[Chetan_Rao]

There are times I focus solely on driving, if a particularly good stretch that fits my car's characteristics comes up. Then there are times the significant other & I are having a really interesting conversation and I'm cruising on auto-pilot. Often, both happen within the same long drive (sometimes more than once), so a quick 'hold that thought', followed by some enthusiastic driving, then back to cruising and 'where were we?'. We've had some of our best conversations out on the open road, works great!

On occasion when I want to connect with the car undistracted, I drive solo. No passengers, no music, phone silent.

Whichever mode I'm in, anticipatory driving is pretty much an instinct now, honed over time.

[BlackPearl]

I am absolutely utterly obsessed with driving, but I don't like to drive new cars or cars with too much driving aids. I like to drive cars that are pure and simple. My ideal car would be one with manual gearbox, analogue dials, without power steering, without power brakes, no abs, traction control and all those trickeries, no anti roll bar and the list goes on. I like to drive with both hands on the steering wheel and only think about driving and the surroundings. Yes, people around me call me a loony

[jkrishnakj]

For me, it’s my biggest stress buster. A huge fan of long drives. I’m at ease going solo or with the near and dear ones, though, the recent solo escapades have slightly increased.

I’m always thinking about how much more Km could I munch before the next break or how much seconds could I use Cruise control.

More than anything, I enjoy thr topography of the places. The scenery is too different when the same roads are taken a few months apart and that’s something I always get amazed at. The same place that looked barren and dry would look pretty and green after monsoons.

I’m equally comfortable with conversations with family. They perhaps have got used to knowing when to remain silent, many times, I’ve heard my son say, ‘ Amma, one moment, let Appa finish this manoeuvre’ and she’ll stop talking.

I’m anyways a person who loves higher average speed rather than maximum speed and I never look for a race or a quick run or a super fast fun.

[Risky4327]

1. I give the controls of music to my co-passengers so that they don't get bored when I am enjoying the drive. This way, they don't complain about me not getting involved in their conversations.

2. I try to study the patterns of two wheeler riders, especially the Scooty riders. I find them drifting to their right, slowly and unintentionally. My wife also tends to veer rightwards unconsciously.

3. I generally do not slow down for small patches of bad roads when I am cruising. Pot holes, depressions and some rough patches are smoothened out by suspension at high speeds. When I am below 70 KMPH, then I make sure to slow down appropriately.

4. For each long trip, I insist to start journey as early as possible in morning, preferably by 5 am.

5. I make sure to fill up the fuel tank before exiting the borders of Jharkhand, obviously due to lower price of petrol in Jharkhand.

6. When my friends are busy in packing and planning the "To-Do" activities, I study the route maps again and again, evaluating various options.

[sundarsarma]

Though i love to drive in city traffic, highway drives give a totally different dimension and elates my relationship with the vehicle. We communicate with each other with some peppy music in the background with low-medium volume.

Drove Chennai to Coimbatore last month without even a minute break. Fastenedthe seat belts while starting from Chennai and removed only to open the gates after reaching home. Non-stop 503 kms. and was still fresh

[glovins2004]

What else is mesmerizing than the sweet diesel thrum while cruising, I’ll be keenly listening to my engine note and relish its smoothness and the way it pulls. Most of us like upbeat music while driving but on the contrary I prefer silence, so that I’m aware of the vehicles nearby and surroundings and more over I can closely connect with my diesel companion.

However, during long drives with family, I don’t have much choice as my wife and kids want loud music until they fall asleep or the destination is reached, but the enthusiast in me will find a way to relish every inch of the road and my VW TDI.

My buddy on the way towards Araku valley

[Autocaptive]

I think it's safe to say that I too, like many others here, obsess over small yet significant things like looking out for wild two-wheeler riders, people with big egos in "SUVs", the assortment of potholes/bumps and whatnot.

In recent times I've also started obsessing over tyre health and pressure as the roads have not been kind to me. So I constantly keep modulating my speed in accordance with the road conditions. Other than that the only thing I do is stay alert and enjoy the music.

[Strider24]

In my solo drives which are way less frequent now a days than I want them to be, I like to observe the driving behavior of different people driving on road:

- fellow good drivers, they are those who keep great lane discipline, are driving almost under speed limit or at least maintaining it under 110 km/h. because then we all would drive in unison and a scenery like that is so pleasant to my eyes. I don't like to drive in a F1 racing track.
- stupid drivers, need no introduction here.
- always keep an eye on both ORVMs for over speeding, over enthusiastic, lane rule breaking lunatic drivers. Unfortunately years ago I have had a bad experience on Mumbai Pune expressway where two cars racing each other crossed me from each side touching both side ORVMs and destroying them. in any F&F movie chase scene it might sound cool, but experiencing it in the middle car is absolutely horrific.
- cursing the above type of drivers without any inhibitions with all my vocabulary. this is the part which works like meditation for me, releasing all stress accumulated over period of time. I could never do this in drive with family.
- always be on lookout for another facelifted Corolla ALTIS of 2011-2013 year make. these are so rare to find of road, specially the petrol model which has a different grill. and if found I do follow it as long as possible. Its always good to see how my car would look on road from behind.

Although good music and me in my car are inseparable, sometimes I want no music, no sound and just enjoy the sound of engine & road noise (YES, I do like the road noise), specially when overtaking on high RPMs because my Corolla ALTIS with Micheline tyres on cruising speed is super silent.

In my drives with family I still like to engage with car more than the person on passenger seat until I hear the dreadful phrase from my wife '' You don't talk to me now a days, what's wrong?? " & then I am back to the reality.

[zavegur]

Thanks OP, your post did strike a chord with 'what goes in your head while driving'.

I cycle, I run and I drive. These are the only three activites when my mind takes over completely like a zen. My body becomes an accessory to hear, see or feel better the surroundings and the machine.

When I drive, I am focussed- I aim to acheive no surprises, be it a loony driver ahead or behind, potholes, calculated overtakes, night rides to knighty rides, rest stops, fuel stops, emergency brakes are almost no-no, gradual acceleration & deceleration, ofcourse-the show off acceleration now and then, calculated flashing of headlights to annoying the 'illuminator', thanking the truckers, oh the engine thrum, music is for dead ears- if played, just the right sound so I can hear the engine as well- its difficult for me not to concentrate on the drive. Rains are well loved, more the better; we hate the hidden puddles at night so started understanding highway's turn angles & slope designs. Never a dull moment behind the steering wheel.

The BLR-CBE and BLR-MAS roads over the last 6 years have been nothing short of memorable. People who have frequented the route know that its a bliss to drive here. Have always started and ended a drive with a 'thank-you-figo'. Did I mention about my OCD on location of phone, axe-oil, mint, water, duster cloth, weight-distribution of luggage(!), use of indicators-flash lights-honk-like a robot checking all 3 mirrors every 5 seconds or much as needed. Everything in my control has to be on-the-dot; reset can be difficult, so I plan.

We always take night drives, the fam can go to sleep and I can go to my zen mode. Talking and listening to the fam happens but gets lost in the thoughts when driving. My wife says I am 'pre-occupied'. My daughter knows that I can't be disturbed when driving or touched- even a tap; the 3 y.o. son is the devil, he doesnt care about sentiments, loves to fiddle with anything thats fiddleable thereby waking up the monster more often than not. He is a fan of Gecko's garage so I guess he will keep 'repairing' stuff on cars. I have increased my patience limit with him, boy's got to play, he is on his way to become a petrol head hopefully and he shall get all the inspiration there is.

Four more trips coming up before the year signs off- two to CBE, one to MAS and another to the southern tip, cant wait for the zen mode to begin!

[simplyself]

I believe driving is 80% mental activity and 20% physical. So, most of the times I get very involved with driving. I talk, but at that time I instinctively slow down a bit.

I observe how others are driving and try to keep away from those who are not very much skilled but like to think themselves as Schumachers.

When trying to overtake larger vehicles like buses and trucks, I try to get into position where I can observe front wheel of that vehicle.

I am very worried about lane changers, median jumpers, sudden stoppers.

I generally, even subconsciously, listen to engine sound, always visualising the engine churning, wheel going through a pot hole, etc.

Solo or in company, it doesnt matter as long as I am in right mood.

I hate lane straddling. I do get distracted if the vehicle in front straddles two lanes, even if I do not plan to overtake. I somehow cannot get over the irritation unless the vehicle gets into lane or is far away or behind.

It may sound weird but driving enjoyment is somewhat lost now that many roads are four laned. I still remember the enjoyment I got when I used to drive from Hyderabad to my town 150 kms away on NH 9 - now NH 65 - prior to four laning.

[Strider24]

I agree with you simplyself, there is no joy in driving on a 4 or 6 lane Highway anymore. I have to be so conscious of idiot drivers all the time, because of which I don't enjoy the scenary around at all.

In the vicinity of Pune I prefer to drive on narrower state highways or interior roads for that purpose. Even between Mumbai and Pune , the old highway is much safer and enjoyable road to drive on.

[PG245]

For me, driving is mostly an involuntary activity. I mostly think about other things in life, keep watching hoardings and other cars on road etc while driving . Once in a while, when there is less traffic, I look at the average mileage and feel good if it is high.

[JoBlo]

It's a video game for me. I try to anticipate where I should be 5 seconds from now, based on a very complex set of calculations - factoring speed, distance, velocity, angles, the number plate of the vehicle ahead and the body language of the vehicles all around.

I have an inbuilt ADAS!