Michelle Lagunoy

This page provides a table of contents for "Inner Power at the Wheel, Dr. Driving's Tips for Hassle Free Driving." Dr. Driving lets us explore his book by providing links to "Chapter 6, The Nine Zones of Your Driving Personality," "Chapter 11, The Social Psychology of Driving," "Chapter 12, Driving on the Information Superhighway," and "Chapter 14, Musings of a Traffic Psychologist." In these provided chapters we can gather information about how psychology and driving fit together.

For example, in "Chapter 6, The Nine Zones of Your Driving Personality," Dr. Driving expounds on how to have a driving make-over in just 3 steps: 1. Committing Yourself, 2. Building Your Self-Witnessing Inventory, 3. Applying Self-Modification Techniques, and finally to Begin Again. As you can see, it is an endless cycle.

In more details, in doing Step One, "Committing Yourself," we must first become aware of what traffic psychology is all about, and to surround ourselves in it. This is important, because without becoming aware of the implications of traffic psychology, one cannot comprehend the process that goes on when taking on changes to improve one's driving. Step Two, "Building Your Self-Witnessing Inventory," Dr. Driving advises us to become a "society's witness." What this means is to think about what our thoughts, feelings, and actions are in traffic. In doing so, we can keep track of the Nine Zones of our traffic personality. The more we add to your Nine Zones, the more we practice in becoming a traffic psychologist. In Step Three, "Applying Self-Modification Techniques," we get more in depth with our self-witnessing inventory. Dr. Driving advises that if we can't improve our bad driving habits, we must think of a way that will "re-train" our automatic driving habits.

He also encourages us to check out the book "Self-Modification of Behavior" by Watson and Tharp, if we need more help in modifying our behavior. Also, it is important to keep in mind to re-commit and to continue our self-witnessing in order to reinforce other changes to improve our driving -- remember it is a cyclical process.

In addition, Dr. Driving discusses more in depth about the Nine Zones of Our Driving Personality. There is a chart divided up into three domains: affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor. The deeper we go into our self-witnessing attempt, the deeper we have to reflect in ourselves. There are also three phrases we must be aware of: Phase I -- Traffic Safety Issues that deal with Zones 1, 2, and 3. This area deals primarily with our feelings and emotions while we drive; Phase II -- Self Control Issues deals with Zones 4, 5, and 6. This section pertains to our defensive and politeness sides of driving. Here, we must think carefully of how our emotions affect our driving; and Phase III -- Social Responsibility Issues that deal with Zones 7, 8, and 9. This is where we find out that the way we think about other drivers affects our own behavior.

Also, there is a section about the authors. It gives the background of the authors Leon James and Diane Nahl's education and literary works.

What's also interesting is once you enter one of his chapters there are the little cartoon vignettes that you can click on that entertain as well as educate.

In relation to traffic psychology, the information available can help a driver to become more aware of his or her surroundings and of oneself in order to promote a psychologically healthier attitude.

From the material I have read, the influence it suggests can only take affect if the driver is willing to taking into regards all that driving entails. Meaning, to take account of the surroundings, the driving conditions, the well-being of the individual, and the state of mind of other drivers.

Here, Dr. Driving introduces his AWM Program which consists of three steps. The three steps include: To Acknowledge that you are out of control at the wheel; To Witness yourself being out of control; and To Modify yourself one step at a time. This page details the affects of aggression and violence on the road. To provide information on this problem, Dr. Driving sets up some links where he has been interviewed. In his interviews, he provides specific answers to specific questions.

Its relation to traffic psychology is that it gives details on proper driving behavior during hostile situations. Dr. Driving suggests to take a step back from a mad state of mind in order to avoid upsetting outbursts behind the wheel.

The advice Dr. Driving suggests that in order for people to become better drivers, one must choose to modify his/her behavior. If I had any question about where to get driving principles I would check out his interviews.

Dr. Driving really emphasizes his 3-Step AWM Program. He tells us just exactly how to do it. The first step he recommends is to work on our feelings by saying to ourselves, "I acknowledge that I'm out of control at the wheel." The second step, Dr. Driving says to work on our thoughts by saying to ourselves, "I witness myself being out of control at the wheel." The third step, Dr. Driving advises us to work on our actions by saying to ourselves, "I modify myself one step at a time."

Dr. Driving also provides a link to a summary of how drivers can be more rational and humane.

Because Dr. Driving considers this Three-Step Program to be very essential in becoming a better driver; I feel that it is not only important just to think about becoming a better driver, but it is more useful if I were to apply what I've learned to my actual driving. It certainly has an implication on my driving personality in that it can affect the way I drive by changing the way they feel about driving.

It's more than just learning about driving problems, it's entertaining as well. Dr. Driving provides some scenarios in which drivers are caught in a driving rut. He suggests them to do particular solutions that could help alleviate the problem. For example, when another driver does something to make you upset, you could help relieve your tension by thinking that maybe the driver has a reason why he/she did what he/she did; like maybe he/she has a family emergency. In his advice, he often refers to the Nine Zone of our driving personality and has provided links to them, so that we may see for ourselves just exactly where we must make changes.

From reading this site, I feel better that I'm not the only one caught in the most irritating of situations while driving. By reading Dr. Driving's advice I am more aware that I need not get upset when I get irritated by other drivers. I know now that other drivers don't intentionally upset me, but that it is the way I react to their actions. Thus, if I just remain calm and relaxed during otherwise upsetting situations, then surely I'm on my way in becoming a more rational and humane driver.

This page is an introduction of what to look forward to if you are interested in visiting Dr. Driving. He gives links to Dr. Driving Says...Problems and Solutions, Inner Power at the Wheel, and Dr. Driving's tips for Hassle-Free Driving. In the latter link, Dr. Driving shows us "How to..." procedures to follow in order to become a better driver. At Dr. Driving Says, you can change your traffic life with a driving personality make-over. He goes on to ask questions such as "Are you an impatient, irritable driver?" "Do you feel the need for speed?" "Are you longing for more peaceful and enjoyable driving?" There are more questions like these listed and if you answered yes to all of the questions, maybe it's time for a driving personality make-over.

Upon reading Dr. Driving's introductory statement, it gave me an idea of what Dr. Driving has to offer on his site.

The purpose entails getting better acquainted with the authors. Information about the authors, Leon James and Diane Nahl, is provided. It discusses their educational background and where to find more of their published works. This page informs me that the authors are prestigious individuals who obviously take the time to inform us that they know a great deal not only about the driving highway, but also the information superhighway.

Dr. Driving presents his Three-Step Program through a chart of the Nine Zones. Charted are the three domains: feelings, thoughts, and actions. Then, each domain for each zone is characterized into three phases: safety issues, self-control issues, and social responsibility issues. Links are also provided for each phase which gives detailed descriptions of what each issue pertains to. There is also a name given to each zone of each domain and phase, such as: attitude, knowledge, alertness, and so. In addition, a negative or positive value is given, depending on the behavior of the driver. A negative value suggests the driver is not being humane to other drivers and a positive value suggests the driver is taking everything and everyone into consideration.

This chart, for me, provides a clear cut picture of what personality zones I'm affecting and what consequences I take for making those changes in my driving personality.

Some people are not at all shy to share they opinions about driving and about Dr. Driving. This site provides viewers with personal accounts from other drivers. Dr. Driving also responds to their questions and concerns by giving advice and where to get more information on his web site. Its relations to traffic psychology is that it talks about people's personal stories involving their driving personalities and whether or not their behavior changed.

I feel that there other drivers who feel the way I do and that their critique on Dr. Driving's web site suggest that they appreciate Dr. Driving's expertise.

Here, you can check out what's going on in the world of Traffic Psychology by reading "Chapter12: Driving on the Information Superhighway," of Leon James and Diane Nahl's book "Inner Power at the Wheel." While there, you can visit sites where people's driving confessions are published. Like, how it feels when someone cuts you off, or when you tail-gate other drivers. Then, it goes on to more pleasant things like "Driving Fellowship." It also includes topics such as Speed Limit, Highway Safety, and so forth. It has tons of issues all related with driving. Just click on a link and you're taken to just one of the many routes on the Information Superhighway.

For me, this page made me feel like I was not alone in the way I drive, that includes, good and bad driving. However, in any case it is in choosing to drive better that Dr. Driving recommends, and which I should follow. By doing so, can only help me become the driver I would like to be.

Dr. Driving suggests certain strategies in which a driver can follow in order to drive with more awareness for one's surroundings and inner feelings. Overall, he provides suggestions in which I can follow in order to 'drive alive.' Meaning, not to drive for the sake of driving just to get from one place to another without letting anyone get in my way, but to also think about how my behavior affects those around me. As. Dr. Driving Says..."Drive with Aloha Spirit." To drive with Aloha Spirit is to drive with a sound mind and to keep oneself from getting upset at other drivers. In doing so, I will be able to create a more relaxing situation when things seem to get a little tense on the road.

Here's an interesting site. It discusses how other drivers' little annoying habits can make someone else upset. Even though you yourself may not be aware of your driving habits, they can easily make another driver want to get even with you. So, here is where people have shared their own pet driving peeves. Maybe, other drivers will read them and become aware of their driving and help prevent other people from getting upset.

I like this page, because other drivers have shared their feelings to let other drivers know exactly how they feel when something unexpected happens on the road. In some of the responses, I too felt like I had to get back at the other driver for cutting me off or doing something provoking to annoy me.

What Dr. Driving provides here is all sorts of driving information. Just click on a certain link and you can be 'driven' off to "Convoys Ahead" all the way to "Generation 4 Traffic Psychology Reports."

This page provides a lot of information in which I can apply to myself by following the suggested advice, like letting other drivers do what they want and I should just get out of their way. Although I'd like to teach them a listen about how to "really" drive, I know that wouldn't be right. Who is to say that I'm a good driver, because I know I'm really not.

Different people have different feelings in different driving situations. This page allows drivers to voice their opinions on driving situations that have happened to them or have concerns about. They describe the situation they were in and Dr. Driving gives them advice or he share his sympathies with them.

From reading this page, I am more aware now that I can improve my own driving by thinking more about the other drivers and to be more conscious about my own driving habits.

Overview of Dr. Driving's "Submit"

Advice from Dr. Driving can be found on sites:

I admit I do have road rage. I guess, sometimes to lead a better life means chagning the way I perceive other drivers. In otherwords, I should stop assuming what other drivers' intentions are. In taking traffic psychology and Dr. Driving's advice into consideration, it would be helpful to change the way I think when I drive. Perhaps, if I were to try to better myself by creating a more relaxing atmosphere, I wouldn't be so stressed out. It would not only help with my driving, but also with life in general. So, in essence, why not change if it means becoming a better person. If it doesn't work, I could always revert back to my old stressful self!