Others' thoughts
After searching for other generations' ideas on the topics of "driving buddy" and "driving personality make-over" by using the CSS search engine and searching through the Generations, I chose Claudia Kaneshiro's and Heidi Easley's reports.
In her report, Claudia describes her interpretation of what a "driving personality make-over" is and goes into detail of what factors may affect a driver's personality. These include: the weather, pollution, waiting in traffic and other people's driving abilities. According to her, a make-over "allows each individual driver to assess his personality, express his feelings and anxieties while driving in traffic." Making changes to someone's driving habits will create a much better environment for everyone.
Also in her report, Claudia describes her own driving personality. She seems to know herself well, and she is aware of her downfalls. She doesn't really comment on whether or not she has tried to change these habits.
Heidi's report starts off with a detailed definition of what a driving personality make-over is and the steps that are involved in this make-over. According to Heidi, it is an "interminable 4 step cycle that involves rigid self-examination and behavior modification, as a way of enhancing and strengthening your life, community and environment."
Heidi also relates step 2 of the make-over, which is to identify your behavioral shortcomings, to Piaget's moral development. That is, just as you define what is wrong or right in society according to Piaget's model, you also distinguish the difference between wrong and right in driving. Heidi states that this form of psychology "may help people pinpoint their behavioral shortcomings."
Turning Mr. Hyde into Dr. Jekyll
Victim's biography:
Alias: Lee
Sex: female Age: 23 Marital status: single
Mode of transportation: owns a 1998 Toyota Camry
Day 1:
On the first day of the driving personality make-over, November 27, 1998, I drove over to Lee's house in Kaimuki, where we were to begin our journey. We would drive from Kaimuki to Pearl City, using both highways and roadways. We decided to use her car so that she would feel most comfortable and relaxed.
Before starting the car, I explained to Lee the procedures of this make-over and what it would entail. I warned her that I would be observing her driving habits and commenting on them. I also instructed her to think out loud and to make any thoughts, opinions and feelings known. She agreed, and so we began.
Things started out fine, with Lee driving just 10 miles over the speed limit. Then things began to get progressively worse. When I told her that she was driving over the speed limit, she just looked at me. I noticed that the car did slow down a bit. Then, every time a car cut in front of her, this slowed her down even more, so she started commenting and telling the other drivers to "hurry up, grandpa/grandma!" When she was able to have a clear pathway, she would speed up more. I told her that she was again speeding. She just looked at me again. This time, the car sped up a little.
Every time there was a stop light, Lee would run the yellows, barely catching the reds. And every time that we were stopped at a red light, she would either tap her fingers on the steering wheel vigorously and mutter "come on, come on" or she would fidget with the radio.
Next, we got onto the highway. At one point, another driver came speeding past her at a great speed and cut in front of her. Lee screamed out an expletive and prayed that a cop would be nearby to catch the "*sshole." I told her that she shouldn't swear so much, and I pointed out that she herself was speeding, too. At this, she ignored me and turned up the volume on the radio.
While we were on a relatively empty street in Liliha, I told Lee that she shouldn't be so impatient and that she should stop at the yellows instead of trying to outrun them. I had told her this while she was running a yellow. She immediately stopped in the middle of the intersection and asked if I'd like to walk the rest of the way home. I reminded her that I was just doing my experiment and that I needed her to just humor me. She conceded·a little. She also muttered something about hating backseat drivers.
When we got back onto the highway, we hit traffic. Lee started to fidget some more with the radio. When she found a song she liked, she started singing out loud and tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. I don't know if she was paying as much attention to the traffic, but she wasn't as bothered by the congestion. When there weren't any songs that she liked, she started swearing at the traffic, wondering why there were so many cars on the road anyway, and looking at the clock. Even though we didn't have to be anywhere, she was still acting like we were in a rush. She tailgated the cars in front of us, going right up to their bumpers and braking at the last possible moment. I was sure we were going to get into an accident. I was even pumping my "imaginary brakes."
When we reached Pearl City, Lee was weaving in and out of traffic, trying to keep going at a consistent speed without having to slow down. I kept one eye out for any cops that may be around.
On our way back to her house, Lee kept driving at a speed faster than the posted speed limit. I kept reminding her that she was speeding. After many "stink eyes," she finally blew up and yelled at me to "just shut up! You're so @$#*! irritating!" Rather than start a fight, I decided to shut my mouth on that issue and let it be. She still kept speeding, even going faster. I noticed that whenever Lee was upset, she would drive faster and weave in and out of traffic more. For the sake of our safety, I decided it was definitely time to shut up on her speeding.
At long last, we got back to her place in one piece. Lee seemed to have calmed down a bit, although I could see that she wasn't exactly pleased with me. I decided to ask her about our second session later, when she wouldn't bite my head off.
Day 2:
On November 29, 1998, Lee and I had our second make-over session. This time, I told her that I would be instructing her on how to drive better and she would have to listen. With a wary look, she agreed.
The first issue we had to address was her speeding. I told her to maintain a constant speed that remained within the speed limit. Lee had difficulty with this, having to always look at the speedometer. She would drive right up to the speed limit. For instance, she'd drive at a speed of 55 miles per hour and then try to keep it there instead of just relaxing and going at 50 miles per hour.
Lee started listening to what I had to say about her driving, even listening without comment to some of them. She stopped at yellow lights. She let other drivers cut in front of her. With this one, though, I noticed that if they didn't thank her with a "shaka" or a wave, she'd stick her finger at them or make a comment about stupid drivers and how rude they were. She even said, "must be ____ (insert ethnicity)." I know that she wasn't a bigot and she didn't mean these things; she was just frustrated.
The rest of the experience went by quickly, when Lee decided to just listen to me. She made it clear that she'd listen THIS TIME, but that was it. It didnāt mean that she'd change her style of driving forever. When we got back to her house, we had a debriefing session.
During our debriefing session, I asked Lee if she had learned anything from this make-over. She said that she realized that she hates being told how to drive and can't stand criticism. She also said that she never considered herself a bad driver. She knew that she swore a lot and was impatient, but she thought that was minor compared to how some other people drive. She gave me an example of her friend, who kept tacks in his car and threw them out the window if someone angered him.
She said that overall, her driving is quite defensive. She always tries to keep her eyes moving so that she is aware of everything around her. Lee also mentioned that others thought she drove slow; her cousins drove many times faster than she does. They even race each other and other drivers on the road, something that she said she would never do. As for the yellow lights, she stated that she does run yellows, but that's because "I'm always late for something." If she weren't in such a hurry, she'd stop and just wait. When I pointed out how she was impatient in traffic, she replied, "That's different. That's traffic."
Lee mentioned that her ex-boyfriend, who had gotten into too many accidents to count, had taught her how to drive. I asked how he drove and she said, "Well, he's gotten into about 11 accidents. But he always said that they were never the same kind of accidents." Somehow, he believed that he learned from his mistakes. I think he always found new mistakes to make.
In regards to the make-over, I noticed that Lee was more compliant the second day. I think it was because she was more used to the idea of having someone telling her how to drive. The first time around, she didn't really know what to expect. Perhaps having those days in between the sessions to evaluate her own driving had something to do with the nicer attitude. She didn't resist my instructions as much the second time around. Although, she did admit that she wouldn't be changing anything for me.
I believe that Lee's resistance, her hostility and her attitude all stem from her attitude as a person. Generally, she is a hardheaded, stubborn individual who can't stand others telling her what to do. She especially hates it if the other person is right and she is wrong. She would fight it tooth and nail and even just stomp away in anger instead of admitting defeat. Being stubborn myself, I wanted to fight back, but I knew that doing so would escalate into a full-fledged argument and I would just end up having to find another driver to make over. So, I held myself back and tried to calm her down whenever she got too riled up.
Suggestions for future generations
First off, I would suggest choosing someone you are close to and comfortable with. Choose either someone you trust would stay with you as a friend, or choose someone you wouldn't care for as a friend. I say this because this make-over seems easy enough until you actually do it. Then, you have to deal with someone who doesn't appreciate your comments and criticism.
My next suggestion is that you go back and read other generations' reports on this topic, and see what they have to say about it. Reading their suggestions and their reports gives you a better idea of what this make-over is all about. There are a lot of ways that one could interpret someone's driving habits and seeing how others did it provides some clue as to how to decipher your own driver.
I have learned a lot from this experience. I didn't think that much of my driving habits or of others' driving habits. But after taking Dr. James' class and doing this report, I am more aware of how I drive and how that affects others. It's hard trying to evaluate yourself because no one really likes to look at their own faults too closely, but I must say that I have been paying more attention to my driving habits.
When I first started out on this make-over, I thought that I would just go along with it and that was it. While doing it, though, I took note of what Lee was doing and compared it to my own habits. I also realized that the way she reacted to my criticism was probably the same way I'd react to someone else's comments. As I was writing up this report, I relived the whole make-over experience and I started wondering if I should complete a make-over on myself. I also wondered how Lee would be driving after this experience, despite her assurance that nothing would change. But I believe that you can't just walk away from it without reconsidering your habits, your feelings, you judgments, your actions and your reactions. Something must stick with you. Because of this, I think that this make-over is worth it and we should all take part in it.
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