
car and thus have access to it. In the USA, between 1993 and 1997 13.8% of all Spain. Spanish driving
drivers involved in fatal crashes had no driver's license.[21] licenses use a point
system
In some countries (such as the UK), the car itself needs have a certificate that
proves the vehicle is safe and roadworthy. Also, it needs to have a minimum of
third party insurance.[22]

Driver training

Drivers may be required to take lessons with an approved driving instructor (or are strongly encouraged to) and
may need 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.

In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new drivers are initially subject to special restrictions
under graduated driver licensing rules. For example, in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P"
("provisional") plates,[23] while in New Zealand it is called restricted (R).[24] Many U.S. states now issue
graduated drivers' licenses to novice minors. While graduated driver licensing rules vary between jurisdictions,
typical restrictions include newly licensed minors not being permitted to drive or operate a motorized vehicle at
night or with a passenger other than family members, zero blood alcohol, and limited power-to-weight ratio of
the vehicle.[25]

Driving bans
It is possible for a driver to be suspended or disqualified (banned) from driving, either for a short time or
permanently. This is usually in response to a serious traffic offence (for example, causing death due to drink
driving), repeated minor traffic offences (for example, accruing too many demerit points for speeding), or for a
specific medical condition which prevents driving, pending a future assessment (for example, a traumatic brain
injury).

Some jurisdictions ban driving on certain days for vehicles with specific licence plate configurations.[26]
A few countries banned women driving in the past. In Oman, women were not allowed to drive until 1970.[27]
In Saudi Arabia, women were not issued driving licenses until 2018. Saudi women had periodically staged
driving protests against these restrictions and in September 2017, the Saudi government agreed to lift the ban,
which went into effect in June 2018.[28]

References
1. World Health Organization (2018). Global status report on road safety 2018 (https://www.who.int/pub
lications/i/item/9789241565684) (Report).
2. Century Dictionary; (1891)
3. "The First Road Trip" (http://www.abcteach.com/free/i/inv_berthabenz_a.pdf) (PDF).
4. Archived at Ghostarchive (https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/yHIFE4vOeEo) and the
Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/web/20130228000139/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y
HIFE4vOeEo) : "Making of 'Carl & Bertha' (Film)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHIFE4vOeEo)
– via www.youtube.com.
5. "GPS-Download Outbound Trip" (http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jaqjwnoubtjswpwi).
6. The Car is Born (http://www.thecarisborn.com/index.html), documentary
7. Jensen, Christopher (June 17, 2011). "Taming a Mountain Road With Horses and Cars" (https://www.n
ytimes.com/2011/06/19/automobiles/19MOUNTAIN.html). The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
"That was the day that F. O. Stanley and his wife, Flora, decided it would be good publicity for their
steam-powered Stanley Locomobile if it were the first car to be driven up the 7.6-mile Mount
Washington Carriage Road."
8. "Driving in France for UK Drivers" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170419100929/http://www.conean.
com/travel-and-holidays/paris-travel-guide-driving-paris-uk/). Driving in Paris. Archived from the
original (http://www.conean.com/travel-and-holidays/paris-travel-guide-driving-paris-uk/) on April
19, 2017.
9. "Getting moving" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090316042114/http://www.drivingtestadvice.co.uk/L
esson_Help/1__Getting_moving/1__getting_moving.html). Driving Test Advice. Archived from the
original (http://www.drivingtestadvice.co.uk/Lesson_Help/1__Getting_moving/1__getting_moving.htm
l) on 2009-03-16.
10. "Think driving is all about practical skills?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080117095149/http://ww
w.easytodrive.co.uk/). Easy to Drive. Archived from the original (http://www.easytodrive.co.uk/) on
2008-01-17.
11. Strayer, David; Drews, Frank; Crouch, Dennis (2003). "Fatal Distraction? A Comparison of the Cell-
Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090411094037/http://www.psyc
h.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAssessment2003.pdf) (PDF). University of Utah Department of
Psychology. Archived from the original (http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAsse
ssment2003.pdf) (PDF) on 2009-04-11.
12. National Highway Traffic Safety Association. "Distracted Driving" (https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-drivin
g/distracted-driving).
13. "Distracted Driving | NHTSA" (https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving). National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
14. Hard-Rock and Classic Music Could Lead to Road Accidents, New Survey Says (http://www.infoniac.co
m/science/hard-rock-and-classic-music-could-lead-to-road-accidents.html); Infoniac.com
15. Appel, Jacob (2009-06-01). "Must Physicians Report Impaired Driving? Rethinking a Duty on a
Collision Course with Itself" (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/JCE200920204). The
Journal of Clinical Ethics. 20 (2): 136–140. doi:10.1086/JCE200920204 (https://doi.org/10.1086%2FJCE200
920204). ISSN 1046-7890 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1046-7890). PMID 19554818 (https://pubmed.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19554818). S2CID 43453501 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:43453501).
16. Ward, Aimee; Lewis, Sharon R.; Weiss, Harold (2020-08-16). "Mobility management to prevent, reduce,
or delay driving a car in teenagers" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8094927). The
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020 (8): CD009438. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009438.pub2 (ht
tps://doi.org/10.1002%2F14651858.CD009438.pub2). ISSN 1469-493X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/14
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ps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32799320).
17. "State of California Air Resources Board" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080910051821/http://www.a
rb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/hevtest/071608aftermarketpartsdraftrev.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the
original (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/hevtest/071608aftermarketpartsdraftrev.pdf) (PDF)
on 2008-09-10.
18. "Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949" (https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Conve
ntion_on_Road_Traffic_of_1949.pdf) (PDF).
19. "Assessing the fitness to drive" (https://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/specialist/knowledge/ol
d/what_can_be_done_about_it/assessing_the_fitness_to_drive_en). Mobility and transport - European
Commission. October 17, 2016.
20. Desapriya, E.; Wijeratne, H.; Subzwari, S.; Babul-Wellar, S.; Turcotte, K.; Rajabali, F.; Kinney, J.; Pike, I.
(2011). Desapriya, Ediriweera (ed.). "Vision screening of older drivers for preventing road traffic
injuries and fatalities". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3): CD006252.
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21. Unlicensed to kill (https://www.adtsea.org/webfiles/fnitools/documents/aaa-unlicensed-to-kill.pdf)
22. "Legal obligations of drivers and riders" (https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders).
GOV.UK.
23. "Restrictions for L and P plate drivers – Keeping your licence – Your licence – GEARED" (https://roa
ds-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/geared/your_licence/keeping_your_licence/rules_for_l_and_p_plate
_drivers.html). Geared – Transport for NSW. 16 August 2021.
24. "Conditions and restrictions of a restricted licence" (https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/roadcode-questio
ns/car/theory/if-you-have-a-restricted-license-what-ho/). Driving Tests.
25. "Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws" (http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/license_laws.htm
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Further reading
Vanderbilt, Tom (2008). Traffic: why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us) (https://arc
hive.org/details/trafficwhywedriv00tom_2oa) (1st ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-307-
 26478-7.

External links
Driving and Safety (https://curlie.org//Recreation/Autos/Driving_and_Safety/) at Curlie

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