driving

hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver

"he sliced his drive out of bounds" the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal having the power of driving or impelling

"a driving personal ambition"

"the driving force was his innate enthusiasm"

"an impulsive force" acting with vigor

"responsibility turned the spoiled playboy into a driving young executive"

Driving is the controlled operation of a vehicle, which is usually a motor vehicle such as a truck, bus, motorcycle, or automobilecar. For bicycles and mounted animals and — at least in the United KingdomU.K., the United StatesU.S. and Canada — motorcycles, the corresponding activity is called ''riding''. Driving includes knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control the speed and direction (which in technical terminology are both components of the velocity), and the braking of the vehicle, and especially includes knowing how to do both safely.

Road transport -

Driving as a physical skill - In terms of the basic physical tasks required, driving a motor vehicle generally involves:

Starting the vehicle's engine with the Automobile_self_starterstarting system

Setting the Transmission (mechanics)transmission to the correct gear

Depressing the Pedalpedals with one's feet to accelerate and slow the vehicle (and, if necessary, to change gears)

Steering the vehicle's direction with the Steering wheelsteering wheel

Operating other important ancillary devices like the 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, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Driving as a survival skill - Of course, driving is far more complicated than simply pressing pedals and turning the steering wheel; it also involves looking out for everyone else (and everything) on the road. The skill of safe driving is necessary to avoid collisions, which kill many thousands of people annually (see also Car accident). And safe driving is much more than following the legally prescribed rules of the road. It goes beyond that into the cultivation of good habits, maintaining attention, and a thoughtful, cooperative attitude that avoids and prevents accidents. This is often described as defensive driving.

Laws covering driving - 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 driver and vehicle Licenselicensing (see '''Driver's license and License plate'''), vehicle taxation, safety inspections and compulsory insurance. These laws reflect the high degree of responsibility which is imposed upon both the drivers and manufacturers of 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 (and riding bicycles) on public roads. Saudi women have periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions.In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new drivers may be initially subject to special restrictions. For example, in Australia, novice motorists are required to carry "P" ("probationary") plates, and are subject to lower speed limits, alcohol limits, and other restrictions for their first two years of driving.

Minimum driving ages - The minimum age required for driving varies depending on the country. The most common age is 18. Here are the ages required in some countries (in alphabetical order):

Albania: 18

Australia

* ''New South Wales'': 16

* ''South Australia'': 16

* ''Victoria (Australia)Victoria'': 18

* ''Queensland'': 17

* ''Northern Territory'': 17

* ''Tasmania'': 16

* ''Western Australia'': 17

Austria: 17

Belgium: 18

Brazil: 18

Canada: 16

China: 18

Denmark: 18

Egypt: 18

Ethiopia: 14

Finland: 18

France: 18

Germany: 18

Greece: 18

Indonesia:17

Iceland: 17

Ireland: 17

India: 18

Isle of Man: 16

Italy: 18

Japan: 18

Luxembourg: 18

Malaysia: 17

Malta: 18

Mauritius: 18

Netherlands: 18

New Zealand: 15

Norway: 18

Oman: 18

Pakistan: 18

Philippines: 17

Poland: 18

Portugal: 18

Romania: 18

Russia: 18

South Africa: 18

Spain: 18

Sweden: 18

Switzerland: 18

Taiwan: 18

Tanzania: 18

United States: 16

United Kingdom: 17

Uruguay: 18

Venezuela: 18

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. 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 TransportationDepartment 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 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. In many jurisdictions, bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles and cyclists are legally classified as drivers. The riding of bicycles is rarely subject to licensing. However, some municipalities may require a permit for the bicycle.

Rail transport - In rail transport, steering is done by controlling the switch points; this can be done:

by other personnel than the driver, often remotely from a traffic control point.

by the driver from his or her position.

by the driver getting out and operating the switch manually.

See also -

Chauffeur

Drunk driving

Highway Code (official road safety manual for the United Kingdom)

Highway patrol

Institute of Advanced Motorists

Manual transmission driving technique

Pedal

Performance driving techniques

Road safety

Road construction

Road racing

Road sign

Rules of the road (driving on the left- or right-hand side)

References -

advanced-driving.co.uk - Advanced Driving UK - Going beyond learner driving

2Pass.co.uk: Minimum Driving Ages. - 2pass.co.uk and 2pass.co.uk.Category:Driving*de:Fahren

Federal Direct
Case Report Forms Printing, Direct Mail Marketing Fulfillment House, Federal Direct. Forms fulfillment, forms management, fulfillment services.
http://www.feddirect.com/

CraksRacing.com
Catalan website about kart racing, with his own karting championship.
http://www.craksracing.com/

Free driving test and theory test advice
Loads of free information regarding learning to drive in the UK. Also offers driving and theory test cds, books and dvds
http://learnerstuff.co.uk/

Truckdriver.com
Internet recruiting, truckdriver services, trucking forums.
http://www.truckdriver.com/

Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Free information and articles on road rage and aggressive driving, including news, surveys, statistics, research, advice, driver education and training, materials for public campaigns, traffic emotions education, children, television DBB ratings (drivers behaving badly), and more.
http://www.drdriving.org/

Crist CDL Training Center - Tractor Trailer / Truck Driver Training School
Training for bus, dump truck, and tractor trailer drivers and heavy equipment. Study for the CDL written exams here!
http://www.cristcdl.com/

Wanadrive - The Driving School Site
Directory of Driving Schools & information about learning to drive and driving in general.
http://wanadrive.co.uk/

Stop Road Rage with Courtesy Code
A Radford University (VA) professor of martial arts finds that a successful way to curb the distress associated with road rage/agressive driving is to communicate the words please/thank you/sorry via on board hazzard lights. One blink for please,two blinks for thank you. Participants in the study were asked to use their hazzard light to communicate the courtesy code. Results: 87% of participants demonstrated positive/peaceful attitudes about driving when using a common courtesy code.
http://www.roadragereducer.org/

Safeway UK Motoring School
We offer Intensive Courses, Fast pass courses, crashcourses
http://www.safewayuk.com/

Tow Bar TELE KLICK (patented)
The TELE KLICK tow rod is the most innovative safety traction rod for motor cars worldwide. Both hooks are completely closed and therefore a fall out of the towing eye or trailer coupling is impossible. The patented and MOT tested tow rod has the ingenious and unique TELE KLICK system through which the handling is becoming a child’s play. In no time the tow rod unfolds in its full length of 1.80 m and is prompt ready for use. “It’s a matter of seconds!” the rod is already completely assembled. There’s no need of screws, bolts, nuts and pins. The TELE KLICK tow rod belongs into the boot of every car.
http://www.abschleppstange.de/

You Drink, We Drive!
Smart Ride provides a truly unique system of transportation to individuals who plan on drinking or already drank too much. With Smart Ride you and your vehicle will arrive home safely without you behind the wheel
http://www.smartride.ca/

Dollar & Thrifty / Sub Rosa Car Rental Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro
Today, because of our focus on exceptional customer service and convenience, Sub Rosa d.o.o. Dollar / Thrifty car hire has become one of the largest car rental companies in the region. Our future goal is to move forward with new locations in and around this exceptionally attractive and fastly growing tourist region, and to give the best possible customer service in this beautiful country of Croatia and other neighboring countries.
http://www.subrosa.hr/

Justin Carriage Works
Manufacturer of Horse Drawn Carriages, Wagons, Carts, Sleighs, Stagecoaches and Hearses (Horse Drawn adn Motorcyl=cle Drawn) For Draft, Horse, Pony and Mini
http://www.buggy.com/

State of Florida.com
Definitive source for Florida residents and tourists
http://www.stateofflorida.com

Michaels Driving School
Chicago Area Driving School. Teen Student drivers Education. traffic Safety.
http://www.michaelsdrivingschool.com/

Mapquest
Provides online maps, driving directions and trip planning. The toolbar provides the map functionality in your browser.
http://www.mapquest.com

Yahoo Maps
An adequate tool for finding locations in the US. A nice feature: adds four digit extension to typed in zip codes.
http://maps.yahoo.com/

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Nationwide organization of people determined to stop drunk driving and support the victims drunk driving accidents.
http://www.madd.org/

NCADD
The National Commission Against Drunk Driving website provides information about anti-drunk driving resources and initiatives.
http://www.ncadd.com