You won't be saying that at 16 when everyone else has their license. Trust me.

Wow, I really appreciate all the encouragement and advice, guys. I just wanted to clear up that whole legal thing: I have a Learner's Permit License, which allows me to drive, but only with a certified Operator's License holder. My mom and my dad are 55 and 65 respectively and have been driving for decades, so they should more than qualify as instructors for me (Especially my mother. She's gotten a grand total of two tickets in her life, both belt related). I've questioned both my parents and my sister about the issue, and they say it's all good.

There is one thing I'm worried about. I myself am not insured on that vehicle, but according to my sister, who's done all this before, my Learner's Permit and the fact that I have an insured Operator's holder supervising me, an accident will be covered. I'm hoping she's right, otherwise I will press the issue about getting insured ASAP. Sorry for all the confusion about this stuff.

It still makes me nervous, I think about that stuff too much.

New York is actually a pretty strict state when it comes to getting your license. It's required that you take a 5 hour defensive driving course before you can even take the license test.

I'm old enough to have had my license for a while but driving scares me as well. I was actually going to post a thread about it today.

Oh yeah, I'd also like to inquire about this technique:



Does that count for full stops at intersections? I don't see how putting on the gas, braking, then putting on the gas again will feel very...smooth. I can see that being useful for sharp curves in the road, but intersections? My mother told me to "ease on the gas pedal and smoothly turn the wheel, then when you're a bit past halfway, start straightening the wheel just as smoothly".

When you eventually get your license, you really need to be insured. In my last post about my accident, I had no insurance and was EXTREMELY lucky the person I collided with agreed not to get the insurance companies involved. After that, my parents decided to keep me from driving until I got on the insurance, which I did eventually.

Just do it. All that "I'm scared" stuff flies out the window when you realize the freedom you suddenly have being able to go where you want when you want. Its a blast.

After a bit of experience you'll think nothing of it...

When I get in the car I just zone out now, it's all second nature.

Trust me, there is no way I'm getting in that car with an Operator's without insurance. If I'm covered right now with a Learner's and a supervisor/instructor, I'll worry about that when the time comes.

Note: Besides, my Learner's doesn't expire for nearly 180 days, so I have ample time to practice and get insured.

Just don't be that person that stops at a right turn where there is a merging lane and you should be good.

You don't have to hit the brake that hard to slow down. Releasing the gas pedal is also a good way of controlling your speed.

Well, I'm going out for the drive now. Wish me luck, all. I'll be back to report how it went. :cold:

Everyone feels that way, even me. I started driving 6 months ago, and believe me when you get out in traffic there are some really crappy drivers..Just be very cautious, and yield to pedestrians.

That technique works for sharp curves and for corners where you don't have to come to a complete stop (for example, making a right turn from one street to another where there's no stop or yield sign), I've found. What your mother said is true as well. For turning from a complete stop, I tend to just accelerate very gently into the turn. Obviously you need some momentum to get moving around the corner, but you don't want to just jam on the accelerator. Otherwise you'll end up in the lawn/storefront/whatever across the street.

Edit: And good luck! Hope your drive goes well.

Or in my friend's case, the other driver calls the police and you get to spend several hours in a cell.

This is true, it makes for smoother driving.

Indeed


Is that strict in the US? I had about 40 hours of driving lessons with an instructor before I got my license, though in the Netherlands there is no such thing as a learner's permit where you can practice with a guardian. I think they're considering implementing something like that though, but until that happens the only option is to take lessons with a professional driving instructor, which is bloody expensive. I think my parents spend around 2400 Euro on my driver's license, the thought turns the stomach... Though I got my first exam after just over 20 hours of lessons... But let's not talk about that unfortunate event any more

I wasn't that good a driver when I took Driver's Ed in high school (I've since learned that many schools don't teach it now; students have to pay for lessons from a commercial instructor or something). I was worried when I had to go out on the highway for example. But over the years you'll get more used to it. The way I figure it, never forget that you're driving tons of steel around -- you have to keep that respect for your vehicle and what it's capable of. Also, don't drive while angry -- it impairs your judgment and sense of how fast you're driving. Needless to say, never drive while impaired either. Anyway, good luck.

I can't really help with being scared of driving. I drove on an interstate when I was 15 with no fear at all. I starting driving long before that though. Granted it was on my very long driveway and in fields, but I still had some practice. It seemed to come natural to me, but I don't really know if that's the case for everybody. I assume not everybody gets in a car for the first time and feels completely confident after it's over.

Remember trying to learn how to ride a 2-wheel bicycle? It's almost like that, in a way. Takes time getting used to. Just remember to stay alert at all times, and let the [censored]s and lead foots go ahead of you. In ways, the right of way sometimes is determined by who is in the most of a hurry. Don't try to beat these people out, even if you do have the right away.

Also, for the love of Bilbo, left lane fast, right lane slow. If you're going to go slow on the highway, get in the [censored] slow lane and stay there!

Yeah, driving is definitely a bit scary at first. It just means you're sane. I mean, after al, you are now in control of a massive vehicle that, should something go wrong, can harm or kill someone.

You get used to it. I grew up in a small town, no major cities nearby. I still get a little freaked when in a new area. That said, rural freeway driving is probably the easiest and most relaxing driving ever. All cars going the same way, same speed, no pedestrians, etc.

If you really get freaked out, just wait until a blizzard. Once you drive in a blizzard, regular driving is nothing

If your friend was driving drunk, uninsured or in another way being a danger, then he got what he deserved

No, he was just distracted and didn't brake in time.

False, you can not drive anywhere, not even on a parking lot, unless you've either got a driving instructor sanctifying it or someone else with a drivers license and you have finished the minimum required verbal and physical education (in my country that's 10 physical classes each about half an hour long and 6 verbal classes each about 3 hours long), and you have to have the other drivers name written down on a special permit and the vehicle has to be written down on the same permit.

Then again we could both be correct for the laws of our individual countries but I'm quite certain the laws in other countries are not so slack, especially in a country with more traffic than my own.

Also another little thing to add if you are under 18 then the only people who can be written down on that permit I mentioned as driving instructors are those that are legally counted as your guardians (parents, adoptive parents... etc).

But all of that is moot considering he's 21 and already has his permit. I myself didn't like getting into high speed lanes at the time but the most important thing to know is that you control your own speed, not the others. Especially on rainy days or where there is ice and snow you can easily be excused for driving a little slower, I myself have often allowed myself to drive at a speed around 65 on 80 roads (using the metric system here) when it has been rainy or snowy and even a bit slower if there is much ice and slab on the road.

No amount of angry honking should get to you, just drive at your own pace and slowly make your way up the ladder towards greater speeds as you learn how to handle them better and better. Just don't get overconfident and start speeding that is never good ^_^

That's the way I've always looked at it.

I didn't get my license until last year(I'm 21) because I was scared [censored]less of driving.

I'm still kinda scared of freeways and the like, but I've found that there are two things I've learned about driving that I wish someone had told me earlier:

1. Most of the places you drive are places that you know well. Yes, you'll need to drive places that you don't know well(if at all), but the daily drives are just that...daily. When you know the area like the back of your hand....well, it's just hard to freak out.

2. DON'T BE AFRAID TO DRIVE LIKE A GRANNY. This is the big one. Yeah, going 25 in a 50mph zone is probably going to get you into trouble, but you don't HAVE to go exactly 50. If you don't feel comfortable in an area, slow down. That guy tailgating you and cussing at you because he's in a hurry? Well, he should learn to deal with it and manage his time better next time. You don't need to speed up for him, it's your life and damned if you'll risk it because some stranger behind you is in a huff about it. Hell, at least where I live, if he rear-ends you he's the one who completely at fault. So let him rear end you. Laugh your ass off as you get a minor bump in your insurance rate and his goes through the roof.


Edit:




Not sure where Stormrider is but here in the US, at least, all you need is a learner's permit(which entails a simple multiple-choice test) and an advlt whose had a license for 4 years(or something like that) to drive on the road.