Driving

Driving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal (not including chariot operation) or a motorcycle (at least in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia) is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road which apply to all drivers.

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 .

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 govern safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling.

Driving as a physical skill

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:

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

Driving as a mental skill

Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve the following skills:

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.

Another survey indicated that music could affect a driver's concentration.

Driving laws

A person 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 that apply vary considerably between jurisdictions, as do laws imposing criminal responsibility for negligent driving, vehicle safety inspections and compulsory insurance. The standard of responsibility imposed by these laws is based on the extraordinary danger of driving motor vehicles. Most countries also have differing laws against driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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 recent decades. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision 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. Saudi women have periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.

In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new motorists may be 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. Another example, in California, licensed drivers (ages 16) are able to drive only with a family member for the first year.