Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Driving shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Driving offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Driving at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Driving? Wrong! If the Driving is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Driving then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Driving? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Driving and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Driving wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Driving then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Driving site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Driving, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Driving, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Drifting (motorsport)
Driving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, usually a
motor vehicle such as a
truck, boat, or automobile. 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 and Canada) is commonly called
riding, such operators are usually considered to be
drivers in a legal sense and required to obey those rules of the road which apply to all drivers.
Driving skills
Driving in traffic is more than just knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control the vehicle; it requires knowing how to apply the rules of the road (which govern safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling.
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 Automobile self starter
- Setting the Transmission (mechanics) to the correct gear
- Depressing the automobile pedal 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 Turn signals, headlights, and windshield wipers
- Watching the road conditions in all directions around the vehicle (including frequent checks behind the vehicle using mirrors) to monitor the relative location of other vehicles (including bicycles), and pedestrians
Driving as a mental skill
Driver error is an important factor in collisions, which result in the death of many thousands of people annually (see also
car accident). Preventing collisions involves more than just following the rules of the road literally;
defensive driving also involves the cultivation of good habits, maintaining attention, and a thoughtful, cooperative attitude.
Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve any of the following skills:
- Reversing
- Decision making
- Evasive maneuvers
- Inflating the tires properly
- Pursuit driving
- Proper hand placement and seating position
- Skid control
- Steering and braking techniques
- Understanding vehicle dynamics
Driving laws
In most countries, the use of public roads is heavily governed by law. Laws cover the construction and maintenance of roads, the construction and use of vehicles, the rules of the road, the requirements for motorist License (see
Driver's license), vehicle registration (see
License plate), vehicle
taxation, safety inspections and compulsory insurance for heavy motor vehicles. These laws reflect the high degree of responsibility which is imposed upon both the drivers and manufacturers of vehicles (especially heavy motor vehicles) to make them as safe in use as they can possibly be.
Motorists are almost universally required to take lessons with an approved instructor and pass a
driving test before being granted a license. The trend has been towards increasingly tougher tests in recent decades. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads.
Saudi Arabia, however, bans women from driving vehicles (whether pedal or motor powered) on public roads. Saudi women have periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.
In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new motorists may be initially subject to special restrictions. For example, in
Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P" ("provisional") plates, and are subject to lower speed limits, alcohol limits, and other restrictions for their first two years of driving. This varies between states.
Enforcement of driving-related laws
Each country has its own unique way of dividing up the responsibility for enforcing all the laws mentioned above. In nearly all countries, though, the laws controlling driving in practice (like speed limits) are enforced by the police, who are in the best position to identify violations as they occur and to issue
citations or make arrests.
Some countries, like
Australia, prefer to put
everything road-related into a
single agency at the state level. Thus, in the Australian state of
New South Wales, the
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is responsible for driver licensing;
highway construction, maintenance, and patrol; and many other things. Policing on Australian roads is provided by the relevant state police.
In contrast, in the
United States, many
U.S. state governments have a Department of Transportation that handles road construction and maintenance (subject to some guidance from the federal
U.S. Department of Transportation), and a separate
Department of Motor Vehicles that handles driver licensing and vehicle registration. There is usually a state police agency (called the
Highway Patrol, State Police, State Troopers or
Department of Public Safety) which enforces driving laws on state highways. On local roads, driving laws are enforced by county sheriff's departments or city police departments.
Except for a few jurisdictions, bicyclists are legally treated as drivers of vehicles and expected to
Vehicular cycling. Drivers of bicycles are almost never subject to licensing. However, some municipalities do require permits for bicycles.
=== Minimum motorist ages ===
The minimum age required to be a motorist varies depending on the country. The most common age is 18. Here are the ages required in some countries (in alphabetical order), note that some regions of the countries may start at a different age than other regions, this is just the minimum age requirement to drive:
{||
- Albania: 18
- Algeria: 18
- Argentina: 17
- Australia: 16-18 depending on state/territory (16-16.5 with adult supervision)
- Austria: 17
- Bangladesh: 21
- Belgium: 16 and 8 months (official driving teacher supervision). Minimum age is 18 for driving alone. Mopeds with speed limit restricted to 25 km/h: 16.
- Brazil: 18
- Brunei: 18
- Bulgaria: 18
- Canada: 14 Alberta, New Brunswick &; 15 Northwest Territories & Yukon; 15.5 Manitoba & Prince Edward Island; 16 British Columbia; Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia,Newfoundland, Ontario & Quebec
- Chatham Islands (New Zealand): 15
- Chile: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- China: 18
- Colombia: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Croatia: 20 (18 with limitations)
- Czech Republic: 18
- Denmark: 18
- Egypt: 18
- El Salvador: 18
- Estonia: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Ethiopia: 14
- Finland: 15 (farm vehicles, 50cc mopeds and scooters, snowmobiles) - 16 (125cc, under 11kw motorbikes) - 18 (cars, under 25kw motorbikes, lorries/trucks without trailers) - 21 (everything else)
- France: 14 (farm vehicles, quad bikes and mopeds) - 16 (with adult supervision) - 18
- Germany: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- Ghana: 18
- Greece: 16 (50cc mopeds and scooters) - 21 (125+cc motorbikes) - 18 (everything else)
- Hong Kong: 18
- Hungary: 17
- Indonesia: 17
- Iceland: 17
- Iran: 18
- Republic of Ireland: 17 (16 for Mopeds and Tractors)
- India: 14 (mopeds and small motorscooters) - 17 (cars)
- Isle of Man: 16
- Israel: 17
- Italy: 18
- Japan: 18
- Latvia: 14 (mopeds) - 16 (small cars, eg. Smart) - 18
- Lebanon: 18
- Lithuania: 14 (mopeds) - 16 (small cars, eg. Smart) - 18
- Luxembourg: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- Malaysia: 17
- Malta: 18
- Mauritius: 18
- Mexico: 16 (Restricted to driving from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.) 18 (No time restrictions.)
- Morocco: 18
- Netherlands: 18
- New Zealand: 15 (with adult supervision for at least 6 months before sitting the Restricted practical test, which allows for driving alone. Restricted still has guidelines eg hours of day and night allowed to drive in, not allowed to carry passengers)
- Norway: 18 (16 with adult supervision and qualified basic traffic course)
- Pakistan: 18
- Philippines: 17
- Poland: 18
- Portugal: 18
- Puerto Rico: 18 (16 under adult supervision)
- Romania: 18
- Russia: 18
- Slovenia: 21 (18 with limitations)
- Slovakia: 18
- Somalia: 14
- South Africa: 18
- South Korea: 18
- Singapore: 18
- Spain: 18
- Sweden: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Switzerland: 18
- Taiwan: 18
- Tanzania: 18
- Thailand: 18
- Turkey: 18
- United States: Varies from 14 to 18 by state
- United Kingdom: 17 (16 if partially disabled or for mopeds and tractors)
- Uruguay: 18
- Venezuela: 18
- Vietnam: 18
- Zambia: 18
See also
External links
- How Cars Work - also How to Drive.
- How to drive a car with a manual transmission
- Tips For Winter Driving by David Maillie
- A wiki devoted to driving research
- Drivers with dementia a growing problem, MDs warn, CBC News, Canada, September 19, 2007
Drifting (motorsport)Driving is the controlled operation of a land vehicle, usually a motor vehicle such as a
truck, boat, or
automobile. 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 and
Canada) is commonly called
riding, such operators are usually considered to be
drivers in a legal sense and required to obey those
rules of the road which apply to all drivers.
Driving skills
Driving in
traffic is more than just knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control the vehicle; it requires knowing how to apply the rules of the road (which govern safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling.
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 Automobile self starter
- Setting the Transmission (mechanics) to the correct gear
- Depressing the automobile pedal 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 Turn signals, headlights, and windshield wipers
- Watching the road conditions in all directions around the vehicle (including frequent checks behind the vehicle using mirrors) to monitor the relative location of other vehicles (including bicycles), and pedestrians
Driving as a mental skill
Driver error is an important factor in
collisions, which result in the death of many thousands of people annually (see also
car accident). Preventing collisions involves more than just following the rules of the road literally; defensive driving also involves the cultivation of good habits, maintaining attention, and a thoughtful, cooperative attitude.
Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve any of the following skills:
- Reversing
- Decision making
- Evasive maneuvers
- Inflating the tires properly
- Pursuit driving
- Proper hand placement and seating position
- Skid control
- Steering and braking techniques
- Understanding vehicle dynamics
Driving laws
In most countries, the use of public roads is heavily governed by law. Laws cover the construction and maintenance of roads, the construction and use of vehicles, the rules of the road, the requirements for motorist
License (see
Driver's license), vehicle registration (see
License plate), vehicle taxation, safety inspections and compulsory
insurance for heavy motor vehicles. These laws reflect the high degree of responsibility which is imposed upon both the drivers and manufacturers of vehicles (especially heavy motor vehicles) to make them as safe in use as they can possibly be.
Motorists are almost universally required to take lessons with an approved instructor and pass a driving test before being granted a license. The trend has been towards increasingly tougher tests in recent decades. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads.
Saudi Arabia, however, bans women from driving vehicles (whether pedal or motor powered) on public roads. Saudi women have periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.
In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new motorists may be initially subject to special restrictions. For example, in
Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P" ("provisional") plates, and are subject to lower speed limits, alcohol limits, and other restrictions for their first two years of driving. This varies between states.
Enforcement of driving-related laws
Each country has its own unique way of dividing up the responsibility for enforcing all the laws mentioned above. In nearly all countries, though, the laws controlling driving in practice (like speed limits) are enforced by the police, who are in the best position to identify violations as they occur and to issue
citations or make
arrests.
Some countries, like
Australia, prefer to put
everything road-related into a
single agency at the state level. Thus, in the Australian state of
New South Wales, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is responsible for driver licensing;
highway construction, maintenance, and patrol; and many other things. Policing on Australian roads is provided by the relevant state police.
In contrast, in the
United States, many
U.S. state governments have a Department of Transportation that handles road construction and maintenance (subject to some guidance from the federal
U.S. Department of Transportation), and a separate Department of Motor Vehicles that handles driver licensing and vehicle registration. There is usually a state police agency (called the Highway Patrol,
State Police,
State Troopers or
Department of Public Safety) which enforces driving laws on state highways. On local roads, driving laws are enforced by county sheriff's departments or city police departments.
Except for a few jurisdictions, bicyclists are legally treated as drivers of vehicles and expected to
Vehicular cycling. Drivers of bicycles are almost never subject to licensing. However, some municipalities do require permits for bicycles.
=== Minimum motorist ages ===
The minimum age required to be a motorist varies depending on the country. The most common age is 18. Here are the ages required in some countries (in alphabetical order), note that some regions of the countries may start at a different age than other regions, this is just the minimum age requirement to drive:
{||
- Albania: 18
- Algeria: 18
- Argentina: 17
- Australia: 16-18 depending on state/territory (16-16.5 with adult supervision)
- Austria: 17
- Bangladesh: 21
- Belgium: 16 and 8 months (official driving teacher supervision). Minimum age is 18 for driving alone. Mopeds with speed limit restricted to 25 km/h: 16.
- Brazil: 18
- Brunei: 18
- Bulgaria: 18
- Canada: 14 Alberta, New Brunswick &; 15 Northwest Territories & Yukon; 15.5 Manitoba & Prince Edward Island; 16 British Columbia; Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia,Newfoundland, Ontario & Quebec
- Chatham Islands (New Zealand): 15
- Chile: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- China: 18
- Colombia: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Croatia: 20 (18 with limitations)
- Czech Republic: 18
- Denmark: 18
- Egypt: 18
- El Salvador: 18
- Estonia: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Ethiopia: 14
- Finland: 15 (farm vehicles, 50cc mopeds and scooters, snowmobiles) - 16 (125cc, under 11kw motorbikes) - 18 (cars, under 25kw motorbikes, lorries/trucks without trailers) - 21 (everything else)
- France: 14 (farm vehicles, quad bikes and mopeds) - 16 (with adult supervision) - 18
- Germany: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- Ghana: 18
- Greece: 16 (50cc mopeds and scooters) - 21 (125+cc motorbikes) - 18 (everything else)
- Hong Kong: 18
- Hungary: 17
- Indonesia: 17
- Iceland: 17
- Iran: 18
- Republic of Ireland: 17 (16 for Mopeds and Tractors)
- India: 14 (mopeds and small motorscooters) - 17 (cars)
- Isle of Man: 16
- Israel: 17
- Italy: 18
- Japan: 18
- Latvia: 14 (mopeds) - 16 (small cars, eg. Smart) - 18
- Lebanon: 18
- Lithuania: 14 (mopeds) - 16 (small cars, eg. Smart) - 18
- Luxembourg: 18 (17 with adult supervision)
- Malaysia: 17
- Malta: 18
- Mauritius: 18
- Mexico: 16 (Restricted to driving from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.) 18 (No time restrictions.)
- Morocco: 18
- Netherlands: 18
- New Zealand: 15 (with adult supervision for at least 6 months before sitting the Restricted practical test, which allows for driving alone. Restricted still has guidelines eg hours of day and night allowed to drive in, not allowed to carry passengers)
- Norway: 18 (16 with adult supervision and qualified basic traffic course)
- Pakistan: 18
- Philippines: 17
- Poland: 18
- Portugal: 18
- Puerto Rico: 18 (16 under adult supervision)
- Romania: 18
- Russia: 18
- Slovenia: 21 (18 with limitations)
- Slovakia: 18
- Somalia: 14
- South Africa: 18
- South Korea: 18
- Singapore: 18
- Spain: 18
- Sweden: 18 (16 with adult supervision)
- Switzerland: 18
- Taiwan: 18
- Tanzania: 18
- Thailand: 18
- Turkey: 18
- United States: Varies from 14 to 18 by state
- United Kingdom: 17 (16 if partially disabled or for mopeds and tractors)
- Uruguay: 18
- Venezuela: 18
- Vietnam: 18
- Zambia: 18
See also
External links
- How Cars Work - also How to Drive.
- How to drive a car with a manual transmission
- Tips For Winter Driving by David Maillie
- A wiki devoted to driving research
- Drivers with dementia a growing problem, MDs warn, CBC News, Canada, September 19, 2007
Welcome to driving.co.uk
Contains articles on the UK driving test, advanced courses, career information, general motoring issues, and FAQs.
Driving Standards Agency
Responsible for conducting driving tests in Great Britain for cars, motorcycles, lorries and buses.
Driving Instructors Association
DIA Contact . Safety House Beddington Farm Road Croydon CR0 4XZ Tel: 020 8665 5151 Local:0845 345 5151 Fax:020 8665 5565
Driving Instructors Association
search for driving lesson car motorcycle lgv minibus all of uk ... DIA Contact . Safety House Beddington Farm Road Croydon CR0 4XZ Tel: 020 8665 5151
The AA: Car Insurance, Breakdown Cover, Loans, Motoring Advice, Travel ...
Driving lessons. Get a driving lesson quote and book online Check out our special offers for learner drivers
DSA
A continuing clampdown on fraudsters by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) saw another driving test impersonator appear at Ipswich Crown Court today.
Driving News and Car News from The Times and Sunday Times - Times ...
The latest car news and features from The Times and Sunday Times, including Jeremy Clarkson's weekly columns
UK Driving Schools, Practical Driving Test Video Tips, Theory Test
UK Driving Schools, Practical Driving Test Video Lessons, Driving Test Practice and Tips, Mock Theory Test Questions, Show Me Tell Me Questions
Driving - Travel - Homepage - Connexions Direct
Explore some of our most popular questions to find out more about the key issues surrounding travel.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi women challenge driving ban
A group of women in Saudi Arabia is for the first time to lobby the king for the right to drive cars.