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Driving Lessons

The Director's Immutable Driving Law: the later a person starts driving the worse of a driver they are.

In this vast world of ours there might exist some exceptions to the law but I've yet to encounter one personally. Note, for example, people who immigrate from a non-driving environment. So much is, pardon the pun, foriegn to them: traffic laws, driving courtesies, the sheer speed and volume of other cars.

A child growing up with these things doesn't even consider them.

My father was a navigator, first on the B-17 later on the B-29. He was a pilot with a multi-engine rating. Learning to drive from him, I've come to learn, was a far different experience than most kids get.

First of all, he taught us to be pilots that (hopefully) never leave the ground. As pilots, our first responsibility was for the safety of the passengers. No excuses. I don't know what role the driver is given in other families but there does seem to be a serious lack of instruction regarding responsibility.

Second, every good pilot keeps their heads on swivels and their eyes moving. Scan the instrument panel constantly. Anticipate the other vehicles' moves. Plan for evasive actions in every situation. This is how the first rule is ensured. It is impossible to drive with your headlights off at night if you do this because when you scan your instruments it will be obvious.

It soon becomes obvious which drivers will make dangerous moves so they can be avoided.

I wish driving was taught more like piloting but then teaching and learning are quite separate activities.

Navigation and route planning was another thing that Dad taught by example, but that's for another entry.

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