Are you a passive or active driver?

As I sit here in the passenger seat while my husband is driving us to a friend’s surprise birthday party, I began thinking about the different drivers on the road. In keeping with my curious disposition, I started to contemplate the mechanics of the driving process and the motivations and reasons behind human actions when behind the wheel.

I used to drive fairly aggressively and at times, I would “speed and weave.” Don’t get me wrong, I was safe, but aggressive. I think I did this because of a perceived need to save time and to avoid being stuck behind slower traffic. Although, if I’m honest, it was more of the former.

What kind of driver are you or what is your approach to driving?

My husband and I were talking about people's approach to driving and why they drive the way they do. He made an interesting comment, which made perfect sense to me. He said, “How you drive is how you live your life.” Then he asked, “Are you always in a rush to get somewhere or do you take your time?” 

I’m extremely interested in understanding why people do things and what makes them do it. Do you know that there’s something called Traffic Psychology, which explores the psychological factors that influence driver behavior? I was doing a little research to see which generation drives more aggressively. Interestingly, I found out that Gen Z (age is 13-28 years old) shows the most impatience and leads in aggressive driving, followed by millennials, Gen X and lastly, Boomers.

Speaking from experience, I believe that people tend to be more aggressive when they are driving alone than when they have passengers. I think that having passengers can act as a social restraint and making it less likely to engage in aggressive behaviors.

It’s intriguing, how drivers and driving patterns differ from one part of the country to another. When we lived in the state of WA, we found that many drivers had difficulty with merging unto freeways from an on ramp, especially when there was construction and traffic was heavy. I always thought it was because Washingtonians were so kind and respectful, but perhaps there are other reasons. New York, on the other hand, has been recognized as having good drivers, especially in terms of safety and driving habits. However, I’ve learned from former New Yorkers, that people drive super aggressive there. I’ve also heard that California drivers are among the worst in the U.S., especially due to extraordinarily high accident rates and DUI’s. Another odd thing is that traffic in Southern California has become significantly worse since the peak of the COVID pandemic, even though I keep hearing that people are leaving California. Perhaps it is a result of all of the accidents...

If you are someone who is aggressive and always wants to get somewhere (or everywhere) fast, perhaps instead of focusing on getting there, you could look at each road trip as a journey. Recently, I have felt convicted to relax and take my time getting to wherever I am going. I have taken my husband's words to heart, and, as such, each time I get into the car, I pray and make a conscious effort to drive with patience. This practice has helped me to enjoy the journey and to be much more relaxed when I reach my destination.

Lessons learned: When I look at the picture below, I think that we should approach driving (and life) with as much joy as possible. Stay patient, prioritize safety and enjoy the ride!

Enjoy the ride!