| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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. |
