Following directions and driving

Post Reply New Topic

Every time I need to drive somewhere new, my parents have to make really simplified directions for me, then we have to talk through them completely. Last time I drove somewhere new, I thought I was going the wrong way and had to call home multiple times. And when I following directions I can't keep track of what the speed limit is at the same time. Does anyone have any tips?

I don't have trouble with the driving part - only the following directions part.

I actually found mapquest written directions and the visual map helpful. I map my route in advance. The written directions are usually in the car with me but i'm pretty good at following these becasue they use the cardinal directions - not left/right as much.

Take Route 00 north until you reach local route 99. take Route 99 East.

For some reason I can easily remember these directions but left/right directions will lose me everytime. Landmarks are a huge part of my local navigation skills. I always ask for landmarks, especially at turns. Visual navigation is definitely my friend.

I have a GPS that speaks-its not a perfect solution but it has come in handy and can be a big help-I get frustrated and distracted in cities very easily and with one way streets and people walking in front of me a lot it gets very overwhelming so a GPS has helped me out as it knows what direction you are travelling and knows which way the street runs.

this is kinda hard for me too, if i go somewhere new, i either got someone who knows the route sitting next to me to give directions when i need them (take the next right), or i drive using a GPS device giving the same commands.
both the GPS and the person next to me are easy to follow as you only get one 'command' at a time, and both instantly tell you if you are going wrong.

I second draelynn on the importance of landmarks. I am not comfortable with abrupt moves and therefore I need to know what I will be seeing as I approach intersections where I need to turn. That way I'll have plenty of time to get over. If I don't have this information I may realize only at the last minute that I need to turn, and, choosing safety over the directions, sail on by. Then I create what is probably a more dangerous situation trying to turn around. So for me, the more visual details I have in advance, the better.

I lived in Minneapolis for a year. When I moved there, I knew the city like the back of my hand after a week, just by getting around on foot and by bus, exploring. And yet I was utterly clueless when someone gave me directions to get somewhere. If you tell me that the destination is 231 Whatever Street, near the intersection of Something Avenue, I'll have trouble getting there, but if you tell me that it's next to the library or the bridge or whatever, I know exactly how to get there.

I'm terrible with this. I use google maps. I can't use the directions from them. I have to work out the directions from the map and I try to keep it as simple as I can.

When i was a kid I got lost in my own backyard. It was only 5 acres, half wooded.

For me nothing helps me better than maps. I've tried using GPS but I really don't like the voice telling me what to do! When I get written directions from somebody usually kind of look at my printed maps or google maps and kind of familiarize myself with the roads around the area, general distances, etc. This way I can have a map in my head of where I'm going. I also always have a notebook that I take around with me, when it comes to street-level directions I usually just hand draw a little mini-map showing the roads I need to use. I just find taking written information like that and turning it into something visual really helps me find my way. It is worth a try, next time you have some written directions to follow draw a mini map of the actions you have to do... it might help (plus if you do it in a notebook you have a bunch of awesome maps too look back on later).