| FACTORS INFLUENCING
DRIVING PERFORMANCE |
 | You know, some people out there are in a tremendous hurry. Maybe they're late for a meeting or just can't wait to get out of town for the weekend.
Sometimes they actually get where they're going ahead of time.
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 | More often than not, though, all that darting around in traffic actually saves very little time. But try to tell that to the guy who's late for an important flight at the airport. "I have 16 minutes before my flight departs." The stress can be tough on you. |
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We all know that stress can make us ugly. It can also give us a nasty disposition that can affect our behavior. But if you get behind the wheel of a car with the wrong attitude, you're asking for big trouble. Add alcohol or drugs to the mix, and you've got the makings of a major catastrophe.
And to prove it, we're going to examine some of the characteristics and behaviors of drivers and see how they are affected by attitudes. That'll give us greater insight into how attitude affects a driver's performance. |
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ATTITUDE Attitudes, habits, feelings, and emotions all come into play when you're driving. You have to make a conscious decision to be a safe driver, and that decision is reflected in your driving.
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 | Some drivers definitely have the wrong attitude. They exhibit immature behavior. One of the characteristics of immature drivers is carrying emotional reactions to the extreme. These reactions can range from rage to excessive happiness; from impatience to overconfidence.
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It often shows up in their driving behavior. Such drivers are often aggressive, take excessive risks, and lose their self-control. All of which can increase the time it takes to react to driving situations.
The effects include:
· Reduced attention span
· Poor judgment
· Decline in driving performance
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| The effects of an immature attitude and aggressive driving behavior include reduced attention span, poor judgment, and a decline in driving performance levels that can lead to a collision, causing property damage and personal injury. Contrast this with mature individuals who have a "drive friendly" attitude. They are more content with the driving situation, more cheerful, optimistic, and discerning. Their behavior indicates rational decision making ability, more stable emotional behavior, and a keen awareness of the driving environment. |
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Mature-minded individuals are:
· Content with the driving situation
· More cheerful
· Optimistic
· Discerning
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 | The safe driver understands the principles to the driving task. These principles are Understanding, Skill and Attitude. |
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USA-A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER SAFETY SYSTEM |
USA-A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER SAFETY SYSTEM - "U" for understanding
- "S" for skills
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USA-A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER SAFETY SYSTEM - "U" for understanding
- "S" for skills
- "A" for attitude
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| The safe driver understands that driving requires the vehicle operator to evaluate a rapidly unfolding panorama of driving situations and to make a constant stream of life-and-death decisions. The safe driver understands that the driving environment is hostile... and that he or she has to make the right decision every time they get behind the wheel. |
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 | The safe driver employs the acronym SCOPE. |
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"SCOPE" |
"SCOPE" |
"SCOPE" |
"SCOPE" - Scan
- Concentrate
- Organize
- Plan
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"SCOPE" - Scan
- Concentrate
- Organize
- Plan
- Execute
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 | The safe driver Scans long and wide and Concentrates on the driving task, the unfolding panorama, and all threats--immediate, developing, and potential. The safe driver Organizes driving threats in their order of urgency, has a Plan to deal with each individual threat, and then chooses which driving tactic to Execute. |
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| The choice of which driving tactic to employ is based on several factors: the driver's training; the driver's experience and skill level; the road, light, weather and traffic conditions; and the amount of time available. |
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TACTICAL MANEUVERS A driver has four basic tactical maneuvers to choose from:
· Steering
· Braking
· Accelerating
· Communicating
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| A safe driver understands that most of the driving skills required to be safe are mental skills. It's a state of mind: you have to choose to be a safe driver. Safe drivers make the right choices. Attitude is the catalyst that makes the USA Driver Safety System work. Safe drivers always have a mature attitude. |
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Most driving skills are mental skills:
· Attitude
· Alertness
· Judgment
· Routine
· Habits
· Emotions
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ATTITUDE | A mature attitude gives the driver an increased attention span, good judgment and increased performance levels. This is the attitude all drivers should have when driving a motor vehicle. |
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ALERTNESS | Safe drivers stay alert and keep their mind on the driving environment. They are never taken by surprise and are mentally prepared to deal with the unexpected at an instant's notice. They usually have a plan of action already in mind, which can help them avoid a collision. |
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JUDGMENT Safe driving requires you to make a constant stream of life-and-death decisions. They demonstrate good judgment and are good decision-makers.
A safe driver not only needs to know and obey the rules of the road, but also must recognize that there are choices in every driving situation. Just because you have the right-of-way doesn't always mean it's safe to proceed. As a driver, you constantly have to choose between what is safe and what is not. |
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ROUTINE As a driver, it's easy to become accustomed to daily routines, such as the simple task of driving to and from work every day. This routine can dull the senses, thereby increasing the chances of a collision.
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HABITS | Driving is a complex task requiring good judgment and fast reflexes. And when your senses are dulled, your reaction time could be delayed just enough for you to collide with what should have been only a "near miss." |
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EMOTIONS  | Feelings and emotions, such as stress, can also distract drivers. Wrong feelings or emotions while driving can cause a lack of attention, which is a major contributing factor in car crashes. |
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| ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS |
| It has been estimated that as many as one in five drivers is operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol--not always to the point of intoxication. This is due in part to public acceptance of drinking in moderation and then driving. Even people who don't condone driving while intoxicated feel it is okay to drive after a drink or two. |
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But keep in mind, the important judgmental decision, "Am I too drunk to drive?" is too often left up to the driver whose judgment has been impaired by drinking.
May be that accounts for another grim statistic:
Even a driver not legally drunk is TWICE as likely to have a fatal collision as a completely sober person.
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| We must start conditioning ourselves to one irrefutable truth about driving. It is never acceptable to drink and drive! Period. Under any circumstances. |
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Just think how many times you've had a close call in traffic and given thanks for the fact that you were alert and in control of the situation. Think how many times you might have had a collision had your reaction been off even a fraction of a second.
It's happened to most of us at one time or another. And the traffic situation being what it is today, there is a good chance it's going to happen again. So be prepared. Be alert. NEVER drive after you've been drinking. Not even after one drink!
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Illegal drugs are a serious problem in all levels of our society, and as you've heard countless times before, drugs should never be used under any circumstances--especially when you're driving a vehicle.
Illegal drugs can impair your ability to react.
Your reactions can be seriously impaired by these drugs. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs have much the same effect as alcohol on a driver's reaction time, as well as the driver's ability to make rational decisions.
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It would seem that America has become a drug-oriented society. However, as incredible as it sounds, most of the drugs we take are legal. We have drugs that:
· Help us go to sleep
· Keep us awake
· Help us to lose weight
· Help us fight off disease
The most common drugs we take are for the common cold. It's legal to take such drugs, BUT NOT WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE. |
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| Before you take any drug, read the label. You'll notice that most legal drugs warn you not to drive a vehicle or operate machinery while under their influence. And for good reason. Most of the legal drugs we take slow our reaction time. Remember, even a split second lost reaction time can be fatal. |
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· antihistamines taken for colds and allergies
· amphetamines (pep pills) taken to stay awake
· barbiturates used as sleeping pills
· tranquilizers used to relax
All of these drugs are legally available either by prescription or over the counter.
However it is unsafe and/or illegal to use them when driving a vehicle, so don't do it.
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