If you are like me then you have your opinions about what makes a bad driver. Typically changing lanes 2 or 3 or 4 lanes at a time tend to make you appear like you’ve lost your mind and scares the patooties out of everyone around you. Some would say this behavior is a sure indicator of bad driving.
Others might elaborate and point to people driving way too fast in a lane and then abruptly changing lanes to go around you then go back again in front of you. And then continue to try to meet or break a land speed record down the highway (or in some cases a side street) - we have a saying around our house – Yikesome! Yeah don’t do that okay?
I would say generally, if you were to ask any driver that is reasonable and objective in their thinking, speed and lane changing are at the top of their list of bad driving attributes. They may not say it like that but as they explain it, you’ll see these 2 attributes in their descriptions.
While I was teaching drivers ed in the car, I’d tell my students that 2 factors usually lead to traffic problems and/or accidents.
Those two are speed and distance. Watch the news some evening and if they show you traffic problems or ☹ fatalities on the road. Those traffic problems are usually attributed to those two items and the sad thing is that it’s completely avoidable.
If you’ve done behind the wheel training with an instructor, then you may have been introduced to the fine art of merging into traffic on an “on ramp” such as GA 400 or I 285 “the perimeter.”
Isn’t that just a joy to do for the first time? Again, Yikesome! See the word fits lol.
If you think about this for a moment, then you’ll realize that to do this successfully requires good judgement of (what else) control(speed) and distance. You can see it’s important to understand and be aware of these two skills. In fact, the better you understand and manage speed and distance the better a driver you become. Does that sound like it’s worth your time to work on?
Some people think that driving a car is just like watching TV. You just turn it on and zone into the box and absorb what’s going on around you without much thought (kinda zoned-out) – maybe this is another sign of a bad driver – a zombie.
Don’t be a zombie, be intentional in your driving and “in the moment” or aware of what’s going on right now.
Ever wonder why the state makes such a big deal about parallel parking if no one does it much? Well my friend it’s because of speed(control) and distance. You need to control the car to get it into the space to park and you need to know the distance around the car to park correctly.
Remember that you are proving to the state that you got both attributes handled and deserve the license. Think about this a little bit more and you’ll see that the whole dang test is about these 2 items.
The driver’s license is not a given right: it is a privilege. You earn it - you don’t have it given to you. How do you earn it? By demonstration of control(including speed) and distance. How do you keep it? By demonstration of control(including speed) and distance.
If you are a new driver or one that is currently learning to drive, do yourself a favor, and don’t drive like the rest of the world out there, be a better driver and pay attention to control(speed) and distance.
Find satisfaction in your driving and be safe.
Posted by Joe Shenefield January 14th. 2019 
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