Driving comes with lots of expectations and skills. You can’t just wake up one morning and start driving. You must know how to drive before you can be allowed to drive because there are different types of driving environments.
You must learn the art of driving, master the skills, and be able to drive before you can drive on the road. But, the question is, what kind of driving environment is an empty parking lot?
An empty parking lot is known as a controlled, low-risk driving environment because it offers a safe, predictable, and distraction-free space for drivers to practice and refine their driving skills in a controlled setting before facing the complexities of real-world traffic conditions.
What Kind of Driving Environment is an Empty Parking Lot?
An empty parking lot can be considered a controlled driving environment because it is devoid of the usual threats present on roads, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or traffic signals.
It provides an opportunity for drivers to practice basic maneuvers, such as parking, reversing, or navigating without the distractions or complexities of regular road conditions.
As someone new to driving, an empty parking lot can offer a safe space to gain confidence and develop fundamental driving skills before venturing onto busier streets.
Also, experienced drivers may use empty parking lots for practicing advanced maneuvers, such as emergency braking, parallel parking, precision driving techniques, etc.
Why is an Empty Parking Lot Called a Controlled Driving Environment?
Here’s why an empty parking lot is called a controlled driving environment:
1. There’s Absence of Traffic
Unlike roads and highways, an empty parking lot lacks the presence of other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, or animals which is good because it reduces the number of variables a driver needs to contend with, making it easier for you to focus on practicing your driving skills.
2. There’s Predictable Layout
Parking lots usually have well-defined lanes, markings, and designated parking spaces which provide learners or drivers with a predictable environment to drive, allowing them to focus on honing their driving skills without the need to constantly adjust to changing road conditions.
There’s a reason why learners practice the act of driving in an empty parking lot. It is because of this reason. The learner can concentrate on mastering driving skills without unexpected obstacles
3. There are Minimal Distractions
Another reason why an empty parking lot is called a controlled driving environment is because of the reduced or minimal distractions drivers face in an empty parking lot.
Without the distractions commonly found on busy roads, such as traffic signals, signage, or other drivers, an empty parking lot offers a quiet and controlled setting.
This lack of external stimuli allows drivers or someone learning how to drive to concentrate fully on executing maneuvers correctly and safely.
4. There’s a Reduced Risk of Collisions
You can’t talk about an empty parking lot being a controlled, low-risk environment without talking about how it helps in reducing collisions.
In fact, because of fewer or no obstacles and threats present in an empty parking lot as compared to driving on public roads, there are 99.9% chances of a no collision, so someone who’s learning how to drive can concentrate and learn better.
It helps to boost the morale of a novice driver to gain confidence and experience behind the wheel.
5. It is a Safe Learning Environment
Due to the controlled nature of an empty parking lot, it provides a safe space for drivers to practice various driving skills under the guidance of an instructor or experienced mentor.
It allows them to gradually build competence and familiarity with basic maneuvers before venturing into more challenging driving scenarios.
As reiterated earlier, learning the art of driving in an empty parking lot helps the learner/driver to have more confidence because he knows that he/she is in a safe learning environment.
Furthermore, empty parking lots offer ample space for practicing a wide range of maneuvers such as parking, reversing, turning, and emergency braking.
This abundance of space allows drivers to repeat maneuvers multiple times without the constraints of traffic congestion or limited road space.
Therefore, it is worthy to say that the term “controlled driving environment” accurately describes an empty parking garage because it offers a safe, predictable, and distraction-free space for drivers to practice and refine their driving skills in a controlled setting before facing the complexities of real-world traffic conditions.
What are the Three Main Types of Driving Environments?
The three main types of driving environments are urban driving environment, suburban driving environment, and rural driving environment.
Each of these driving environments has its own set of challenges which requires drivers to adapt their driving techniques accordingly to be safe and prevent accidents.
Urban Driving Environment
The urban driving environment refers to driving within city or town limits, where roads are densely populated and characterized by heavy traffic, numerous intersections, traffic lights, pedestrians, cyclists, and various road hazards.
Here are the key features of the urban driving environment:
- Urban areas usually experience high traffic congestion, especially during peak commuting hours. This congestion can lead to slower average speeds, frequent stops, and starts, as well as increased frustration for drivers.
- Urban driving involves navigating through different roads, streets, avenues, and boulevards, hence, why drivers must be good at making turns, merging into traffic, and following signage to reach their destinations.
- In urban driving conditions, traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs, and pedestrian crossings are abundant to manage the flow of vehicles and pedestrians.
- Driving in an urban environment requires constant awareness of pedestrians and cyclists sharing the road, hence, why drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, watch for cyclists in bike lanes, and anticipate
- unpredictable movements from vulnerable road users.
- Finally, in an urban driving environment, there are more public transportation systems, such as buses, trams, and subways which makes driving in it involves encountering delivery trucks, service vehicles, and rideshare vehicles making frequent stops or pickups.
Therefore, if you are driving in an urban environment, you must be patient, and alert, and adhere to traffic laws and regulations.
Suburban Driving Environment
The suburban driving environment refers to driving within residential areas on the outskirts of cities or towns with lower population density compared to urban centers but higher than rural areas.
In a suburban driving environment, there is often a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, making it obvious for drivers to encounter a variety of road users, such as residents, commuters, and shoppers, as they drive through these areas.
Moreover, driving in a suburban environment involves moderate traffic compared to urban centers.
While traffic congestion may occur during peak commuting hours or near commercial areas, suburban roads generally have fewer vehicles compared to urban streets, and their roads tend to be wider than urban streets.
In a suburban driving environment, there are intersections controlled by traffic lights, stop signs, or yield signs, and driving often involves navigating through residential neighborhoods with homes, schools, and parks.
Furthermore, parking may be easier in suburban areas compared to urban centers, and drivers may encounter wildlife crossing the road, such as deer or small animals.
Therefore, if you’re driving in a suburban driving environment, you need to pay close attention to road conditions, become aware of surrounding traffic and pedestrians, and comply with the traffic laws and regulations of the area.
Rural Driving Environment
The rural driving environment refers to driving in populated areas made up of countryside landscapes, farmland, and open roads.
Rural areas have low population density compared to urban and suburban areas. As a result, there are fewer vehicles on the road, leading to less traffic congestion and more open space.
However, in a rural driving environment, there are open roads with few intersections and minimal traffic control devices.
Drivers may encounter long stretches of straight roads or winding country lanes, providing opportunities for scenic views.
There may be limited infrastructure compared to urban and suburban areas, as roads may be narrower, less well-maintained, and lacking in amenities such as street lighting or sidewalks.
Moreover, despite the lower traffic volume in a rural driving environment, it still presents its own set of hazards such as wildlife crossing the road, farm vehicles like tractors or combines, and uneven road surfaces.
Furthermore, the rural driving environment can be affected by various weather conditions, including fog, ice, snow, and heavy rain. Therefore, if you’re driving in a rural environment, you must be patient, cautious, and aware of sudden hazards.
What is An Example of a Risk While Driving?
One example of a risk while driving is distracted driving. It is a risk that occurs when a driver diverts his/her attention away from driving to focus on another activity, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or interacting with passengers.
Distracted driving increases the likelihood of accidents and collisions because it impairs a driver’s ability to react promptly to threats on the road.
Even a momentary distraction can have serious consequences, as it takes only a split second for an accident to occur.
Therefore, minimizing distractions and staying focused on driving is needed for safe driving/navigation on the road.
What is an Example of a Reduced Risk Practice in a Low Risk Environment?
An example of a reduced-risk practice in a low-risk environment could be practicing emergency braking in an empty parking lot.
In this scenario, the low-risk environment is the empty parking lot, which lacks the usual threats present on public roads, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or traffic signals, hence reducing the risk of colliding with another vehicle or injuring a pedestrian.
By conducting this practice in an empty parking lot, drivers can focus solely on mastering the technique without the distractions or dangers of other traffic on a real road.
Conclusion
An empty parking lot is called a controlled driving environment because it offers a safe, predictable, and distraction-free space for drivers to practice and improve their driving skills before facing the challenges of driving in more complex and dynamic situations.
