I have a slight phobia of driving that I am slowly getting over, I would like the process to be independent from my family, and it may seem simple but the task is very daunting for me and I’ve put it off for almost 6 years now.
I would like advice with getting my drivers permit, License, and ultimately a car by this time next year
r/Advice
Comments
It’s good to be afraid of driving, it’s dangerous and you should be very safe. But if you’re under 18, there’s no way to really do it without getting your family involved. You’ll need parental signatures for your lessons and to do the drive test. If you’re over 18, you can do it all independently but you still need to get the experience and learn how to drive first too.
Don’t let other drivers bully you!!
I think people are going to need some more background if you want helpful advice. Where do you live? The laws can vary quite a lot. Are you asking how to come up with the money to buy one? Are you asking about insurance or driver’s ed? Do you have someone who can be your driving instructor while you have only your permit? I don’t mean to overwhelm you. I just don’t know where to start.
Look around for instructors and go to one rated highly or perhaps has been in business a long time. This will help get you past any anxiety. Its not good to be worried, it will distract. Just read your manual and find a good teacher.
I had that issue kind of terrible since I grew up in NYC hell of a place to throw someone inexperienced behind the wheel !
my dad taught me a few things actually know where all cars are at all times around you and anticipate what they’re going to do .
As a child my dad played this game with me. I didn’t know about directional signals I was just a young observer of the highway. But I could tell when a car was gonna take a right or left in front of me. I could tell when a car coming up behind kind of fast and a car in that lane in front of them they were going to try to get in our lane and maybe hit us cause they were coming up from behind fast and the other lane and it wasn’t an open lane. Anyway, I knew when a car was gonna change lanes !!
I learned when you can see a car behind you, but then can’t. It’s probably your Blindspot. I learned a lot about blind spots. My dad also took me to a big parking lot and told me they were the most dangerous places in the world to drive even more dangerous than the streets of New York City and the reason for this is because people in parking lots do not follow rules to anticipate !
They go zipping and zagging through all the Marked parking slots and not staying in the driving lane areas!
It was also testing the parking lot out in the winter with ice in the snow.
I took all the lessons i could with my dad and he was a very patient teacher!
in the end. I decided to take drivers Ed I took three separate drivers at classes unfortunately it took me four separate driving test to get my drivers license it really did . I had an issue the first time I drove over a curve, ! with the second test, I couldn’t parallel park parallel park! So so I practiced I trained. I am incredibly proficient in parallel parking now the tightest little spot I can parallel park quickly no readjustment zip zip!
The paid professionals at drivers Ed or through school programs for drivers Ed. You don’t have that feeling you have with your family because you’re paying them. They’re providing a service they even provide the car for your road test and in some cases they even give you the road test so take your time Get practice.
Find a comfortable place maybe away from any traffic learn how to back up. Learn how to back up into a parking spot maybe something that has nothing but the lines nothing next to it nothing behind it no other traffic and just keep practicing and that is what’ll give you confidence and always know where every other car is on the road That is anywhere near you if you saw two cars behind you where are those two cars now if you saw a car pull out of a parking spot or a store as you’re driving by where did it go?
Become aware as a passenger where are the other cars mentally are , play the game that my dad played with me know where the cars are and what they are going to do!
Take a Driver’s Ed course. That will help build your confidence.
I was in the same boat as you around your age. Best advice I can give you is to get as much drive time as you can. I’m not saying it won’t necessarily scare you, but the more experience you get now, the better you can deal with things as they pop up.
You just sort of have to dive right in. One piece of advice that I got that really helped me, was being careful about what time you schedule your driver’s test. 10:30 in the morning seems to be the best time. After rush hour and before lunch hour.
I failed my first test because no one had taught me to look over my shoulder when I changed lanes. I got my first ticket because nobody had also taught me that I have to stop at the corner before I turn right, if the light is red.
I was scared to get on the freeway when I began driving, because it just seemed so overwhelming and uncontrolled. No street lights, and everyone going so fast and zooming around each other. Then one day I was out driving, and I was forced to get on the highway, because the street eye was on suddenly ended and became a highway. This was Artesia in Los Angeles. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. After that, I got used to it.
I would be happy to teach you to drive, but I don’t know if you live anywhere near me.
One of the most important things is to never trust other people’s driving. A lot of people think they won’t get in an accident because they are a good driver, but that doesn’t stop other people from being bad drivers, all around you.
One of the best pieces of advice is that when a light turns green hesitate for a moment, and look both directions to make sure someone is not running a red light right in front of you. This could save your life.
Also, always keep an eye on the person behind you, and don’t stop suddenly if they are too close to you. They could easily rear end you, if you don’t give them ample time to react to you stopping.
Also, when you are sitting at a crosswalk and ready to proceed, looking for oncoming traffic in a particular direction, take a moment and look the opposite direction for incoming pedestrians. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought it was clear to go, and a pedestrian comes walking righ out in front of my car from the other direction, just as I am about to hit the gas. Pedestrians are responsible for making sure that drivers are aware of them. But unfortunately, since they know they have the right of way, they sometimes behave as if this rule provides some type of impenetrable barrier. It doen’t. 🙄
Be prepared for people that might get angry at you while you are driving. Maybe watch some videos on how to avoid getting caught up in someone else’s road rage. No matter how hard you try, there will be people that may get frustrated with you and there will be times when you might get frustrated with other drivers. Just give grace, and hopefully the universe will give you some in return.