Driving: Difference between revisions

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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, the use of public roads 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. Motorists 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 increasingly tougher tests in the last three decades. In addition, new drivers may have additional restrictions in some countries - for example in Australia, novice motorists are required to carry 'P' (probationary) 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 law enforcement of drivers. 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. In many jurisdictions, bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles and cyclists are legally classified as drivers. The riding of bicycles is rarely subject to licence however some municipalities may require a permit for the bicycle.

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.

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 The skill of safe driving is necessary to avoid [[collision]]s, 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, the use of public roads 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. Motorists 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 increasingly tougher tests in the last three decades. In addition, new drivers may have additional restrictions in some countries - for example in [[Australia]], novice motorists are required to carry 'P' (probationary) 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 law enforcement of drivers. 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. In many jurisdictions, bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles and cyclists are legally classified as drivers.  However, the use of bicycles is rarely subject to licence while their ownership may be.
+In most countries, the use of public roads 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. Motorists 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 increasingly tougher tests in the last three decades. In addition, new drivers may have additional restrictions in some countries - for example in [[Australia]], novice motorists are required to carry 'P' (probationary) 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 law enforcement of drivers. 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. In many jurisdictions, bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles and cyclists are legally classified as drivers.  The riding of bicycles is rarely subject to licence however some municipalities may require a permit for the bicycle.
 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]], [[road sign]]