I'm 34 and finally got my driving licence and the end of May this year.
When I was in high school I looked forward to to getting my licence then at 16. But the driving instructor quit the year before, and never hired a replacement (I attended a boarding school). After I graduated I never got round to it. Too much going on in my life. I also became increasingly nervous about driving as well. I walked and bicycled often and used local public transit for longer journeys and in foul/extreme weather. Due to recession, the local public transit started cutting services and routes, whilst at the same time increasing fares. Also, I was finding places I wished to go, more and more moving away from areas on or close to a bus line.
Making a long story short I finally decided to go about getting a licence. I went to the BMV and got a manual. I read it through and the next day sat the written exam for a permit, I passed missing only two (on one query I marked right when I meant to mark left). My father then instructed me toward a licence. Finally after some delays (due to my parents schedule) I scheduled and took the driving exam with an examiner. I passed. I also noted she made few comments on her paper she had with her.
About a week later I was driving my fathers very light weight pickup when I turned a corner (slowly, I'll add) and the truck slid. I turned into the slide so as to correct and just as I almost had it, it fishtailed and before I could correct again.... BOOM! in to a very large utility pole I went. I made it out, but the medics still wanted me to go to hospital to be examined. I was fine, but the pickup was a loss. In early July I got a new car (Ford Taurus). I love it and it is such a pleasure to drive in it.
I like driving, except I get really nervous on major interstates like I-465 (a beltway around Indianapolis), and I-70 which crosses through Indy. I also get nervous turning across very busy 4 lane roads with fast moving traffic. I'm not the worlds fastest at turning (I'm cautious). Unless it is absolutely essential I just don't drive the interstates or busy roads (unless I know I don't have to turn across the traffic). The downside to this is it uses a little more petrol and adds some time to travel.
My refusal to go on interstates has irritated a few people who I was supposed to follow as they thought it was ridiculous to go the long way through town. He told me "You need to get with it and used to it as that is the way most people go, and will expect you to as well. Also, there are going to be times when you don't have no choice, and you can't always expect people to go out of the way through town all the time because the interstate make you nervous. Also, sometimes you'll get directions from some one or place, and more often then not, they'll use interstates." For the record, yes, I have driven on the interstate, and fairly safely at that, but it is just unpleasant and annoying. I'm also not great at switching lanes. I've had more than my share of honks and birdy gestures. Also, after the accident, I'm a bit nervous about driving in winter (snow, icy), especially if I have to stop suddenly at an intersection and my car slides a bit forward to far. Yes, I plan to go slow, but still.
Also, I go exactly the speed limit posted. I have discovered it tends to irritate some people. My father explained that most people go on average five to sometimes 10 mph over. He further explained it is taken by the general populace not so much literally but as a general guide, so to say, except most slow down when a known policeman is in the vicinity. He strongly suggested I try and follow the flow more so than the literal speed limit. Probably an AS thing, but still.
Anyway, I am now amongst the drivers of the world.
PS- Just realised how lengthy this post is, I didn't intent to author a novel. Sorry.
13 Jun 2010, 1:48 am
