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.