Driving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus. Although direct operation of a bicycle, a mounted animal (not including chariot operation) or a motorcycle (at least in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia) is commonly called riding, such operators are usually legally considered to be drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road which apply to all drivers.

Driveability

Driveability of a vehicle means the smooth delivery of power, as demanded by the driver. Typical causes of driveability degradation are rough idling, misfiring, surging, hesitation, or insufficient power .

Driving skills

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

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

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.

Another survey indicated that music could affect a driver's concentration.

Driving laws

image:Finnish driver's license.jpg

A person is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which he or she is driving. The rules of the road, driver licensing and vehicle registration schemes that apply vary considerably between jurisdictions, as do laws imposing criminal responsibility for negligent driving, vehicle safety inspections and compulsory insurance. The standard of responsibility imposed by these laws is based on the extraordinary danger of driving motor vehicles. Most countries also have differing laws against driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.