Little, everyday things can speak volumes about one’s personality. So, ever wonder what certain driving habits would say about yours?
Sure, we all learn the same rules and ways of driving. But, everyone drives a little differently. And that says a lot when it comes to our quirks and personalities! So, whether you want to judge your own (or others’) driving skills, here’s what these couple of driving habits indicate about your personality.
1. Sudden breaks
Yeah, the breaks are there and we encourage people to use them, especially at stop lights and stop signs. But, being jolted by sudden breaking can be shocking and irritating. There are good reasons to break suddenly, sometimes. But if you (or someone you know) is doing it far too often, you might have a careless personality on your hands.
They’re likely sloppy when it comes to private matters. Maybe they’re more relaxed when it comes to personal deadlines or chill when it comes to personal plans. Either way, as long as things get done eventually, it’s all cool with them. This does mean that they’re never really prepared when life comes at them fast. Hence, the sudden slam on the breaks. Also, on that note, it tends to irritate passengers so perhaps some empathy would be preferable.
2. Overtakers & Line Jumpers
Can anyone spell “impatient”? Don’t get us wrong, there are times when one may need to overtake or jump the line in traffic, but if you find yourself (or someone else) doing it far too often, it can indicate an ego as every other car is simply beneath their notice.
They probably have a strong-willed personality, and losing is not in their dictionary and definitely not part of their vocabulary. As Farouk Radwan MSc states: “Drivers who have inflated egos will rarely allow someone to bypass them,“, hence the consistent skip-aheads.
He also adds that people who believe they are more worthy than others simply won’t accept coming in second, be it in line or in a perceived ‘race’. As such, they’re likely single-minded and fixed on their goal, but this also means that they probably end up ignoring other people and their needs.
3. Persistent Honker
You know who we’re talking about. Their hand seems permanently fixed to their horn as they express displeasure over every. Single. Thing. Be it someone who’s moving a little too slowly at the traffic light or hesitating on a direction to go, that overly useful horn will sound in hopes of making the other person rush. Bonus points if they flash their lights rapidly at said car too.
Well, if you’ve been on the receiving end of this, you’ll know that this behaviour can come across as aggressive, with the horn and lights replacing the usual yelling and screaming. It also shows how low the person’s tolerance for others really is, so while they might seem like the sweetest person out of the car, it’s certainly a red flag that they might cave to anger if things don’t go their way.
4. Driving roughly and having road rage
Farouk Radwan MSc points out that “aggressive people are the ones who were taught that violence is the best way to handle conflicts“. So if you see someone taking out their anger on a steering wheel or hear them screaming their heads off (probably an upgrade from the horning), then you’ve got a short-tempered driver on your hands. This personality is usually further compounded by the way their drive, they might be very forceful when they break or turn, and might vehemently overtake or jump the line.
According to Farouk Radwan MSc, these people usually own big and strong cars because they can use their vehicles to intimidate other drivers as most don’t want to pick a fight with someone larger than them. Curiously enough, he also adds that these drivers want to “maintain the identity of being dangerous” because it makes them feel more worthy.
5. Cautious drivers
You’ll likely perceive these drivers as ‘role models’. They will keep to the speed limit, have their seatbelts on and avoid racing other cars. The bonus is that they also tend to be sensitive and considerate of others. The downside is that they can be indecisive when it come times for them to make decisions during an emergency. Still, there’s no denying that these drivers can be very reassuring to have around!
Well, these are only a few of many driving habits, however, these alone are enough to give you a rough picture of someone’s personality. If you keep a sharp eye out, you might be surprised to learn more about someone than you ever thought you would. But, do keep in mind that there might be other factors affecting someone’s driving.
Sources: Xuan, Inc., Chattr., 2knowmyself
