Does driving make you smarter?

[350Matt]

So then what I have observed is when a lot people start driving for the 1st time, it forces them to make quick decisions ( not that its the right decision all the time)
it also means you have to think ahead ( route planning) and often hold a conversation whilst carrying out a technical task

the end result is you have to up your game and it engenders good habits

so what will happen when autonomous driving is the norm ? I think we will lose something

thoughts ?

[vikingaero]

Definitely. My Dad is 86 and is currently a pretty reasonable and competent driver. He likes going out for drives as it makes him concentrate and focuses his mind on driving well.

[350Matt]

I'm not talking about driving standards
I mean general cognition and mental performance
we all know the general driving standard is poor

[Bill]

CheesecakeRunner said:

So if you’re positing that cognition improves through the act of driving, why doesn’t it manifest in the driving itself?

Driving is a remarkably simple task, with only a few repetitive movements and a (supposedly) well known set of rules. As demonstrated by the fact the vast majority of people are able to do it.

The vast majority don't give driving any thought at all.

[Baldchap]

Does driving make you smarter?

• Looks outside*

Definitely not.

Edited by Baldchap on Wednesday 15th November 07:43

[Randy Winkman]

I'd argue that riding a bicycle or motorcycle sharpens the mind a lot more.

[carinaman]

Randy Winkman said:

I'd argue that riding a bicycle or motorcycle sharpens the mind a lot more.

Indeed, riding a motorcycle on L plates before starting driving lessons meant I was a Driving God in a BSM driving school car. An Instructor said my driving was that good that I should go for the IAM advanced test. I passed and the Examiner said that I'd have achieved a Bronze grade if that was a RoSPA test. That sowed that seed so I passed the RoSPA test at Silver three times, Gold once and failed due to having to change cars the day of the test. It was more the faffing trying to rearrange another car rather than unfamiliarity. My Gold grade was in a hire car, not one I was familiar with.

[Pebbles167]

My opinion? How you drive can make you smarter. It can also have no effect, or potentially make you less intelligent by enforcing a narrow view. No one is above making mistakes, and we can all have bad traits, but to simplify the main types of driving I see from generally about 4-5 hours on the roads each day.

Dumber

- Drivers who feel entitled, drive aggressively and either don't care or intentionally cause problems for others. Impatient and unable to cope with slower drivers. Ie: Reckless speeders, lane cutters, brake checkers and tailgaters.

Neutral

- Drivers who simply want to get to a destination and have no interest or pride in the standard of which they conduct themselves and are oblivious to everything. Ie: Middle lane motorists, lane drifters and people driving unserviceable cars.

Smarter

- Drivers who try to drive with more precision, be helpful to others, evaluate road conditions and predict future events based on experience. Mistakes by these drivers is a learning point for them, not a point of contention with others. No distinct behavour for this group, as if done well, they should be mostly unnoticeable.

I like to mostly try belong in the third group, but very occasionally I have moments where I belong in the second, and extermely rarely the first. I dont think interest in cars/motoring is really a factor in how someone drives.

[Riley Blue]

350Matt said:

So then what I have observed is when a lot people start driving for the 1st time, it forces them to make quick decisions ( not that its the right decision all the time)
it also means you have to think ahead ( route planning) and often hold a conversation whilst carrying out a technical task

the end result is you have to up your game and it engenders good habits

so what will happen when autonomous driving is the norm ? I think we will lose something

thoughts ?

What you have ascribed to driving: making quick decisions, thinking ahead, talking whilst carrying out a technical task are all learned and practised from a much earlier age than that at which you can drive.

I have known people who have never driven who had acute mental agility in their 90s. Similarly I can think of drivers who are among the slowest witted of people.

The notion that the act of driving is somehow a 'mind sharpener' is amusing to say the least.

[350Matt]

thing is you need to have a control subject so someone who know well , then they start driving


do you then see an improvement?


there's this study for example


https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/motr/dri...

that shows it helps prevent cognitive decline as we age

as we all know thick people whom drive - but were they thicker before starting to drive