I started driving today

[Duke]

Yups. Its pretty fun but very frustrating.

Im really paranoid about hitting other cars

Did anyone else ever hit the brake instead of the gas when they first started?


(oh yeah please save the jokes if your going to tool me about getting into an accident, im already nervous enough)

but can anyone else tell me their driving problems from when they first started

it would make me feel better :-)

[Team_Ramrod]

Good for you.... Keep it between the lines HAHAHAHAHHEHEHEHEH Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

I'd like to help you with driving jitters, but I gotta be honest here. I took My drivers test on my 16th birthday.... in a snow storm. I had never parallel parked before but when I had to I aced it.

I'm just blessed at being awesome at everything. (yes ladies, everything).


My tip for you junior;

Go at your comfortable pace, don't push your limits. Everything will come with time. You'll worry about other drivers and parked cars for a while, soon enough you'll know your vehicle so well you'll be able to hit gophers crossing the road by adjusting speeds instead of swerving.

[GvacNoMore]

Congrats Duke!

I remember when I first got my permit, and I was positive I'd never be as relaxed behind the wheel as some people seemed to be. It comes sooner than you think, though, and you'll instinctively know that moving the turn signal up is for a right turn and down is for a left, the gas is all the way to the right and the brake is in the middle, etc. At first you have to really concentrate and think about all these things, but they become second nature in no time.

Enjoy yourself and once again, congratulations.

[Sinestro]

Wow. Our little Duke is driving now. They grow up fast. :thumbup:

[SatCam]

Ive had my license for about a yr and half now and i felt the same way you did when I started driving. but it comes naturally. I took a drivers ed course with a good teacher who knew his shit. He wasnt looking to teach us just enough to get us past the license tests. I actually learned stuff that was useful to me on the road...



anyway, my advice would be don't be a dumb kid behind the wheel. I can't tell you how many of my classmates have totaled a car since they've gotten their license because they were reckless and thought they were the only car on the road. This is exactly why all drivers under 25 have to pay through the asshole with insurance. It is absolutely possible to be a competent driver by the day of your test.


Also, don't do 90 in a 55, right keithy?

[Sinestro]

Do you play the radio real LOUD and drive with the back of your seat back?

BOOM BOOM

WTF is that?

Oh that's just Duke chilling in the car with the bass pumped up.

[Devo37]

welcome to the club, Duke! now stay outta my way!!!

remember to use your mirrors and give a quick glance at your blind spots before changing lanes.

also, remember that there are other drivers and pedestrians out there. don't drive like a nutty maniac like i did when i first got my license. i used to treat driving like a video game and never thought about the consequences. thankfully, i never hit anyone or anything, cuz that probably would have f#cked up my life (or my insurance rates, at least).

oh yeah, and if someone lets you merge in front of them, give them a courtesy wave.

[Chimee]

Congrats, I don't really have stories or advice for you so I'll just wish you the best in all your years of driving.

[SatCam]

Here's a story for you. My ex-girlfriend failed the license test by turning LEFT on RED.




EXgirlfriend

[damainer]

Well I failed my first driving test because, apparently, an open beer bottle is frowned upon.

[Thebazile78]

Yups. Its pretty fun but very frustrating.

Im really paranoid about hitting other cars

Did anyone else ever hit the brake instead of the gas when they first started?


(oh yeah please save the jokes if your going to tool me about getting into an accident, im already nervous enough)

but can anyone else tell me their driving problems from when they first started

it would make me feel better :-)

OK, I'm going to be honest here.

My biggest problem when I first had my permit, as in, the permit I had when I was 16, not the permit I had to re-take the written test to get at 20 (this just gets better) was my dad.

See, when Dad was teaching me how to drive, my hands were at 10:00 and 2:00 on the steering wheel....Dad's was at 6:00. I never learned how to steer on my own because Dad was always adjusting the wheel for me.

Add to that the way he taught me to parallel park....using the mirrors...
And the time when, after making it the entire way around the lake without an incident, I ended up ramming into a boulder in someone's yard and pretty much trashing the passenger-side headlamp...

Anyway, I failed my first road test.

I didn't seriously consider getting my license until I was a Junior in college.

My ex-boyfriend's family gave me money towards driving lessons as a gift for my 21st birthday.

Using a driving school was the best decision I could ever have made. It actually made me feel a lot more confident about learning how to drive because my instructor was so laid-back .... which was a total day-and-night difference from Dad ... and I got to make my own mistakes. If you're not using a driving school, please consider it. They're not as expensive as you might think...and they help get you in quicker for your road test. (I used Safety First Driving School in Kendall Park. I ended up behind one of their student drivers the other day; I think it was one of her first sessions.)

Yes, I have confused the gas and brake pedals.
Yes, I've been in 2 accidents. Fortunately, they were both pretty minor and nobody was hurt; I was just shaken up a bit afterwards.

It's OK to be skittish when you first start. Keep practicing and don't over-think things. It will slowly become more natural.

You might want to keep your distractions to a minimum - no radio or CD's playing while you're practicing - at first so you can concentrate a bit better. I think with the graduated license program here in NJ, you are not allowed to drive between dusk and dawn and you can't have someone who's held a license for less than 5 years as your "supervising driver."

Good luck! You will be FINE.

[topless_mike]

if i can add something...

dont be overly cautious- this will certianly cause an accident.
go with the flow, and take your time. i know its hard right now, but try not to worry about hitting other cars, etc. concentrating on one thing is how you lose sight of other things, which can be dangerous.

in time, you will drive without actually thinking about it.

[RADIO-SHARK]

heres a tip for you..




GAS, GRASS, OR ASS NO ONE RIDES FOR FREE..:devil2:

[AKA]

Yeah, it is pretty fucked up/freaky when you first start driving - especially if you are in an area with a lot of other people and cars - those first few times you have to get onto the interstate...yikes!

It took me well into my 20s until I actually felt i was a good driver. The DC area is second to Los Angeles with bad traffic, so it was really trial by fire. I had bad examples growing up - my dad was too aggressive, and my mom was too timid behind the wheel. She grew up learning to drive on a farm, and somehow got into the habit of driving with both feet, which (to this day) drives me nuts.

The best thing about learning to drive today vs. 25/15/10 years ago is that you have a cell phone with you - that's a pretty nice security blanket, when you are out there, especially the first time. (Just stay off of it when you are driving!)

The thing to remember is you are the first one driving out there - just look at all of the people a lot dumber than you who got it handled. :smile:

Have fun & congrats!

KOP/Curtoid

[ChrisTheCop]

Being afraid of hitting other cars is a GOOD thing.

Parallel parking really isnt as hard as they make it out to be. See if you can just do it without memorizing the dance moves.

Same with the 3 point k-turn.

My Grandma taught me how to drive in a cemetery. I guess she figured I couldnt kill anyone twice. She's buried there now. My driving had very little to do with it.

[keithy_19]

Also, don't do 90 in a 55, right keithy?

I would say go faster.

[FUNKMAN]

congrats and good luck!

rememeber, keep an eye on the speed limit signs and try not to go more than 9 mph over the limit

[Contra]

The blind spot thing is big, ALWAYS check them before switching lanes or backing up! I almost got into some nasty accidents because of not checking my blind spot when I first started. I did back into someone who was trying to sneak around me. I checked my mirror's but not my blindspot, so check'em!

[Duke]

well i got my permit today. My driving has improved a lot although i tend too go around curves to fast.

[Duke]

well i got my permit today. My driving has improved a lot although i tend to go around curves too fast.

[Jujubees2]

well i got my permit today. My driving has improved a lot although i tend to go around curves too fast.

Congrats. And don't worry about the curves. It'll come to you. Just relax and if you see a blue Honda Civic in your rear view mirror, get out of the way! :smile:

[Thebazile78]

well i got my permit today. My driving has improved a lot although i tend to go around curves too fast.

I still go around some curves too fast...so I provide blindfolds to my passengers.

[sailor]

i got my license just a few years ago, later in life than most. i took 4 one-hour driving classes and passed with no other time behind the wheel. it's really not that hard. (years of playing xbox and playstation racing games actually helped a lot.)

[Jujubees2]

Speaking of driving, has anyone ever heard of the "Move Over" law?

Because of the danger traffic presents to emergency workers, 43 states have passed “Move Over” laws that require motorists to move one lane over when approaching an accident or traffic stop. If it is impossible to move over, the laws require motorists to slow down to at least 20 mph under the posted speed limit.

The only states that don’t have the Move Over laws are Hawaii, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. The District of Columbia is also without such a law.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23704540/

[Justice4all]

Wow. Our little Duke is driving now. They grow up fast. :thumbup:


My thoughts exactly. I remember when he was driven to the softball game by his mom. They brought the dog too.

Now he can make it to the games by himself soon.

Time flies.





And I feel old now.

[grlNIN]

I refused to go on the Parkway and Turnpike when i first started driving. So stick with your comfort level.

It took about 8 months for the Parkway and i didn't go on the Turnpike until i was 21. I've had 3 accidents, 2 where i was not at fault (one being a hit & run on my parked car).

You'll eventually reach a point where you'll barely even realize you're driving (as in you will be conscious of the fact but not paranoid). Driving almost becomes like an added sense.

And i can't believe you're not 9 anymore! WTF?

[Thebazile78]

Speaking of driving, has anyone ever heard of the "Move Over" law?

Because of the danger traffic presents to emergency workers, 43 states have passed “Move Over” laws that require motorists to move one lane over when approaching an accident or traffic stop. If it is impossible to move over, the laws require motorists to slow down to at least 20 mph under the posted speed limit.

The only states that don’t have the Move Over laws are Hawaii, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. The District of Columbia is also without such a law.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23704540/

Yes, they were featured in AAA World magazine recently.
(http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/aaaworld/) (view the current issue and skip ahead to page 18 in the PDF)

Many of these laws are passed with the intervention of AAA members.

[Jujubees2]

Yes, they were featured in AAA World magazine recently.
(http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/aaaworld/) (view the current issue and skip ahead to page 18 in the PDF)

Many of these laws are passed with the intervention of AAA members.

That's why I missed it. I switched from AAA to Better World three years ago. Better World gives you the same coverage but is much more environmentally friendly.

[keithy_19]

And i can't believe you're not 9 anymore! WTF?

He still giggles like a 9 year old when you tussel his hair though.

And I have still yet to drive on the turnpike. I love the parkway, and loathe roads when you go to north jersey., (ie. rt 3, 23, 10, 280, 287)

[Justice4all]

He still giggles like a 9 year old when you tussel his hair though.
And I have still yet to drive on the turnpike. I love the parkway, and loathe roads when you go to north jersey., (ie. rt 3, 23, 10, 280, 287)

"Crinkle Crinkle"

[keithy_19]

"Crinkle Crinkle"

:clap:
I LOVE when people get it.

[Thebazile78]

He still giggles like a 9 year old when you tussel his hair though.

And I have still yet to drive on the turnpike. I love the parkway, and loathe roads when you go to north jersey., (ie. rt 3, 23, 10, 280, 287)

I hate the northern Parkway (north of exit 129) because people drive like maniacs and 280 because of the potholes in the right hand lane.

Everything else, I can suck it up and deal.

Even on the Turnpike, which usually involves me wishing I had a rocket launcher and either a Sherman or Tiger tank to roll over the burned out shells of the vehicles I'd leave in front of me. (Please, for the love of God, do NOT drive on the Turnpike between the hours of 6:30am & 7:30am and 3:30pm & 4:30pm, M-F if you don't know where you're going. I will add you to my fecal roster otherwise. But, no hard feelings, OK? It's not you, it's your confidence level.)