WHAT KIND OF DRIVER ARE YOU?

DRIVE SMART – DRIVE SAFE - DRIVE WITH PACKS
PACKS = PATIENCE, AWARENESS, COURTESY, KNOWLEDGE, SKILL

Just as there is enormous variety in people as people, your nature as a driver grows out of your nature as a person. Your investment of time, effort, and thought into your nature as a driver makes an enormous difference in the kind of driver you are or will become.

Many drivers are oblivious to learning about driving no matter how many years they have held their drivers license and no matter how important driving a car is to their way of life. Such drivers are comfortable that they know everything they should know about driving having passed the drivers exam to obtain a license. This is comparable to calling yourself a cook having learned to boil an egg.

So I have created a mini-exam, less to test your knowledge than to test your awareness of the kind of driver you are. As with all knowledge-based skills, there are levels of proficiency. Proficient means adept, skillful, knowledgeable. Give yourself a rating from one to five for each question. If you do not know the answer or have never thought of the question, rate yourself a “One” in proficiency on that question. If you do these things sometimes and understand the question partially, rate yourself from “Two” to “Four” for those. If you have asked yourself these questions and know the answers to them and function correctly in the area of that question, give yourself a “Five” in driver proficiency for those questions.

Are your windows and mirrors clean before you start driving?
Are all systems in proper operating condition?
Are the mirrors, seat, and steering column adjusted if you share the vehicle?
Do you check behind and around the vehicle before getting in?
Do you check your gas level?
Do you use three mirrors plus turn around before and during backing up?
Do you turn on the lights of your car after starting the engine?
Do you always use your signal lights before turning and lane changes?
Do you look over your left shoulder when making a change to the left lane?
Do you always drive on the right when possible?
Do you drive at a steady rate of speed?
Do you know exactly where you are going when you start out?
Do you know the best route?
Do you know the street names and the location of your destination on the street?
Do you know the parking possibilities at the location you are going to?
Do you know how much time is needed to reach your destination?
Do you always have that much time available to you when you start?
Do you never go through red lights?
Do you always come to a full stop at stop signs?
Do you always come to a full stop before making a right turn on red?
Do you constantly scan your mirrors and know what vehicles are around you?
Do you pass on the left whenever possible?
Is your physical condition always okay when you drive?
Is your mental condition always okay when you drive?
Are the seat belts for yourself and others always fastened before setting out?
Do you put loose packages in the back of your vehicle.
Do you keep your low beam on at all times when driving during the day?
Do you slow down before or when you are passing?
Do you slow down before or when you are passing in the rain?
Do you drive with the speed of traffic in rush hour or when there is heavy traffic?
Do you always enable other vehicles to pass you?
Do you always enable other vehicles to enter your lane of traffic?
Do you merge at the speed of traffic?
Do you always merge timely into the correct lane to make a turn?
Do you move to the left of your lane to enable other vehicles to make a right turn on red?
Do you concentrate on driving when driving?
Do you change your driving habits to fit road conditions?
Do you always use your signal lights when stopped in a left or right turn lane?
Do you obey the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

When you answer these thirty-eight questions, you will get some idea of what your present driving habits are and then you'll have some idea of what you have to do and learn to improve your safety when driving. If you score seventy or below, you need immediate remedial driver education. If you score above one-hundred-fifty, you are probably a proficient driver.

It makes sense to determine what your driving skills are and to some extent what your knowledge and what your driving abilities are. By looking at the way you drive at this time, and then after reading these columns and consciously making an effort to change your particular unsafe driving practices, this blog will have proven to be of value.

Uncle PACKSman

Quick Tip: Buckled seat belts are made of gold. Unbuckled seat belts are made of lead.