Talk about a moment of triumph. Not only did i hit only one thing but i managed to scare the crap out of myself numerous times D:. Any advice on getting started with driving would be much appreciated.
So is everyone this nervous their first time out or is it just me?
Why is it so hard to turn your first time out

.
Lets just hope that i don't drive worse then asians cause that would be really scary D:.(stereotyping FTW YOU ASIAN NOT BSIAN)
So other then the terrifying start of me running over a cable box(holy crap). It was a learning and rewarding experience.

Kohonski

United States150 Posts

January 27 2012 04:40 GMT

Dude my turning was terribad my first couple times driving. You learn how to turn pretty quickly though. Just gotta get used to be aggressive. GL bro!

Peanutbutter717

United States240 Posts

January 27 2012 04:47 GMT

I remember it feeling awkward the first time driving. I drove with my parents first. Even if you don't want to, theyve been driving for many many years and know how to drive. If your parents are older, they may even know how to drive stick, my parents and all my friends parents can drive stick

FullNatural

United States180 Posts

January 27 2012 04:51 GMT

I suggest u become part of the very small % of Americans that can actually drive stick shift. If you haven't already got a car, look into getting a 5-6 speed. Better gas mileage and longer life as well as cheaper repairs in general. Also faster.

As for driving. Anything new is scary at first. In a few months u will be doing it withought even thinking. Which is a bit scary. Thats another reason I suggest stick shift. It actually forces the driver think from time to time, thus being more aware in general. Especially of what you are asking the car to do (shift, down shift, engage a gear etc). Cars today are becoming so automated and unsafe. Idk how many times a day I see some soccer mom with a starbucks in her hand while talking on the phone at the same time.

/end rant

zOula...

United States898 Posts

January 27 2012 04:52 GMT

I remember having a hard time parking at first, and I remember spending like half an hour in the borders parking lot with my dad just parking over and over again. After like a week or two of driving you won't even think about it anymore. Weird that I've been driving for like 8 years now...it used to seem like such a big deal and now it's just another thing I take for granted. Hmmmm.....

NukeTheStars

United States277 Posts

January 27 2012 05:09 GMT

Slow down going into turns. I didn't realize I had to do that at first. I'm not sure why. Scared the crap out of my mom, though!

And always assume that everyone else on the road is a worse driver than you, which they are. Even now, just starting out, you're better at it than a lot of people. Most people don't know how to merge, or what to do at a 4-way stop, or what to do when a traffic light is not working. It's amazing. So, keep your eye on those maniacs.

tests

United States160 Posts

January 27 2012 05:11 GMT

On January 27 2012 13:51 FullNatural wrote:
I suggest u become part of the very small % of Americans that can actually drive stick shift. If you haven't already got a car, look into getting a 5-6 speed. Better gas mileage and longer life as well as cheaper repairs in general. Also faster.

As for driving. Anything new is scary at first. In a few months u will be doing it withought even thinking. Which is a bit scary. Thats another reason I suggest stick shift. It actually forces the driver think from time to time, thus being more aware in general. Especially of what you are asking the car to do (shift, down shift, engage a gear etc). Cars today are becoming so automated and unsafe. Idk how many times a day I see some soccer mom with a starbucks in her hand while talking on the phone at the same time.

/end rant

Not if you have an M3!!!

Yeah, I highly suggest getting a stick shift for your first car. Not only will it help you learn how to drive, but it will also make driving a way funner experience.

DarkPlasmaBall

United States46274 Posts

January 27 2012 05:19 GMT

Learn how to power slide, avoid banana peels, figure out which button launches the turtle shells, and press B just before you're about to spin out to avoid doing so (your car will make music).

But seriously, learn how far you need to turn the wheel to make left and right turns. Don't overturn the wheel!
Also, make sure you slow down during turns.
Find comfortable positions for your hands on the wheel too when you drive; don't grip it like you want to squeeze it to death. Relax; just stay alert.

Enki

United States2548 Posts

January 27 2012 05:39 GMT

My mom and sister took me out in empty parking lots the first few times. I think thats a good place to start since there is less shit to run into. Turning can be hard. I learned to drive on a car that needed a front-end alignment on it, took me awhile to get used to that piece of shit :S

It's like anything else though, the more you do it the better you get at it.

Vestrel

Canada271 Posts

January 27 2012 05:47 GMT

#10

My first time out driving was in a really big, empty parking lot as well. Drive some more and it gets easier.

Relax, keep your eyes open, drive safely! glglgl

Alventenie

United States2147 Posts

January 27 2012 05:52 GMT

#11

One thing you should think about is thinking ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to cross lanes of traffic to make that left turn. You should typically have a destination in mind when driving and your route should reflect what will cause you the least hassle while driving. This gets rid of a lot of issues you might run into because you put a little thought into your driving route before actually driving.

Chaggi

Korea (South)1936 Posts

January 27 2012 06:27 GMT

#12

It's more efficient for gas anad stuff if you can shift properly, and that's not even really something worth mentioning in newer cars.

I'd get a stick just purely cause it's more fun IMO to drive. But other reasons is for it being "better" than an automatic is kind of BS

Abductedonut

United States324 Posts

January 27 2012 06:37 GMT

#13

If you're ever hydroplaning, DO NOT slam on the breaks. Let go of the acceleration until you regain traction or very very lightly tap on the break. This might save your life some day!

-Kaiser-

Canada932 Posts

January 27 2012 08:23 GMT

#14

I just passed my road test today.

Don't worry about it, it's just practice. Compare it to getting used to a new mouse sensitivity. My first time out I oversteered in a turn and rode up onto the sidewalk.

slam

United States923 Posts

January 27 2012 08:56 GMT

#15

Learn how to drive stick. 1000x better than automatic.
Much more fun. It will make you much more attentive while driving even though you won't really be thinking about it (it will become second nature). You will be recognized as more badass than if you drove automatic. While driving manual you feel like you have a lot more control over the car. Also you don't need to worry about letting noobs who can't drive stick try to borrow your car.

Masq

Canada1792 Posts

January 27 2012 09:05 GMT

#16

dont you guys take driving lessons? ;p

zatic

Zurich15366 Posts

January 27 2012 09:23 GMT

#17

On January 27 2012 15:37 Abductedonut wrote:
If you're ever hydroplaning, DO NOT slam on the breaks. Let go of the acceleration until you regain traction or very very lightly tap on the break. This might save your life some day!

I almost killed a felllow TLer hydroplaning @ 230 km/h. It was completely instant, one second the road was bone dry, the next we hit a wall of water and my car starts planing. It probably took less than 15 or maybe even less than 10 seconds to regain control, but those seconds felt like minutes as we were sliding cross lanes between moving cars at over 200 km/h.

I did stay calm though and not touching the break, not steering but shifting down probably saved us. So yeah foot off the breaks if that ever happens.

Auren

United States82 Posts

January 27 2012 09:25 GMT

#18

I went:
1) Drive around in a big empty parking lot and practice turning/parking (if you do this make sure they are.. 90 degree? spots, the diagonal ones are too easy to need any practice)
2) Drive around in a big neighborhood. Practice for staying in a lane/not hitting things lol/you're going slow enough in a neighborhood that it shouldn't be too "scary". The one I used made a big loop on the outside so I never had to go out on the actual road until I was comfortable.
3) Drive to store and back, etc.

Most of it for me was simply getting used to doing it. Driving (an automatic especially) is really fucking easy so long as you're paying attention to what is in front of you. IMO it really is just a comfort thing you learn through experience.

Also, I totally agree with NukeTheStars, I assume everyone on the road is an idiot because far too often they actually are fucking retarded. One of many examples, "don't text while driving" should not have even needed to be made a law in my state because it should be so obvious that its dangerous -_- The sad fact of the matter is a lot of people don't pay enough attention while driving so make sure you never assume someone is going to stop at a stop sign, a yield sign, or they're going to turn (a lot of people forget the turn signal is on) until you see them stop and/or slow down. I've been in 3 wrecks so far and all of them were from the other person not paying attention and running into us.

btx0

Germany184 Posts

January 27 2012 09:36 GMT

#19

On January 27 2012 18:05 Masq wrote:
dont you guys take driving lessons? ;p

I'm (honestly) wondering the same thing. Would be nice if someone explained how you get your license.
For example in Germany you have to take 18 hours of driving theory and at least 8 hours of actual driving with an instructor (most people take a lot more than that) before you can even take the test, which 25% fail on their first try. Also if you take your driving test on an automatic car you aren't allowed to drive stick shift.

pStar

996 Posts

January 27 2012 09:45 GMT

#20

UK Here. you basically have to have driving lessons if you want to pass your test.

I had 12 1 hour driving lessons. And then you have to pass you rhtoery as well.

Also, how hard can it be to dirve an automatic?

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