5 signs you’re a good driver - Iseult Gillespie

Take a turn behind the wheel to discover 5 helpful and simple tips to improve your driving and build confidence in your skills.

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As one of the agency’s best employees, you’ve been selected as a finalist to take on a new top-secret mission. You’ve already shown your aptitude for surveillance and disguise, but the agency’s looking to test one last critical skill: how well you can drive. Can you prove that you're a good driver? Iseult Gillespie shares tips on how to best tackle the challenges of driving and build confidence.

Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Biljana Labović.
Design and animation by Studio Big Box

This video made possible in collaboration with the Bezos Family Foundation

A special thanks to Neale Kinner, Pnina Gershon, Rob Foss, Andrew Fuligni, Adriana Galván, and UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent who provided information and insights for the development of this video.

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[slothywun]

1. You maintain a safe distance
2. You merge safely
3. You stay focused (avoid multitasking)
4. Stay calm (do not road rage)
5. Learn from your mistakes

[LupusMobile]

Dad was a semi-truck driver for the longest time. When he taught me to drive, he took me to a large empty parking lot where he made me drive in reverse for a good hour every night. My understanding and awareness of my vehicle in space is incredible as a result. When he was confident in me, he made me drive through my Canadian city during rush hour in winter.
If that doesn't prepare you, I don't think anything will. Now, 17 years, later and I've never caused or been in an accident. (Though I was hilariously pulled over once, the day I bought my first car because it had a missing headlight as I was taking it to the shop xD)

[stevenhyde]

once in a while, a good driver misses a highway exit. a bad driver never does.

[Peacekeeper_]

I passed my driver's test on the first try, yet, no amount of training can prepare you for the chaos that is to drive in any crowded city. The amount of shenanigans that happened to me are unbelievable. My best advice to you is to always try to do the right things, follow the rules (even if other drivers don't follow them), stay calm, and be confident. You don't care if the other drivers are angry at you for driving "defensively" all you care is to reach home safely.

[Sjalabais]

It truly takes time to become a good driver. Mistakes can be costly, though. We got no one to lose and controlling one's temper is probably the biggest challenge of all behind the wheel.

[HellOnWheel]

I don't often get mad at bad drivers. I just see them like any other road hazard to avoid, like potholes. Needing to tap my brake when I get cut off won't negatively impact my day, but getting mad about it will.

[nobetternickname]

I once did a speed awareness course. Even though every person in that room (apart from the instructor) was there because they had been caught speeding, I was the only one who didn't mark myself as an 'above average driver' when asked the question so many people think the ability to drive above the speed limit marks them out as 'special'.

[raflamar]

My driving instructor kept delaying my drivers test until he said I was ready. When he said I was ready I was confident and passed my first test with distinction

He talked a lot about how people can be impatient to learn to drive, and he's had a few people quit on him because he denied them their tests. But driving instructors aren't the enemy. If they say you're not ready to tackle the test, trust them. Their whole job is to discover the faults in your driving and help you correct them. In my experience keeping calm and carrying on, maintaining patience, is crucial either when driving with an instructor, doing your test, or driving on the road daily.

[BatmanSays]

so.... no more talking on phone and driving for me . thank you TED-Ed, you might have just save my life as well as other countless lives.. Bravo

[fullmetalmidget]

@1:18 The problem with zipper merging is that it requires the cooperation of the drivers in the travel lane, and where i come from, people will literally speed up to prevent you from merging properly.

[tomaseu]

The problem with the zipper merge is that 90 percent of the people in the other lane won't slow down to let you in. Some people purposely tailgate the person in front of them to make sure you have no room to merge. So if you try to zipper merge properly, you'll be sitting there for a while until someone nice enough to let you in comes along.

[shoefury]

Love how the animation has the clutch pedal. Gold star for anyone under 30 who knows how to drive a manual lol

[KorintheCat]

When I went to driving school the main thing the taught was defensive driving and I think it helps a lot.

[cavi]

I would love to see signs encouraging zipper merges. People in my state will leave the merge lane wide open for miles and then get pissy if people actually use it, like drive half in one lane and half in the other to try and block drivers or refuse to let people merge where they’re actually supposed to merge.

[foxpokemonforever]

I’ve only had my full licence for about a year… the discussion on being a new driver makes me feel a lot better!

[Muroviola.]

I'm a bus driver in a city in northern Italy. I can confirm I still can't parallel park my car, but still drive a bus everyday in the urban traffic 🚍

[Preusseboi]

Funny how this showed up in my recommendations after I finally passed my traffic law test. Thanks, Ted Ed.

[samadhi_]

What makes a good driver in my opinion is the ability to integrate seamlessly into traffic. You're not greedy or meek, you function like part of a bigger thing in a harmonious way.

[jimkanellakos]

Im just happy i learned to drive in cars that did not have ABS or traction control. It taught me how to drive more carefully in rain, sleet and snow.

[darrennew]

Absolutely practice driving. Find an empty parking lot (say, Wal-mart after closing) and practice in the snow and rain, practice stomping the brakes without losing control, practice stopping with your emergency brake, practice dodging around a parking spot while driving at high speed, etc. 15 minutes of practice will absolutely save you from crashes and close calls.