Report 1: Being a Driving Buddy
What It's Like...

Instructions For This Report

Introduction: I decided to choose, "Being a Driving Buddy, What It's like," as the topic of my first report after being inspired by one of my selections from my Generations report.  This topic seemed fun, challenging, and suited me well because I am known to be a  back seat driver.  The purpose of this report, was first of all, to describe two concepts: "driving buddy" and "driving personality make-over", and compare these terms with discussions from prior generations.  The next task was to perform a mini-driving personality make-over on a friend over a two day period. Information was recorded during the experiment with particular emphasis on affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor domains.  Then I compared the results of day 1 and day 2 and analyzed the information with regards to resistance.  The last part of the assignment was to make suggestions on how this activity could be continued an improved by future generations.  So before I tell you the results of my experiment let me start by discussing the key concepts involved...

"Driving  Buddy" Concept: Being a driving buddy means, looking out for the safety and well-being of someone you care about, by making him/her more aware of  proper driving etiquette.  It is not about having an excuse to point out your friend's flaws, rather it is constructive criticism that will hopefully open this person's eyes to the harsh realities of road rage and what they can do to help eradicate this problem.  Being a driving buddy is enabling your friend to drive with a little aloha.
     Prior generations who also did a report on "Being a Driving Buddy" had their own interpretations of the driving buddy concept, take a look: Kristy Kato believes that a buddy is very much like a personal coach, someone who conveys information to you about your driving skills. Chris Murakami thinks that a driving buddy is someone who helps the driver come to terms with their driving problems.  Likewise, Jennifer Kaneshiro feels that a driving buddy is someone who helps you become more aware of  your driving problems.

"Driving Personality Make-over" Concept: This concept is a little different from the "driving buddy" concept because this time there is actually a change in one's behavior, whereas the previous concept was more of a suggestion.  The ideal driving personality make-over would be a positive change in driving behavior, rather than a negative change.  This means altering one's personality in a way that makes them more pleasant, alert, and cautious individuals while they are behind the wheel.
        Prior generations who also did a report on "Being a Driving Buddy" had their own opinion regarding the driving personality make-overs, take a look: Claudia Kaneshiro thinks that driving personality is the overall outlook on the driver's cognitive process and behavior approach.  Christy Forsty believes that personality make-overs are necessary in order to compensate for the number of traffic fatalities.  Michelle Alonso admits that a personality make-over will do her some good because her driving brings out the evil in her, while Christine Huisman also feels the need for an attitude adjustment while behind the wheel.

Here is the recorded dialogue from day 1:
We are currently leaving my house and are approaching a stop sign.

Jenn: I usually ignore stop signs, I treat them as yield signs, unless I know a cop is watching.  And my wheel is really hot right now and it's pissing me off.  I also never drive the speed limit in Hawaii Kai because it #^@%* sucks.

Sheri: What is the speed limit in this area, and what are you driving?

Jenn: The speed limit is 25 mph and I am driving 40 mph, but I think that's the norm for everyone unless you've been in an accident, or know someone whose been in an accident in this area...
Oh ho bus!

Sheri: Did you stop too far past the solid line of the stop sign?

Jenn: I guess, I didn't really notice, did I?

Sheri: You must have if you were concerned that the bus was so close.

Jenn: (laughing) Oh yeah, I guess so, it was kind of close.  I hate buses because they are so big and make me nervous... and look at this fricken truck, he's speeding up, sh_t.  He knew I had to change lanes, and it's not as if it would have delayed him any more if I had cut in front of him.

I think I should also mention that I although I am wearing my seat belt today, I usually go without one because it is very uncomfortable.  If my passenger is wearing a seat belt, or if it's at night then I put it on.  I wear it at night because I can't see as well.  And if I see a big truck or bus then I put it on because I feel like they might topple into me.  Other than that, if I am just driving to and from school, it is very rare that I am going to be wearing my seat belt.

We are now driving down Kalanianeole Highway on a busy Saturday afternoon.  Jennifer's impatience is starting to show as she yells at a slow truck in front of her.  At least her windows were rolled up.

Jenn: Come on... geez! Make like someone died...Damn ______ gardeners.

I think it definitely calls for some tune time.  Awh sh_t, don't do this to me now.

Jennifer is busy fidgeting with her CD player because it is not working properly .  She is obviously getting very frustrated with it, and meanwhile is paying more attention to the CD player than the road.

Sheri: How are you feeling Jenn, are you annoyed with the traffic?

Jenn: No it's not the traffic, it's my CD player that I'm annoyed with, and I'm okay now because there is good music on the radio.

Sheri: Do you think the traffic is not bothering you right now because you were preoccupied with your CD player?

Jenn: I realize that I am not moving fast, but I'm dealing with it because I've got things to do right now, like talking with you.  I'm also not in a rush to get anywhere.

We are now turning right into the Kahala Mall parking lot.

Sheri: Did you forgot to signal?

Jenn: I never signal.  Unless there is someone behind me.  Well there was someone behind me back there and I still didn't signal.  But like this kind of stuff, when there is someone waiting for me, then I definitely signal.

We are looking for parking at the mall.

Jenn: Watch it!

Sheri: Why did you say that to the woman?

Jenn: Well she was in my way.  Okay I admit that I'm a super hostile driver.

Sheri: Jenn, I noticed that when you lit your cigarette, you took you eyes off the road.  Wouldn't it be safer to use the car lighter?

Jenn: Yes it would be, but I'm using it as a plug for the car adapter for my CD player.  I know it's bad because I do take my eyes off the road for an instance and because I need both hands to light my cigarette, I use my knee to steer the car.   I know it's really bad, so most times I light my cigarette at a red light, but right now I need a cigarette really bad.

I have a very bad problem braking.  I brake too close to the car in front of me because my judging ability is bad.  I often end up having to slam on my brakes.  I notice that is problem is exceptionally worse when I have a passenger in the car because I get distracted by the conversation.

I HATE TRAFFIC! (Jenn screams this as we are still looking for parking, it's been around ten minutes).

We finally find parking.  Jenn reverses into the stall with no difficulties.  She does a very good job.  This is the end of the dialogue from day 1.  Next I followed through with a debriefing session.

Debriefing: A debriefing session was conducted after the car was stopped and day1 evaluation was over.  During this time I explained to Jennifer what areas of her driving behavior she needed to change and improve on, after all, this was a driving personality make-over.  First of all I commented on her speeding.  Although she was not speeding for majority of the trip, that was only because it was virtually impossible to speed on Kalanianeole Highway due to all the weekend drivers.  In the areas that weren't congested, mainly residential areas, her average speed was 40 mph.  Next I mentioned that she seemed to be easily distracted, whether it be by her CD player, her cigarette craving, or by conversation.  She was quite hostile an impatient, as was evident from her loud outbursts and use of profanity.  Jennifer demonstrated some difficulties in stopping too abruptly, remembering to signal,  and coming to a complete stop at stop signs.  Here is a list of the bad driving behaviors I instructed Jennifer to refrain from for day 2 of the personality driving make-over:

• speeding
• slamming on the brakes
• yielding at  stop signs
• forgetting to signal when changing lanes or making a turn
• driving with one hand on the wheel
• dancing while she is driving
• playing the music too loud
• driving and stopping  too close to the car in front of her
• constantly changing the radio station or fussing with her CD player
• lighting her cigarette while driving
• yelling, swearing, or making any faces at other drivers

I wanted to get Jennifer's reaction to all this, and here is what she had to say:

Sheri: How did it make you fell when I was critiquing your driving abilities?

Jenn: Well I think it is great that you are trying to make me a better driver, but I don't think I'll really change.

Sheri: Were you offended in any way?

Jenn: No because I know that I am guilty of all of those things, but to drive the way you told me would be a very arduous process.  It is so detailed oriented and it's no fun.  Driving is already really sucky, and to take away all my pleasure by making me drive by the rules, is boring and hard.  I concentrate so much at school, why should do I need to concentrate so hard with my driving.  For example, keeping two hands on the wheel, now why should I have to do that, it's uncomfortable.

Sheri: Do you feel that all the suggestions I made to you make driving safer?

Jenn: Oh of course, it's definitely safer.  That's why if I have someone else in my car then I would try to do everything you said.

• Drive the speed limit.
• Pause for three seconds behind the solid line of a stop sign, then inch up and  proceed when the coast is clear.
• For every 10 mph that you are driving, there should be at least one car length separation you and the car in front of you.
• When making a stop, the rear tires of the car in front of you should be visible.
• Drive with two hand on the steering wheel.
• Signal appropriately when changing lanes or making a turn.
• Refrain from lighting cigarettes, fussing with the radio/CD player, and dancing while driving.
• Be alert, look at the traffic lights ahead and cars in front of you, and not just at the one immediately in front of you so that you can anticipate a stop.
• Finally, avoid swearing, yelling, and negative facial expressions or hand gestures.

Here is the recorded dialogue from day 2:
We are once again leaving my house and are approaching a stop sign.  Jennifer extinguishes her cigarette because she remembers that was one of the rules.

Sheri: Jenn, how does it make you feel that you had to put out your cigarette?

Jenn: It's frustrating.  Oops!  I forgot to stop behind the solid line at the stop sign, but that's because I couldn't see if there were any car coming.

Sheri: Well actually you are supposed to stop behind the line first and then inch up.  That's okay though because at least you are more aware of what you are doing and made a complete stop this time.

Jennifer remembers to signal, checks her blind s pot and is trying to stay 5 mph within the speed limit.  She is also keeping more distance between her car and the car in front of her.  We are now on Kalanianeole Highway and Jenn in is the middle lane.

Jenn: I think that I should drive in the right lane in order to stay within the speed limit.

Sheri: Jenn, I noticed that when you changed lanes you speed up to 50 mph (in a 35 mph area) and are now doing 45 mph.

Jenn: Oops!  I don't want to but I'll slow down.

Sheri: Is it very difficult to drive the speed limit?

Jenn: Yeah it is because I think I'm relying on everyone else driving a certain speed and I don't want to piss them off, so therefore I'm trying to keep with the flow of traffic.  I feel pressure from the other drivers.

Sheri: I know it's difficult but please try to resist the pressures and drive the speed limit.

The rest of the trip to Kahala Mall went smoothly.  Jennifer abided by the rules.  There was not much conversation this trip because she had told me during day 1 that she was easily distracted by conversation and I didn't want to disturb her concentration.  I saved most of the questions for the debriefing session.

Debriefing: The second debriefing was held in the Kahala mall parking lot immediately after the road test was over.  I wanted to get Jennifer's reaction while the emotions were still fresh.  First of all I congratulated Jennifer of doing an excellent job, she had done a complete 180 degrees in her driving behavior.  I explained to her that the experiment was very idealistic, but was indeed possible.  All of my rules were a bit tedious, but they are all rules that are required in order to obtain a driver's license.  If they were not important safety rules, then they would not have been established.  Although Jennifer appeared to be stoic and receptive to all of my suggestions, I knew she was not pleased with all the rules.  Here was Jennifer's reaction to day 2:

Sheri: Did this experiment irritate you?

Jenn: I was irritated with day 2 because I had to keep my hands on the wheel, I couldn't do anything, I was super bored, I couldn't strike up a conversation with you because if I did then I would get distracted, and going the speed limit irritated me.

Sheri: Did this driving experiment help you in any way?

Jenn: I suppose it made me a little more aware, but I don't really think I going to follow all of the suggestions.

Sheri: So do you think you will revert back to your old driving habits now that the test is over ?

Jenn: Yeah, most likely I'll go back to everything with the exception of stopping distance between my car and the one in front of me.  I will try to see their back tires upon making a complete stop because I know I have a huge breaking problem.

Sheri: What would it take to get you to change your driving behavior?

Jenn: I kept thinking that if I got a ticket, that would help but I think it would only make me more cautious of cops.  I know that when I am speeding, I am always looking for cops and in a way that's dangerous because I am constantly looking in my rear view mirror.  I guess I also noticed that I need to control my anger a lot more, but it's difficult because I am a bit explosive in the car because I am very impatient.

Sheri: Don't you also think that you should stop flicking the birdie to people, do you see the danger in that?

Jenn: That's why I check out the people in the car before I give them the finger.

Sheri: Is there anything I could do or tell you to get you from swearing or making obscene gestures at other people?

Jenn: Realistically, no I probably won't stop.  I won't do it when you're in the car though because I don't want to make you upset.

Sheri: So you are telling me that the only thing that will change your driving behavior is possibly at ticket?  What about an accident?

Jenn:  Yeah, an accident definitely, but I don't think that what I do is wrong.  Like I said, I will work on my braking and will try to control my anger.

Results of the Driving Personality Make-over Experiment: It is clear that Jennifer made a major personality adjustment on the second day of the driving test.  She refrained from swearing and followed the driving rules very carefully.  It would appear that the driving personality make-over experiment was a success, but if you followed the debriefing, Jennifer indicated that she would most likely revert back to her bad driving habits as soon as the experiment was over.  At least this experiment gave her a chance to evaluate and become more aware of her driving behavior.
        Regarding the three domains, there was definitely errors that occurred on day 1 in all three areas.  For example, Jennifer's experienced error in affective behaviors (such as affections, feelings, motives, needs, and everything that pertains to the goal-directedness of people's actions)  because she she experienced conflict in motives.  Her desire to be cautious and law abiding was weakened by feelings of impatience from her CD player, traffic, and the urge to rush.  Thus she disregarded the need to signal, drive the speed limit, and come to a complete stop at stop signs.  Jennifer experienced errors with cognitive behavior (cognition, thoughts, reasoning, and everything that pertains to the decision-making and analyzing aspects of peoples actions) as well.  Cognitive errors occur when there is illogical interpretation of something that leads to irrational behaviors.  A perfect example of this was when Jennifer wanted to change lanes, she assumed that the car next to her was purposely not letting her in, so she sped up (to a dangerous speed) in order to cut over.  Finally, the third domain, is called sensorimotor behavior (all experiences that are mediated through sensory and motor channels).  Jennifer demonstrated extreme difficulties in this area on day 1, especially with abrupt and frequent braking.  Day 2 was much better in terms of cognitive and sensorimotor behavior.  Her affective behavior, however, was not ideal because even though the motive to be cautious and law abiding was present, it was not formed by will, but rather by the desire to cooperate with my instruction.

Resistance:  Fortunately, by client was extremely cooperative during the experiment.  I intentionally selected her for the study so that I would not run into any problems along the way.  She didn't show any resistance in terms of following directions, but I did notice some resistance during the debriefings.  Jennifer admitted that she was probably not going to make any major permanent adjustments in her driving behavior because she did not feel the need to.  The origin of this resistance comes from that fact the Jennifer does not see a problem with her driving.  I noticed through much of the road trip, Jennifer often tried to justify her actions in order to reduce the guilt or blame.  Over time, this continuous self-justification can often cloud a persons mind making what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior indistinguishable.  If a driver doesn't think they are doing anything wrong, then it can lead to the resistance to want to change.
        I appreciated Jennifer's honesty and realized there was really not much I could do to get her to permanently change her driving personality.  I lectured her a bit on the dangers of some of her behaviors and told her that she should make some alterations earlier to avoid things such as a ticket or accident.  She listened and agreed with what I was telling her, but in the end, the decision to change is ultimately under her control.

Recommendations For Future Generations:

• Make sure to choose a client who you are close to and feel comfortable around.
• I recommend selecting a client who is very verbal and who is not afraid to express their thoughts and feelings out loud.
• Tape record the road trip, that way you don't have to fuss with taking notes while the subject is driving and you don't have to worry about forgetting any of the conversation.
• Start early because this exercise is quite time consuming.
• Be creative, don't be afraid to try something new.  For example, I suggest that you do a follow up interview with your client to see if they really did make the changes in their personality that they agreed to.

To Table of Contents

Epilogue:  To my surprise, I enjoyed this assignment.  It was a lot of fun because I selected my best friend to be my client.  I noticed that other students experienced some discomfort in this exercise, which made me a little apprehensive at first, but my client was cooperative and reassured me that she took no offense to my constructive criticisms.  As a result of this experiment, I learned that doing a successful driving personality make-over in two days is an extremely difficult task, especially when there is resistance involved.  The only way we can begin to positively modify our driving behavior is by first possessing some kind of motivation or will (affective domain) to want to change.  Then we must acquire the right thoughts or knowledge (cognitive domain) of "good" driving behavior.  Finally, we must demonstrate the actually act or action (sensorimotor domain) of cautious and law abiding driving.