5 signs you’re a good driver - Iseult Gillespie

翻译人员: Taoran Song 校对人员: Marie Li

As one of the agency’s best employees,

作为该机构最优秀的员工之一，

you’ve been selected as a finalist

你已入围决赛，

to potentially take on a new top-secret mission.

有可能执行一项新的绝密任务。

You've already shown your aptitude for surveillance and disguise,

你已经表现出了自己的监视和伪装能力，

but the agency is looking to test one last critical skill:

但该机构希望测试最后一项关键技能：

how well you can drive.

你的驾驶能力。

To prove yourself, you’ll need to complete a series of complicated challenges

为了证明自己，你需要在方向盘

后面完成一系列复杂的挑战。

behind the wheel.

As the test begins, you notice that the distances between yourself

当测试开始时，你会注意到自己

and the cars around you are being meticulously monitored.

和周围汽车之间的距离受到严格监控。

One of the most widely recommended strategies when it comes to safe driving

在安全驾驶方面，最广泛推荐的策略之一被

is known as defensive driving.

称为防御性驾驶。

It doesn’t mean driving paranoid—

这并不意味着偏执狂驾驶，

but rather, making a conscious effort to anticipate potential errors and accidents.

而是要有意识地努力预测潜在的错误和事故。

For example, keeping a three-second distance from the car in front of you

例如，如果交通突然停止，与前方的汽车

increases your chances of stopping in time if traffic suddenly halts.

保持三秒钟的距离会增加及时停车的机会。

You soon approach your first obstacle: a sudden lane closure.

你很快就会接近你的第一个障碍物 ：车道突然封闭。

While many assume that good driving etiquette requires them to merge

尽管许多人认为良好的驾驶礼仪要求他们

as soon as possible,

尽快合并，但

most safety studies suggest the opposite.

大多数安全研究表明情况恰恰相反。

Continuing at a consistent speed until you reach the lane end point,

继续保持稳定的速度直到到达车道终点，

and then zipper merging

然后拉链合并

decreases the number of potentially dangerous lane switches.

会减少潜在危险的车道切换次数。

And this doesn’t just improve safety— it also keeps traffic moving.

这不仅可以提高安全性，还可以保持交通畅通。

One study found that using signs that encourage drivers to zipper merge

一项研究发现，使用鼓励司机合并拉链的标志

can reduce traffic backup lengths by 40%.

可以将交通备用时间缩短40％。

Your phone lights up— it’s the agency.

你的手机亮了，是代理机构。

Should you pick it up?

你应该把它捡起来吗？

While it might seem easy to multitask while you drive,

虽然开车时执行多项任务似乎很容易，但

most people can't balance driving with anything else effectively.

大多数人无法有效地平衡驾驶与其他任何事情。

It's estimated that 80% of accidents happen

据估计，80％的事故 发生在司机将视线从道路移开

when the drivers look away from the road.

时。

And just because your hands are on the wheel

而且，仅仅因为你的手放在方向盘上

doesn’t mean you’re not distracted.

并不意味着你不会分心。

In one study, drivers who were talking on the phone hands-free

在一项研究中，免提通话的驾驶员

had delayed braking reactions and made as many mistakes

会延迟制动反应，犯的错误

as drivers who were intoxicated.

与醉酒的驾驶员一样多。

And those who think they're the exception to the rule might be most at risk.

而那些认为自己是规则 例外的人可能面临的风险最大。

People who self-identify as multitasking pros

自认是多任务专业人士的人

tend to perform worst at tests that require dividing their attention.

在需要分散注意力的测试中往往表现最差。

Suddenly, a car cuts you off,

突然间，一辆汽车切断了你的联系，

and your hand instinctively moves towards the horn.

你的手本能地向喇叭移动。

You’re not alone—

你并不孤单，

up to a third of drivers report that they’ve acted aggressively on the road,

多达三分之一的司机报告说他们在路上 采取了激进的行动，向另一名司机

honking or shouting at another driver.

鸣喇叭或大喊大叫。

Road rage is thought to be sparked by the perception of other drivers

路怒被认为是由其他司机

as reckless, rude, or even deliberately trying to impede you.

鲁莽、粗鲁甚至故意试图阻碍你而引发的。

And it’s typically exacerbated by personal factors

而且，压力或匆忙

like stress or being in a rush.

等个人因素通常会加剧这种情况。

Some psychologists theorize that we can feel isolated from others

一些心理学家认为，我们在车里会感到与他人

while in our cars,

隔绝，

and, therefore, somewhat anonymous.

因此有点匿名。

This may make us more prone to act aggressively

这可能会使我们更容易采取积极

or to even retaliate against other drivers.

行动，甚至更容易对其他司机进行报复。

But being aware of this tendency and practicing relaxation techniques,

但是，意识到这种倾向并练习放松技巧，

like taking a deep breath in the moment,

例如当下深吸一口气，

can help you avoid these hot-tempered situations.

可以帮助你避免这种脾气暴躁的情况。

Finally, you approach your last test: a stop sign.

最后，你接近最后一次测试：停车标志。

But you don’t see it.

但是你看不见。

You mistakenly cruise through without looking and narrowly miss an accident.

你不看就错过了航行，差点错过了事故。

Mistakes don't feel great, but they're actually a valuable part of learning.

错误的感觉并不好， 但它们实际上是学习中宝贵的一部分。

This is especially true for new drivers.

对于新司机来说尤其如此。

In one study, participants who practiced using a driving simulator

在一项研究中，使用能够发现错误的

that flagged their errors performed better on subsequent driving tests.

驾驶模拟器进行练习的参与者 在随后的驾驶考试中表现更好。

And like any skill, becoming an expert driver takes time and practice.

就像任何技能一样， 成为一名专业车手需要时间和练习。

After all, controlling a vehicle while properly assessing your surroundings

毕竟，在正确评估周围环境

and following the often-complicated rules of the road is no easy feat.

和遵循通常复杂的道路规则的同时 控制车辆并不是一件容易的事。

A majority of drivers first learn in their teens and early 20s,

大多数驾驶员在十几岁 和二十多岁出头开始学习，那

when the brain is uniquely wired to learn from new experiences

时大脑具有独特的连接能力， 可以从新的体验中学习，承担

and take on risks and challenges.

风险和挑战。

New drivers can take full advantage of this window of opportunity,

新手可以充分利用这个机会之窗，

beginning with short, familiar journeys to build confidence,

从短暂而熟悉的旅程开始，建立信心，

and then tackling as many different driving conditions as they can.

然后尽可能多地应对不同的驾驶条件。

You arrive back at the agency feeling defeated,

你回到机构时感觉被打败了，

but to your surprise,

但令你惊讶的是，

you’re handed an envelope with all the assignment details.

你收到了一个装有所有任务细节的信封。

While you may have made a few mistakes,

虽然你可能犯了一些错误，但

it turns out you’re the only agent who can parallel park.

事实证明你是唯一能平行停车的特工。