fulldriving

Fulldriving is a term used in road safety and driver training to describe a comprehensive approach in which the driver maintains full manual control of a vehicle, relying primarily on driver skill and judgment rather than automated systems. It emphasizes mastery of vehicle dynamics, decision-making, and hazard management across a range of conditions.

The term emerged in the 2010s among driving schools and online communities as a counterpoint to advanced driver-assistance systems and partially automated driving. It is not a formal regulatory category in most jurisdictions and definitions vary between programs.

Core competencies typically associated with fulldriving include steering control and steering feel, throttle and braking modulation, gear selection where applicable, and techniques for maintaining traction on wet, icy, or uneven surfaces; recovery from oversteer or understeer; space management and speed control; and night and adverse weather driving.

Programs that teach fulldriving may serve professional drivers, such as taxi or delivery operators and commercial fleets, as well as general motorists seeking higher skill levels. Some curricula integrate manual transmission proficiency, defensive driving, and performance driving under controlled conditions.

Critics argue that emphasizing manual control may conflict with evolving automation and could encourage overconfidence or risk-taking. Standards and assessments are not uniform, complicating comparisons across programs. Proponents note that strong manual-driving skills can enhance safety as a baseline alongside automation.