Driving Default: Yesterday I reality-checked it . . .

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

Yesterday was the second time in my life* when I tried driving a real vehicle. An experienced driver was sitting by my side, but did not interfere, except for giving advice. For the sake of statistics, I consider myself as having a DX of 8 or 9 (I'm clumsy), and an IQ of 10 to 11 (while socially awkward, I was doing pretty good in school and university once I got the hang of actually reading through materials and focusing on the lectures). So here are my conclusions about driving on a default:

The DX-based part of the default is pretty straightforward. Gauging the pressure on the gas pedal to a tolerable precision is no big deal, even though gauging it perfectly is very, very hard without training. Figuring the sensitivity of the wheel took some minutes, though I couldn't figure out if the angle of turn is indeed 1° for 1°. Also, positive/routine TDMs stack pretty fast: things I couldn't do with the mouse and arrow keys in a computer game (i.e. with other virtual cars on the road) were easy to do with real controls on an empty road.

The IQ-based part of the skill, however, should have no default. There's just no way I would figure out that I need to hold the clutch pedal when breaking, or changing speeds. I was also pretty shocked when releasing the clutch pedal resulted in the car moving while I didn't touch the gas pedal. Counter-intuitive doesn't begin to describe it.

Finally, some aspects of driving not only shouldn't have a default, but should also be decoupled from the skill entirely. I'm talking about Rules Lore. Having tried to pass a rules lore test, I can say that knowing the rules relates to being able to drive (DX-wise) about as much as knowing a language relates to being able to use calligraphy (again, DX-wise). I.e. not linked at all: one is the skill of how to make movements, while the other is a purely theoretical knowledge of what movements are allowed under what circumstances.

* == first being some time between 3 and 9 years old, and was only allowed to control the pedals (no steering)

Awaiting comments
Thanks in advance.

[smurf]

You are not a qualified driver?

IIRC driving is the ultimate multitask.

In the UK we are taught Mirror Signal Maneauvre (MSM).

So apart from knowing the road, slow down around parked cars, preempt people crossing, slow down near lights. Know your route etc.

We have to

1. get in car prior to you should have unconsciously visually inspected the exterior
2. Make sure mirrors and and seating is all ok
3. check gears, put on belt, start vehicle
4. ensure all the correct lights go out on dashboard, switch on lights if necessary, the MSM, go to 1st - balance and go
5. we are off, check mirrors, go to 2nd
6. check mirrors go to 3rd
5. remember slowing down near corners means brake, clutch change down - oh check mirrors
6. Assess every street on for potential hazards
7. acceralate up to speed limited with road conditions permitting and check mirrors
8. Be aware other road users may not be as courteous as you are
9. Remember to use all your gears depending on your speed, alway indicate to show your intentions remember MSM
10. don't get angry, ok you can be annoyed but not angry at other road users.
11.Concentrate on your task - driving, looking around for hazards and ensuring your safety, and the safety of others.
12. Don't think you can cheat the rules, you can, but one day it will all go wrong. The rules are there for a reason (my hands still sit at the 10 to 2 position and I still use the push pull method for turning).

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by smurf

You are not a qualified driver?

No. I see cars as mostly a luxury thing. Subway is cheaper, doesn't require one to work as one's own driver, and generally as fast for regular trips (which is 99% of the trips I take).

[gmillerd]

Just curious what were you driving? How tall are you? How much speed did you get up to and with other vehicles.

My questions basically surround some issues like people that drive a car for the first time often center themselves (their shoulders / the wheel) in the middle of the lane (look out parked car mirrors!), and they have horrible times dealing with spacial issues related to being high above in a mini van or pickup truck as well as being slung low in a sports car (even a geo storm has the posture change enough to make it different).

Some people have horrid (look behind you or to the side while not moving the wheel) skills, much less the open glove box and find gun skill we all use ever day.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

As a professional driver, I may be somewhat biased but am pretty firmly of the belief that the vast majority of people use Driving at default. Modern roadways are designed to provide a large TDM, but if you throw most people any kind of curveball, especially in wet conditions that impose a penalty, things get really ugly really fast. We had beautiful weather tonight, on a non-holiday Monday, and I witnessed two good crashes and a number of near-misses, one of which involved a successful vehicular Dodge on my part that all of my passengers didn't know was happening until it was over and insisted they would've failed.

[smurf]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

No. I see cars as mostly a luxury thing. Subway is cheaper, doesn't require one to work as one's own driver, and generally as fast for regular trips (which is 99% of the trips I take).

Wish it was the case here. IIRC the cost of driving a reasonably priced car with decent mpg (sorry l/100km can be worked out but I don't have the figures now). Even with my large family car, I get jut over 40 UKmpgs. Also short distances I just jump on my bicycle

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

As a professional driver, I may be somewhat biased but am pretty firmly of the belief that the vast majority of people use Driving at default. Modern roadways are designed to provide a large TDM, but if you throw most people any kind of curveball, especially in wet conditions that impose a penalty, things get really ugly really fast.

The accident statistics around here seem to support this. When we have six or less accidents worth reporting during the morning commute on the radio on a dry, reasonably-sunny-but-not-glary perfect day for driving, and spike to 50+ and some days HUNDREDS when it rains or snows? (There have been days when there's so many uncleared accidents at once that the traffic report refuses to list them, and just sums it up with "Expect delays everywhere, drive SLOWLY PLEASE")

Drivers habitually speed 30 km/hr over the limit in good conditions and yet average speed drops to half the usual traveling speed when it drizzles. I can only regard this as people struggling to get a positive TDM to offset the rain penalties by taking extra time :D

[Dorin Thorha]

I've found the IQ part of driving pretty intuitive... I have at most a Dabbler perk in driving but I can understand something like the clutch after at most one or two mistakes...

But then I watched my parents drive many times, had things explained to me, helped with repairs, etc. ever since I was very small. Does that mean I have a point in the skill, or did I simply avoid an Incompetence by having the normal experiences relating to the skill? I'm inclined to think the latter.

[Phantasm]

I wish we had public transportation out this way. Here, it's 10 miles from my house to the nearest gas station (with a minimum of three churches between here and the gas). Yes, I live out in the middle of nowhere. (We only really got reliable DSL out this way earlier this year...)

Driving, pretty much a necessity.

Molokh, sounds like you were driving a stick-shift. I'll admit that there's a bit more to driving stick than there is to driving a car with automatic transmission; first and foremost, the clutch. When the car started moving when you pushed in the clutch, I'd guess that what you felt was gravity having its effect on the car, not the engine. The clutch eases the tension on the transmission shifter so that its easier to get the car into the appropriate gear; the car won't move if it is in any gear and the engine is off, because of that same tension.

There are probably more people nowadays who drive cars with automatic transmissions than those who drive manuals. The IQ default for automatic transmissions is pretty clear-cut: put your foot on the break to get the shifting lever out of Park, put it in either Reverse or Drive. I'd give an additional -3 to the IQ default for manual transmissions if you've never been around them and paid attention to how the drivers handle 'em. (Thankfully, I grew up around manuals, and learned to drive on one.)

[Dorin Thorha]

^ When in drive, an automatic transmission drives forwards slowly even without pressing the gas. At least that is true of all 3 that I have driven.