“Is it easy to be a god?”: power, responsibility and the car as a mirror of personality

Phrase “Is it easy to be a god” - not just the name of a cult film or philosophical treatise. This is a question that resonates with everyone who has ever driven a car. The driver's seat turns a person into conventional god: you control the movement of a two-ton car, make decisions in a split second and are responsible for the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. But how illusory is this power? And why do some drivers lose touch with reality, forgetting that their “omnipotence” is limited by physics, laws and the human factor?

In this article we will analyze the metaphor "to be god" through the prism of driving, psychology and even car repair. You will learn how owning a car shapes your personality, why speed > 120 km/h turns the brain into "god mode" (and why it's dangerous), and how to avoid the syndrome "I am the center of the universe" on the road. Spoiler: no, it won't be easy. But awareness makes the process manageable.

1. A car as an instrument of power: why the driver feels like a god

Get into the car, close the doors, start the engine. At this moment you physically isolate yourself from the outside world. Sound insulation, climate control, comfortable chair - all this creates the illusion personal space, where you dictate the rules. Psychologists call it “power capsule” effect:

• 🚗 Traffic control: you decide where to go, when to brake, who to let through. This microcosm, where your word is law.
• 🔊 Acoustic insulation: External sounds are muted, your music or silence creates a feeling "my world".
• 💺 Physical superiority: even on Toyota Corolla you are superior to pedestrians and cyclists - literally and symbolically.

But here lies the trap: power corrupts. Harvard University research shows that people driving are more likely to show aggression, ignore social norms and overestimate their abilities. Example: 9 out of 10 drivers consider themselves “above average” in driving skills - statistically impossible.

Yes, it’s a pleasant feeling|Only in a traffic jam when everyone is in the way|No, I just follow the rules|Depends on the car (in a premium class - yes!)-->

⚠️ Attention: The God-at-the-wheel effect is enhanced in cars with premium options (heated seats, massage, autopilot). The brain perceives comfort as status confirmation, which leads to risky maneuvers. For example, owners BMW M5 on 30% are more likely to receive speeding fines than drivers Skoda Octavia.

2. “Permissiveness” syndrome: when the driver forgets about physics

The most dangerous illusion while driving is the belief that the laws of physics don't apply to you. Typical manifestations:

Illusion	Reality	Consequences
“I’ll have time to get through to yellow”	Braking distance at 60 km/h — 18–24 m	Accident at an intersection
“I don’t need winter tires, I’m experienced”	The adhesion coefficient of summer tires at 0°C falls on 40%	Skid on ice
“I’ll overtake the truck, it’s barely moving”	The truck weighs 20+ tons, his inertia is not comparable to yours	Head-on collision

🔹 Why is this happening? The driver's brain is able "god mode" blocks critical thinking. Neuroscientists call it hypofrontality — temporary “switching off” of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for assessing risks. The effect is enhanced:

• 🍺After one glass of beer (even with 0.2‰ alcohol in the blood).
• 🎵 When music is loud (> 85 dB).
• 😡 In a state of stress (cortisol levels are higher than normal).

3. "God" vs. “Engineer”: who drives the car better?

There are two types of drivers:

1. "Gods": they believe in their intuition, ignore instructions, consider rules “for weaklings.” Example: “I brake better without ABS!”.
2. "Engineers": they monitor the technical condition of the car, take into account physics, and plan maneuvers. Example: “Before turning, I slow down in advance so as not to block the wheels.”.

Who gets into an accident less often? Insurance company data (RSA, 2023):

Accident statistics by driver type

"Gods" get into accidents on 47% more often than "engineers". At the same time 78% The “gods” blame “an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances” for the accident, and not their mistakes.

⚠️ Attention: If you consider yourself an “engineer”, but at the same time:

• 🔧 Haven't checked the brake fluid level recently 2 years,
• 🚘 Ride on summer tires at +5°C,
• 📱 You use your phone without hands free,

- then you hybrid "god-engineer", and your risk of an accident is higher by 22%.

4. How not to become a “bad god”: rules for conscious driving

To prevent power over the machine from turning into self-deception, follow 5 principles of mindfulness:

Check tire pressure (normal: 2.0–2.2 bar)|Make sure the headlights are clean (dirt reduces light output by 30%)|Turn off notifications on your phone|Set up mirrors (should see 15% of the body your car)|Check the washer fluid level (consumption in winter is higher by 40%)-->

🔹 3 Second Rule: keep enough distance to say "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three" between the moment the car ahead passes the landmark and you pass it. On wet roads increase to 4–5 seconds.

🔹 Divine Syndrome Test: if you at least once thought:

• 🤬 “Everyone is an idiot, only I can drive!”
• 🚦 “A traffic light for me is just a recommendation”
• 🏎️ “I don’t need airbags, I always have time to react”

- you need reconsider your attitude towards driving. Contact psychologist or take a course defensive driving (cost: from 15 000 ₽).

5. Car repair as a test of modesty: when “god” collides with reality

Nothing brings you back to reality like car breakdown. At the moment when your Mercedes-Benz stalls on the highway, but the diagnostics shows P0300 - Random/multiple misfires, you understand: you are not god, just a person with a problem.

🔧 Top 3 breakdowns that “knock you out of heaven”:

1. Turbine failure (symptom: oil in intercooler). Repair: from 80 000 ₽.
2. Cylinder head gasket failure (symptom: emulsion in expansion tank). Repair: from 50 000 ₽ + work.
3. Death of automatic transmission (symptom: jolts when shifting). Repair: from 120 000 ₽.

⚠️ Attention: If you never opened the hood of your car (except for topping up the washer fluid), your “god-at-the-wheel” status is complete fiction. Start small:

Learn to check the oil level (normal: between MIN and MAX on the dipstick)|Know where the fuel pump fuse is|Be able to change the light bulb in the headlight|Understand what it is OBD-II and where is the diagnostic connector|Have in the trunk: spare tire, jack, warning vest-->

💡 Useful fact: Drivers who change the oil yourselfare less likely to get into accidents. The connection is simple: understanding the machine makes you more responsible.

6. Philosophy of “God-at-the-wheel”: what psychology says

Concept “Is it easy to be a god” roots in existential psychology. Czech writer Karel Capek in the novel of the same name explored how absolute power destroys personality. Let's apply this to driving:

• 🧠 Cognitive dissonance: The driver’s brain simultaneously understands the risks and believes in its invulnerability. This leads to justifying dangerous actions (“I always overtake like this, and nothing!”).
• 👑 Duning-Kruger syndrome: The less knowledge about driving, the higher the self-esteem. Example: “I’ve been driving for 20 years without an accident, so I’m an expert!” (although these 20 years are just luck).
• 🤝 Deindividuation effect: You are anonymous in the car, which reduces empathy. Therefore 60% Drivers do not allow pedestrians to pass at the crossing.

📊 Research: Scientists from Stanford conducted an experiment by placing subjects in virtual driving simulator with different levels of “power” (from Cossack up to Ferrari). Result: in premium cars participants 3 times more often violated traffic rules and showed aggression.

7. Practical exercises: how to remain a human behind the wheel

They will help you return yourself “from heaven to earth” 5 technicians:

1. "The Driver's Prayer": Before your trip, say out loud: “I control the car, but I don’t control the road”. This reduces the level cortisol (stress hormone) on 12%.
2. "The Pedestrian Game": go once a month 5 km walking along the route where you usually travel. You will see how drivers perceive pedestrians.
3. "Bug Diary": Write down your mistakes (even small ones). After a month, analyze: 80% "gods" are found in repeating patterns.

📌 Bonus: Install in car DVR with driving analysis function (for example, BlackVue DR900X). It records:

• 🚀 Sudden accelerations (risk +25%).
• 🛑 Late braking (risk +40%).
• 📱 Distraction on the phone (risk +2300% - yes, this is not a typo).

FAQ: Answers to pressing questions

❓ Why do some drivers think that traffic rules are written “not for them”?

This is a manifestation narcissistic personality disorder in a mild form. The brain of such people perceives rules as "limitation of freedom", and not as a security tool. More common in men 25–45 years with high testosterone levels. Treated with awareness and fines.

❓ Is it possible to learn to drive like an “engineer” if I’ve been driving like a “god” for 10 years?

Yes, but it will be required retraining. Start with:

1. Course "Defensive Driving" (for example, in Driving school MAADI).
2. Reading book "How to drive a car in extreme situations" (author: Oleg Ponomarev).
3. Practices on autodrome with an instructor (even if you already have a license).

Average retraining time: 3–6 months.

❓ Why do premium cars get into accidents more often?

Three reasons:

1. Halo effect: the owner believes that expensive car = safe car (although Audi A8 in a frontal collision 120 km/h will save no more than Skoda Superb).
2. Comfort corrupts: The quiet cabin and smooth ride dull your guard.
3. Social pressure: owners of premium cars more often chasing "status".

❓ How to explain to a passenger that he is behaving like “god-at-the-wheel”?

Use “I-statements” technique:

“It makes me anxious when we drive so close to the truck. Maybe we should slow down?”

Avoid accusations“Are you crazy?”), so as not to provoke aggression. If the driver does not respond - get off at the next stop.

❓ Are there machines that “corrupt” more than others?

Yes. Top 5 models, whose owners are more likely to get into accidents due to fault inflated self-esteem (traffic police data for 2023):

1. BMW M3/M5 (risk of accident +42%).
2. Mercedes-AMG C63 (+38%).
3. Audi RS6 (+35%).
4. Porsche 911 (+30%).
5. Tesla Model S (+28% - due to a false sense of security from the autopilot).