Driving

In driving or piloting most vehicles over land or sea, the basic problem is to steer the vehicle towards a particular destination whilst circumventing any intervening obstructions. To maintain direction requires that the driver turn the steering wheel in one direction to correct for deviations towards the other. This tends to result in a deviation in the opposite direction for which a corresponding correction must then be made. Steering therefore requires alternating correction movements of the steering wheel. To circumvent an obstacle however, the driver has to ensure that the vehicle first deviates significantly in one direction and is then brought back 'on course' by deviating in the reverse direction.

This reinforces the understanding that alternating movement in opposing policy directions is necessary to ensure that society develops in a controlled manner in the direction towards which it is driven. Problems can only be circumvented by accepting deviations for a period before making corrections for them.

The alternating deviation correction movements tend to be directed at right angles to the resultant direction of movement.

The driving metaphor is used by leadership to a limited extent. The difficulty is that (like nervous 'back-seat drivers') the passengers in the vehicle on the right-hand side tend to shout 'turn left' to avoid dangers on the right and disagree violently with those on the left-hand side who shout 'turn right' to avoid dangers on the left invisible to those on the right). In the struggle for control of the vehicle, there is little sensitivity to the need to check deviations by alternately moving left and right, or to the need to circumvent obstacles by making extensive deviations in one direction or the other.

Contrast between expert and novice drivers. Reactions that need to be internalized in 'learning to drive'. Drunken driving. Traffic and rules.