driving ?

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I am going to start again. I took lessons ten years ago, and did quite well, but failed the behind the wheel test because I got too nervous. I want to take up driving and pass the test this time.

I passed my test (after the third try) about 6 months ago, but I haven't really driven since.

Bit of a waste of the insurance really.

BlueMax Bad drivers make me SO MAD!! !

I love driving- I'm wondering if the reason I 'have to go home' is because I'm too uncomfortable with the situation and may be from over stimulation as well. I frequently drive all over Southern California (Ventura to San Diego, I'm going to Anaheim today) and can't stand how a majority of people don't understand the process of merging with traffic.
I find it odd some ppl HAVE to jump in front of some one before they get off the freeway etc. I notice it a lot if I see a car jump in front of me with no room to spare (I prefer a 2 sec. following distance) and check my rear view to see, well, no one for a 1/4 mile.
I try to be proactive in selecting which lane has the biggest gap advantage to the next car, usually the slower lanes. (I attribute this to a herd mentality, "I'm in the fast lane= I'm the fastest" Yet have a half mile with no traffic in front of them and plenty backed up behind them. I even have a preferred path when driving to LA, some places are more likely to have the slow lanes empty (405N at 710 interchange, 405N just after 605N) with hardly anyone taking advantage. I challenge my self (stimming?) to select a path with the fewest lane changes, and higher sustained speeds (e.g. whatever my cruise control is set to). Cars have a simple set of rules, beware the drunks and ignoratai of the road and you'll be OK. No, I'm not wreck free, but I'm frighteningly good at avoiding idiots.

chances are i never will drive. i dont know if "sensory issues" is the correct term, but on a bicycle i have trouble judging my speed and distance to other vehicles. i distract easily someone mentioned a "backchannel". mine takes over the whole system at times. i ve always been told: look both ways before you cross, i take that litteraly. look left: okay, look right: okay, go! STOP! where did that car come from? driving would be way too frustrating for me. my mind is scatted just while sitting here, imaging me moving at 70 mph in a 3000 pound metal box with 20 gallons of explosive fuel right under my feet! *Alert, sensory overload: shutting systems down*

[quote="Beenthere"] left a few guys holding tightly onto the sissy bar above the window quote]
I always called that the "Jesus Handle"

Driving is a real source of contention for me. My mom and my fiancee (both NT) have been pushing me to drive for practical reasons (i.e. emergencies, etc.). I have more or less refused because I do not feel comfortable driving due to the amount of multi-tasking that it takes to perform this task correctly. In fact, I have only practiced in empty parking lots and on less-traveled roads to alleviate my anxiety.

Also, I have a major fear about causing an accident and the "what-if" of killing someone in that accident. Does anyone else have this fear of the unknown? Or am I delusional?

I can drive. I often find driving in low-traffic situations to be very relaxing, especially with music on. I definitely was not a good driver until about a year ago, though, and probably shouldn't have been on the road at all when I first got my license. I didn't process the patterns of traffic correctly, so I just emulated the behavior of the car in front of me - NOT a good strategy for driving, especially not at night in strange towns with stoplights in unexpected places...

Absolutly, here ya their, tho im good with maps.

I just got back from NJ, i have been gone almost 3 days for vacation, i wanted to see my old neghboorhood (i left in 1990, at the age of and everyone recognized me still... anyways...

I had to drive through philadelphia. Never have I driven through such chaos. Im not equiped for that and it was only the grace of God that I did not cause a catastraf^%#. WAYYYYY to much going on at once, I was lost for about an hr, all 1 way streets, crazy pedestrians, horribly aggressive drivers, im sooooo happy I did not cause anybodys death, or killed myself. Never will I do that again for years!! !

The drive was 375 miles their and 360 miles back. Took 6 hrs both ways, once I hit philly, it was all horrible urban driving from their on, im not used to it and it took soo much mental energy not to freak out and stay focused no matter what was happeining all around me. I did actually meltdown, first time ever while driving, i pulled over and chilled for a minute, i think ppl nearby heard my cursing and punching my steeringwheel (luckily not setting off the airbag). I had to cut my vacation down their a day early, i could no longer tolerate that kind of driving and needed to be back in farmiliar territory.

I drive to work 33 miles their and back everyday, thats nothing compaired to the driving i just experienced, im soooo glad i dont have to go do that again, next time I may end up with a distroyed car... or worse...

See my avatar. I hate driving, but I love drag racing. I like to cruise the strip on friday/saturday night but I always let my buddy drive.

Drag racing is a huge exception. I get a big thrill out of taking down more expensive cars.

i drive all the time, few times a day, usually faster than the posted speed limit, usually california stopping, usually running really late yellows, cutting people off if i have to, if only i had a driver side mirror would it be much easier

I drive, and surprisingly I'm an actually good driver. I don't drive on huge highways, its too overwhelming, with all the cars, and the noise, but other then that I do pretty good.

I can drive but only do so when the train or bus wouldn't be convenient.
It took me 4 attempts to pass the test and I eventually did it by 'systemizing'
- I learned as much as possible about how the engine,gears etc worked and
that made me feel more comfortable and in control of the vehicle.

In general I'm fairly defensive. I also usually go the speed limit too unless I'm really late for something or most of the other traffic is going above the speed limit. I'm also pretty patient with other drivers when they make mistakes. I don't get pissed if someone cuts me off by accident because they didn't see. I just use the horn enough to warn them that I'm there.

I do get pissed when other drivers are purposely being as*holes though. Like people who don't let you change lanes in traffic when you need to get to over to the exit lane.

Another thing that bugs me is when someone is following me on a two lane country road. It's usually one of those big 4x4 trucks with really high headlights that shine right into my rear view mirror and blind me. It's weird that some people just like to follow other cars. It seems like no matter how much I speed up they stay right behind, yet when there's a good place for them to pass me (straight away with dashed yellow line) they don't pass. So annoying. I usually speed up to at least the speed limit but if they still insist on being behind me I just pull over and let them pass.