The Importance in Life of Being a Good Driver

Life in North America often revolves around cars.  Our streets, houses and places of business are designed to accommodate cars and trucks to allow us mobility and freedom.  Even in more densely populated cities where public transportation is more available and practical, transportation happens in a taxi, Uber or Lyft vehicle.  As I’ve mentioned before in a prior blog post, we move fast in vehicles, to the point that one false move could mean instant death.  That’s why being a good driver is so important.

Not only can driving competence keep you alive, but it can save you money on insurance, and hassle from car accidents.  Being a good driver also can keep your friends and family out of harm’s way.  How important should this be in selecting a mate with whom you want to have children?   I say very.

Besides, the less tentative a driver you are, the more confident you can be in daily life.  You can proudly say you’ll share in the driving and not worry about what others will think.  You can parallel park in tight spots thereby saving time and fuel.

The downside to all this is the frustration that “good” drivers can feel when they ride with not-so-good drives or when they watch crappy drivers make boneheaded moves on the roads.  Also, if you are a good driver, you might get driving duty more often than your fair share.  But I’d much rather be in control of my life and my friends’ and family members’ lives than having a dangerous driver be in control.

On a sidenote, as a technically Asian driver, I am a good one.  But stereotypes come from somewhere.  There are a lot of bad Asian drivers out there.  I just don’t understand how people in India have to be skillful drivers in crowded crazy traffic with manual transmission vehicles and then the same ethnicity people come here and generally become horrible inattentive ones who won’t even consider driving a manual transmission vehicle.

What’s interesting is how so many bad drivers laugh at their own lack of ability.  It’s not funny.  We don’t know how many bad drivers have died unnecessarily or caused others to die unnecessarily.  Driving licenses should be harder to get here in the U.S.  Skill is involved and a lot of it is common sense.  We know how that is in short supply.

Technology is making driving skills less important but automated vehicles are a ways from relieving us of the need to have a driver’s license and control the vehicle.  When it does take over the market, driving skills will be less important.  Until then, learn to be a “good” driver.  Be defensive for those crappy drivers out there and protect the ones you care for by driving well.

+Atul