I learned to drive late in my life. I’m a public transport enthusiast and never felt I would enjoy driving. I was in my mid-30s when I first sat behind a car’s steering wheel with an intention to drive the car.

One of the very first lessons I learned was about defensive driving. I had a great driving instructor. He had a knack for calling out driving personalities. His favorite personality was the ‘defensive driver’. He would point out other defensive drivers on the road as he showed me how to observe best practices in others.

After driving around for a few years, I now appreciate learning good principles early. I am thankful that I learned to drive from a defensive driver rather than an aggressive driver. I learned to keep an adequate distance from other cars.

I learned to let tailgaters overtake me. I learned to observe and follow speed limits. I learned to adapt despite the chaotic and confusing signage on Indian roads.

One of the most important lessons grew on me over time. Never lose my composure while I’m behind the wheel, no matter what the conditions are on the road. I can be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic due to some needless human error.

Someone might cut me while they’re driving aggressively. Someone might overtake me and reach their destination sooner. Doesn’t matter, I learned to appreciate the safety of my own actions.It is very easy to lose one’s calm while driving. This doesn’t apply only on Indian roads. After driving for a few years, I now find it easier to focus my attention on my actions along with what’s happening outside the car. This also means allowing some room for things to go wrong. I’ve been in two unfortunate accidents while I was driving. Luckily both times, it was not because of my negligence. The car absorbed the physical damage and the insurance absorbed the financial damage. I always felt that I overpaid for good insurance coverage. This came in handy in getting hassle-free help and claim processing.

More importantly, I felt sad that it happened to me, but I was never angry. I never put myself or the other road users in an unsafe situation.

I didn’t lose my composure because of someone else’s fault. It was only possible because my instructor taught me that there is always going to be a small chance of accidents. No one can predict when or how it will happen. Sometimes the severity will be in my control. Sometimes I’ll be plain lucky.

There are safety regulations, traffic laws, road signage and varied personalities of drivers. The only thing I can control is my actions. How much restraint I show while accelerating is up to me. How much I get provoked by other people’s actions is up to me. I’m responsible for wearing a seatbelt and checking the condition of my car before starting my ride.

How much distance I keep from other road users, how much time I budget for my trip are the things I can expect to control. We can only cover a distance in a particular time. We can’t expect to reach the destination quicker than that. Not being in a hurry is a choice.

I hope students of driving and investing are able to appreciate the analogy. It is not that other forms of driving are wrong or unjustified. Yet, there’s no alternative to being aware of our surroundings and our ability.

We must be aware of our place on the road. We are responsible while operating a heavy piece of motorised vehicle. This is not optional. Mistakes will happen and sometimes I will escape unhurt. It is most important in both driving and investing to minimise the damage from these mistakes.

Like in investing, it will be the safest choice to keep the car parked in the garage at all times. The car is made to be driven. The joy of investing and driving is in cruising at a comfortable speed. It’s not about expecting outrageous outcomes. Arriving at our destination safe and sound makes it even more enjoyable.

(The author is Head-Research and Fund Manager, PPFAS Mutual Fund)

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