Driving

Driving involves controlling a vehicle, usually a motor vehicle such as a truck, bus, motorcycle, or car (for bicycles and mounted animals and, at least in the U. K. and U. S., motorcycles, the corresponding activity is called riding).

Driving consists of knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control the speed and direction (which in technical terminology are both components of the velocity), and the braking of the vehicle, but especially how to do so safely.

The skill of safe driving is necessary to avoid collisions, which kill many thousands of people annually. Safe driving is much more than following the rules of the road. It goes beyond that into the cultivation of good habits, maintaining attention, and a thoughtful, cooperative attitude that avoids and prevents accidents: defensive driving.

In most countries, driving is an activity which is heavily governed by law. Laws cover the construction and use of vehicles, the rules of the road, the requirements for driver and vehicle licensing, vehicle taxation, safety inspections and compulsory insurance. These laws reflect the high degree of responsibility which is conferred upon drivers (and also on manufacturers) of vehicles to make them as safe in practice as they feasibly can be. Drivers are almost universally required to take lessons with an approved instructor and pass a driving test before being granted a license. The trend has been towards tougher and tougher tests in the last three decades. In addition, new drivers may have additional restrictions in some countries - for example in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry 'P' plates and have lower speed limits, alcohol limits, and other restrictions imposed for two years following a successful driving test. Driving laws are usually enforced by the police, and a large part of the modern force is dedicated to driving law enforcement. Many countries have separate authorities with powers to enforce driving laws - for example the Australian Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) which is responsible for driver licensing but also highway maintenance and highway patrol, etc.

See also Chauffeur, Driver's license, Drunk driving, Highway Code (official UK driving manual), Pedal, Performance driving techniques, Steering, Manual transmission driving technique, Defensive driving, road safety, road construction, highway patrol

Rail transport

In rail transport steering is done by controlling the switch points; this can be done:

• by other personnel than the driver, often remotely from a traffic control point
• by the driver from his or her position
• by the driver getting out and operating the switch manually.