Avram, I am glad you are getting on board! Indeed, if you were driving for “fun”, like people skiing or NASCAR racing – seems questionable activity for people who have a mitzva to put a railing on their own roof. So, I would say meaningless driving around would be unnecessary sakanah (and bitul zman).
But if you do need to get somewhere, driving is safer and more efficient than walking (and flying is safer than driving) – per mile, not per hour.