Why Is Driving So Hard

January 27, 2024

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Updated on May 29, 2022

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Unlike a video game, driving a car in the real world is not easy. It takes a lot of skill and years of experience to drive safely. But why is driving so hard? It seems like an everyday task that is simple to execute.

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It is a whole different game when you sit behind the wheel. Let us dive further into the reasons why is driving so hard, and ways to make it easier.

Factors that make driving hard
What skills do you need?
How to make it easier?

What Makes Driving Hard?

Driving isn’t as straightforward as pressing the gas and keeping the wheels straight. There are many factors that make driving hard. To be a good driver you need to be able to deal with these factors.

1. Vehicle

The vehicle itself is your first obstacle. It takes time to get used to a vehicle. Until then, driving will prove to be challenging.

For example, if you’ve been driving a car for a few years and then switch to an SUV or a van, it will be a bit challenging. Similarly, switching between different types of cars could also make driving harder.

Different cars accelerate, turn and handle differently. So you need time to adjust to different vehicles.

Any vehicle is going to require the driver to multitask. You need to manipulate the pedals, keep the steering wheel under control and use turn signals appropriately. If you are someone who drives a stick, you get an extra pedal and need to worry about shifting gears as well.

What makes this hard is doing all this on the road. You get tons of information that you need to process and react accordingly.

2. Weather

The weather is not always going to be favorable. There are times when it can be rough and make driving hard.

Driving under the sun on a warm sunny day is as good as it gets. On the other hand, if you are driving during the winter, you need to worry about other external factors like ice and snow. These conditions require different adaptations to be shown by the driver. This can also make driving harder.

3. Visibility

There are many factors that could affect visibility while driving.

Too much sunlight could send a glare through the windshield that affects your visibility. Lack of sunlight can also be an issue. With rush hour settling in, 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM is considered one of the worst times to drive.

Weather conditions like fog, rain, or snow will also reduce visibility. With time, you learn that you must be sensitive to deteriorating weather conditions.

Sometimes you might run into direct obstruction to your view ahead. It can be a dirty windshield or overgrown vegetation by the side of the road. There are instances where the road itself can obstruct your view.

Abrupt roadway ramp exits and entrances and sharp turns can obstruct your view ahead.

4. Traffic

Finally, we have traffic. This is one of the biggest hazards that you might encounter while driving. You are not the only one on the road. You share it with numerous drivers. More than half of that bunch are in a hurry to get to their destination.

This is a recipe for a disaster. You need to assess every single vehicle around you. This will let you anticipate their next move. Constantly look for turn signals. Learn to react to the moves that other drivers make.

Are you questioning, why is driving so hard? These are the factors that make driving hard. Do not worry, you are not alone in this. It will get better with time. Until then there are steps you can make towards becoming a better driver, we will discuss them below.

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Skills To Develop To Become A Better Driver

There 2 distinct skills that will make you a better driver. Driving is a skill in itself. The best way to develop driving is experience. If you want to go the extra mile, there are a few external skills that you can work on.

Reflexes

When you see something out of the ordinary happening around you, it takes a small time for you to react accordingly. Even though you may feel that you react immediately, it is a bit slower than you think.

The visual input needs to enter your brain and get processed. Then your brain sends the necessary signals for the body to react.

For a driver to react, it takes around 0.7 seconds. For example, if the car in front of you slams the brakes, the time taken for you to process the information and react to it by slowing your car down takes 0.7 seconds. The reaction time increases as you age.

There are exercises that you can practice to increase your reaction speed. These exercises will allow you to slash microseconds off that 0.7 seconds. Though this might not sound significant, a fraction of a second is enough to avoid an accident.

Good Judgement

A good driver knows when to take necessary actions. You need to know when to slow down and when to speed up. Judgment is especially important when you are overtaking another vehicle. You should judge when the risk is necessary and can you overtake the vehicle in front of you safely.

This is just an aspect of good judgemental skills being used while driving. Judging the distance between your car and the car in front, and judging whether your car would fit in a parking space are all aspects of judgment that can be developed.

Self Discipline

This is the most important skill you need to develop to become a better driver. It is easy to advise others about road rules and the importance of following them. But once you hit the roads breaking the rules feels a bit more comfortable.

Road rules there for a reason. They keep the driver safe. Even though it might seem unnecessary and blowing the speed limit might be tempting, keep control of the gas. This will go a long way in making you a better driver.

You also need to remember that you share the road with other drivers. Treat them with respect.

Also, develop your patience. Driving is not a race, so take your time. Obviously, the reason for choosing to drive is to get from A to B in a short period of time. So, advising someone to go slow is not exactly the best advice.

But make sure to keep your car under the speed limit and avoid taking risks when unnecessary. Reaching home 10 minutes early is not worth spending the next 4 months in the hospital.

10 Ways To Make Driving Easier

Driving has turned out to be an essential life skill. The ease that driving can give you can only be explained by someone who knows how to drive. But learning to drive can be challenging. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts.

There are no secrets or magic pills that will make you a better driver overnight. You need to spend hours behind the wheel and gradually you will become a better driver.

As a beginner, driving will be hard. But there are ways that you can follow to make the experience comfortable. This will ensure that the learning curve doesn’t take a toll on you. Even with these tips driving won’t be a walk in the park until you get a hang of it.

1. Relax

Stress is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. With dozens of cars around you, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Before you do anything else, you need to trust your capabilities. If you already know how to drive, have faith in the skills you have acquired over time.

If you are sitting behind the wheel for the first time try to be calm. You will naturally become a better driver once you are calm.

One of the biggest issues that beginners face is stiff limbs. When they are over-stressed, they are unable to move their limbs freely and control the car. Therefore the first method to make driving easier is to be relaxed.

2. Make Yourself Comfortable

Finding the right seating position and posture will allow you to think clearly. You shouldn’t be too close or too far away from the steering wheel. The same can be said about the pedals. Make sure they are within optimal reach.

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Almost all modern cars have adjustable seats. Some even have an adjustable steering wheel.

An ideal driving position is where your arms are stretched with a slight bend at the elbow and your back settled in the seat. The same can be said about your legs. They shouldn’t be fully extended nor should they folded. Find the ideal seat position before you drive.

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Finally, don’t forget the seat belt. This is a minor detail that cannot be ignored. Your life may depend on that strap.

3. Avoid Rush Hours

Rush hour is when there is heavy traffic in the streets. There can be too many cars to handle during rush hours if you are a beginner. So it is best if you can avoid rush hours.

The time of the day when the traffic is heaviest varies from place to place. Different regions experience different rush hours. But they are usually centered around office hours. In almost every state, 4 PM to 7 PM is considered rush hours.

Sometimes, you might not be able to avoid these hours. So if you are a beginner and you are forced to drive through at these times, make sure to be extra careful. If you are asking, why is driving so hard, try avoiding rush hours? It will certainly make a difference.

4. Ignore Honkers

As mentioned earlier, there is a learning curve to becoming a better driver. This means that you’d be driving a bit slower than many others on the road when you start leaning.

Not everyone is going to be supportive. There’d be a few people who would constantly honk at you from the back. You should not be rushed by compulsive honkers. This will only make you more stressed and will make driving harder.

So, you need to learn how to ignore people who constantly honk at you.

5. Adequate Rest

Without adequate rest, you should never sit behind the wheel. This is especially applicable if you are asking, why is driving so hard. A tired brain will not be able to make correct judgments nor will it be able to react quickly. Both of these skills are necessary when you are driving.

If you are going on a long journey, you might feel tired as you drive for a few hours. This will surely make driving hard. Again, you need to get some rest if you are not feeling fit enough to continue driving.

If you have someone else riding with you, switch seats when needed.

6. Avoid Distractions

You need to keep a clear head when you drive. If not driving will be hard. There are many forms of distractions that you might encounter as a driver. You need to be able to identify what is distracting you and ignore it or find a way to stop the source.

Sometimes the music and the radio could be distracting you. If so you can turn it off. But maybe it is someone in the backseat. You need to be able to zone out the distractions and focus on driving.

7. Have A Clear Windshield

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A dirty windshield can greatly affect your visibility. We need not explain the importance of visibility while driving. Unlike many other routine maintenances, the windshield often gets ignored. What was the last time you replaced your wiper blades?

Wiper blades wear off as they age. With time won’t be effective against rain as it used to be. Without proper wiper blades, driving while it is raining can be hard. It is only the wiper blades you need to worry about.

You need to regularly clean your windshield. Having a sufficient amount of windshield washer fluid in your reservoir will help you clean your windshield on the go if necessary.

8. Wear Sunglasses When Needed

You really do not know when the sun could shine directly at your face. Therefore you need to be ready with sunglasses on hand. The glare of the sun can temporarily blind you. If you are wondering why is driving so hard, this might be the distraction that is causing the issue.

Whenever visibility is affected, it not only makes driving harder but also turns out to be a hazard. Wearing a pair of sunglasses will greatly decrease the irritation caused by this problem.

9. Connect Your Mobile To Your Car

10. Take Familiar Routes

If you are used to a particular route, driving through that road will always be easier. You will naturally be a better driver when driving through that path. One of the reasons for this is your memory.

You’d be able to anticipate turns from your memory and react faster. You will also be clear about the road rules, which would make driving easier.

But what if you are traveling somewhere you haven’t been before? If this were the case, you should always plan your route in advance. There are many navigation apps at your disposal these days. Use one of those applications to figure out the exact route you’d be taking.

You won’t need to look at your phone for directions or you plan your route in advance. Driving becomes easier when you do not have to keep your mind on other things like directions when you are behind the wheel.

FAQs

Here are some common questions regarding, why is driving so hard?

How Long Does It Take To Learn To Drive A Car?

There are many factors that could determine the time frame that you need to properly learn how to drive. Some factors include your age, commitment, personality, and your natural aptitudes.

It could take as little as 50 hours or it could take as much as 500 hours. But to become a good driver to the point where driving is easy, it often takes thousands of hours.

What Makes A Car Easy To Drive?

It is true that some cars are easier to drive than others. Obviously, you know that manual cars are much harder to drive than automatic cars. But even in automatic cars, some are easier to drive than others.

Why Is Driving So Hard - 10 Ways To Make It Easier

If you are looking to buy a car that is easy to drive, here are some things to look out for. A car that is easy to drive consists of simple controls, good sightlines, and a lack of confusing technology. Apart from that, a small car will also be beneficial.

As it would be easier to maneuver and park. Some examples include the Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Jeep Renegade, and many more.

Does Driving Become Easier With Time?

It certainly does. Like any other skill, driving too develops with practice. And with time you’d become a better driver. This is one of the reasons why insurance companies charge less as you age.

How Frequently Should You Take Brakes When Driving Long Distances?

Driving long distances is not easy. Your mind and body are constantly at work when you drive. Eventually, you will become tired when driving.

You shouldn’t be driving if you are feeling tired or drowsy. It increases the risk of accidents. If you are driving long distances you should take a break every 2 hours for at least 15 minutes. Try to go to a rest stop every 100 miles. This will keep your mind alert.

Is It Legal To Use Mobile Phone While Driving?

It actually depends on the state you live in. But in several states, using a mobile phone while driving is banned. In fact, most states have even made it illegal to use any handheld device, whether it’s through Bluetooth or not. Talking or texting while driving is a major distraction.

What Is A Defensive Driving Course?

A defensive driving course allows drivers to be more aware and reduce risks while driving. It usually consists of many classroom sessions followed by a practical session in a car with an instructor.

Taking a defensive driving course will surely make you a better driver. Though it may not teach you high-speed driving or performance driving, it teaches you to handle threats that you may encounter while driving and ways of handling them.

Conclusion

When you see an experienced driver behind the wheel or thousands of cars around you, it is easy to assume that driving is simple. But when you are the one seated behind the wheel, it is a whole new story.

Driving is one of the hardest skills to master, and the best way to do it is through experience.

There are certain skills that you can learn to become a better driver. With those skills and experience, you could tackle the roads in your car with ease. It is a wonderful feeling when man and machine become one.

Once you are comfortable behind the wheel, you will no longer feel like you are driving a bulky machine. Instead, the car will start to feel like an extension of your own body.

But until then, there is a steep learning curve. If you are wondering, why is driving so hard, do not worry, it will get easier with time. We have discussed 10 ways to make driving easier.

These are not shortcuts nor will they make you a better driver overnight. But they certainly will make driving easier and allow you to become a better driver safely and smoothly.

Here are some other car driving related articles to check out:

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Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY