The image of the mild-mannered man becoming a demon behind the wheel may be a bit of a caricature, but it begs the question:
"Does driving reveal a person's true character?".
|
As a general rule (obviously exceptions apply) I would say yes.
It makes me laugh when I hear people become "a different person" when behind the wheel. I like to think they are putting on a nice sociable persona in public but their real personality comes out once they feel safe in their own little bit of space.
|
|
|
I think the car that a person is driving at any one time can have a dramatic effect on their behind-the-wheel persona.
I find that easy to drive, small cars leave me very relaxed especially in an urban environment, but big awkward vehicles make me much more irritable.
|
|
From observation over the years, I'd say behaviour while driving is mostly consistent with behaviour in other environments. Pushy people will be pushy on the road; deferential people will defer to others on the road; and so on. The car is but one means of expressing your personality.
|
I'd have to say no. I'm normally a very relaxed and non-aggressive person in my day to day comings and goings.
However when I'm behind the wheel I get wound up far too easily, something that just doesn't happen to me normally. I find the incompetence of some other drivers makes me want to explode sometimes, especially when they are driving dangerously.
I think driving (especially in rush hour) puts stresses on people that they may not normally experience in other activities and as driving is so dangerous compared to most other things we do, people react very differently.
I'm looking forward to getting in my car tonight, saying the words "don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry" and turning green and having to buy yet more clothes.
Ummm, went off on one a bit there. Whoops.
|
Ah, what is the true person? Does anything ever reveal the "true" person?
But yes, driving certainly changes someone, I am aware of that myself.
When I drove a big V8 LandRover with chunky tyres and an enormous spare wheel on the bonnet, I felt king of the road. I didn't care if people drove into me, I didn't go out of my way to be courteous to others.
Then when I had a Renault 4, made of cooking foil on a Dexion frame, I suddenly felt very frail and vulnerable.
|
|
|
|
|
Is it the character of the person? or the character of the car that comes out? When I drive our Laguna (no go, but comfy) I pootle around, don't get stressed and life just breezes by (same as when I had my A6), when I drive the Prelude it is a bit more aggressive, right hand pedal is just begging to be pressed and the rev counter cant wait to increase until it just touches the red lines, the steering wheel twitches uneasily between your hands just wanting to find some long sweping bends and tight corners (pretty much the same feeling as when I had a sport bike), yet when I am in the cab it is more sedate - just letting life pass by in equilibrium, so I suppose my mood changes with the vehicle.
|
I think that the isolation of being in a vehicle can affect some people's reactions to what is going on around them - they feel much safer than they would be in an open environment.
I also believe that people who misbehave after drinking too much tend to reveal their true nature and feelings - normally these are contained in order to conform with accepted behaviour.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
