And she wonders why I'm afraid to live to my nickname.

[Plaidman]

FUN fact of Plaidman's past. His entire life he has gone by his nickname. Up until fourth or fifth grade, he thought it was his real name. His entire family calls it from aunts/uncles/grandparents/cousins/parents etc etc etc. Plaidman was originally suppose to be named BLAH. However, cousin was already named BLAH. Cousin was 4 at the time, and he made a cute remark the day I was born.

"Nah, I'm that name. We'll just call him The Driver".

So yeah, that was my name growing up. It was a very popular name to have nicknames to, like Screwdriver, DrunkDriver, etc etc.

At my age, I still don't have a license. I'm really scared to drive, scared I might hit someone, scared I might not stop in time for a red light, and such. No-one understands that fear, saying it's easy.

BUT... they didn't have a mom or a sister like I do.

My mom takes me to work alot. She feels guilty if she doesnt. So I pay for gas. Everytime with out fail, mom will find a way to scream rather horrible names at people. Because they drive too slow, even if its because they stop for someone crossing the light. She belives that the posted speed limit is the minimal to drive. So if someone is going 35 in a 35 MPH zone, she just starts yelling. To hurry the F up. Why the F is he driving like an idiot. They better turn at the next light or so help her.

My sister is the same way. She yells and screams at people for doing what I'm pretty sure are legimiate cases of driving. If thats how my family reacts, then I hate to run into a real pissed off person when I'm still learning. because I know I'll go slow. I know I will make many mistakes. But they all think I should live up to my name. But I just. Gah. Hearing those, I don't want to be on the receiving end of one of those, to get pulled out of my car and beaten because I didnt go 50 in a 20 school zone.

[AriGriffin]

I'm almost 23 and I don't have a driver's license. I have gotten a permit, but I don't drive. I'm terrified that I am going to loose control, get into a wreck, and either severly injure or kill someone. I never took driver's ed. I got the permit after reading that little instruction booklet the DMV gives out and by my aunt yelling at me about driving.
My Mom has tried to teach me out to drive- even taking me out into the country where there aren't that many cars on the road. The second time in the country, she told me to turn into an empty church parking lot. Before the turn, I hit the signal and accidently slammed on the brakes- nearly causing the guy in the truck behind me to crash in to me. I managed to pull into the parking lot and the guy followed, cussed me out, and sped off. I've been scared to drive ever since.
I get all kinds of flack from my family about not driving. I'm trying to get over it and drive. Now I am scared I'm going to wreck Mom's car (only car). Plus if I ever do get my driver's license, the insurance is going to go through the roof for a few years due to me being a new driver.

[Nashida]

God forbid I ever get stuck in front of your family, Plaidman. I'm such a goody two-shoes driver I'd probably give them all aneurysms if they got stuck behind me.

[Erin]

I didnt get my license until about a week before I turned 23. (I'm 40 now)

My mom was tired of driving me to work, I was tired of having to wait for her to pick me up...and my getting my license when I did, really really ticked off my older sister, who didnt have license yet either. (she's 2 1/2yrs older than me)

If I had known how much fun it was going to be to watch my sister learning how to drive, I would have gotten my license a bit earlier.

My poor dad tho, I think he wanted to have barf bags in the car with him when he was teaching her how to drive. She was one of those people who kept her left foot on the brake while pressing the accelerator with her right.

I had a blast, watching from my bedroom window (my sister didnt want anyone watching her learn) as my sister was backing the car out of the driveway and nearly hitting the neighbor's garage door ACROSS the street when she gunned the engine in reverse. (neighbor sat on her porch laughing her ass off watching) Too bad I didnt have a video camera back then. I could have posted it to youtube.

My sister did that at least two times that day. It took her months to learn to drive (took me days, and I learned stick shift first...she was learning on an automatic) and she's still a sucky driver.

I was a speed demon for the first couple of years, and then settled down and now I'm one of those annoyingly safe drivers who doesnt like to speed (much)

[Stormraven]

I'd probably give your mom and sibling actual fits. I generally go no more than 3 mph over the limit - but if someone's too close behind me, I will slow down. Generally to the limit exactly, though in egregious circumstances, I'll slow to about 5 mph below.

[Seshat]

Hire a patient professional instructor.

As I've said many times before, my father was a driving instructor. His teaching car had pedals in the front passenger seatwell. He could drive as well from either side of the car (leaning over to grab the wheel).

Whenever there was a student driver in the car, he was ultimately the one in control. He'd let the student make as many non-critical mistakes as they needed to, to learn. But if there was an actual risk of collision, he was perfectly capable of dealing with it.

He taught road courtesy as well as vehicle handling. It is his firm opinion that you need BOTH to be a safe driver.

For those of you like AriGriffin, worried about wrecking a vehicle: a professional instructor will minimise that risk (and be insured against it).

For those worried about people like Plaid's mother and sister: a professional instructor can help prevent you becoming a person like that, and can also help you learn to recognise when you're around another driver like that and react appropriately.

My advice, btw? Let them pass you. It's much safer to have them in front of you where you can keep an eye on them until they speed out of range, than behind you.

[Dasota]

I have been allowed to be behind the wheel of a car only a handful of times (I'll be 22 in March) mostly for playing car shuffle, though twice I was taken to my high school parking lot, once with my Dad, which ended in me crying and walking home, and the other time was in a brand spankin new Nissan with a friend of mine. That was the 1st time I ever went above 25mph.

Other than that, no idea how to drive. I have a few issues telling my right from my left, more than just the usual blonde moments at times, makes braking and accelerating fun Almost hit a curb pretty good when I was in the Nissan.

I am so nervous about learning how to drive. Not to mention I live in the North East, we get snow, and we get real winters. Snow and ice and me? Yeah we already don't mix.

Ugh.

[telecom_goddess]

I'm 44 and I've never had a license, never had a car, don't drive. I don't depend on other people getting me to work and back, I just use public transportation. I don't drive because I'm scared to. Same reasons as other people have listed...I'm scared of hitting something or someone, and I just don't think I would be good at it.

I think people are too dependent on their cars for every little thing.

[Chrismor]

I'm 44 and I've never had a license, never had a car, don't drive. I don't depend on other people getting me to work and back, I just use public transportation. I don't drive because I'm scared to. Same reasons as other people have listed...I'm scared of hitting something or someone, and I just don't think I would be good at it.

I think people are too dependent on their cars for every little thing.

I would have been of the same opinion about being dependent on cars up until, well, last week, when I started learning to drive. At this point, if public transport will get me there without much hassle, it wins, but I can also see the many benefits of having a car.

[XCashier]

Hire a patient professional instructor.
<snip>
For those of you like AriGriffin, worried about wrecking a vehicle: a professional instructor will minimise that risk (and be insured against it).

For those worried about people like Plaid's mother and sister: a professional instructor can help prevent you becoming a person like that, and can also help you learn to recognise when you're around another driver like that and react appropriately.

Absolutely. Having a parent teach you is free, but they're too close to the situation and likely to freak out at you too often. You don't need that stress added on to learning to drive.

A professional instructor is not related to you, is neutral, has controls on his side of the car and is very patient (has been there and done that many, many times). It'll cost money but it's worth it to learn from a professional.

I did that, and I've been complimented on my driving ability many times.

[Food Lady]

I didn't learn to drive until I was 28, almost 29. Previously I was afraid and couldn't afford a car. We had ok public in CA, but here in WI you pretty much need a car, or snowshoes.

[tollbaby]

I didn't learn to drive or get my license until I was 30. I was PETRIFIED of learning to drive. A friend taught me how to basically operate a stick shift, we went driving a few times, then I signed up for driving lessons.

It SEEMS scary at first, but if you practice in the country and then get an instructor in the city, it's a piece of cake. They'll never let you get in over your head (choose an agency where they have "instructor" cars - the ones with the extra steering wheel & pedals). But the freedom... oh, the absolute FREEDOM of being able to drive YOURSELF around... of being able to go on a road trip if you want... of being able to LEAVE if you want to. It's priceless. I would never EVER give it up.

Give it a try Take a lesson with an instructor. Most driving schools will allow you to take one or two lessons for a reasonable fee before you sign up for the whole class. (I'll confess, I only took three lessons before doing my road test, and I passed with flying colors).

[telecom_goddess]

I would have been of the same opinion about being dependent on cars up until, well, last week, when I started learning to drive. At this point, if public transport will get me there without much hassle, it wins, but I can also see the many benefits of having a car.

I didn't say there weren't benefits I just think some people depend on them too much and forget there are other means to get around.

[Chrismor]

I just think some people depend on them too much and forget there are other means to get around.

Tell me about it. My brother in law was joking not too long ago about how he has not been on the train (local commuter service, one every 5-10 minutes) in several years.

For me, it's been a long time if a week goes by without me being on the train.

C.

[blas]

I got my license at 16 like most kids do, out of necessity (you cannot rely on public transit around here and there is no way anyone of the working class or below can afford a cab everywhere), and I've developed some bad yelling habbits, so bad that everyone who rides with me notices and says "Stop it blas, they can't hear you!"

But what do I yell about? I scream at people for riding my ass, I scream at people weaving baskets in and out of lanes to get to work by 8 am at 7:55 and we're still 3 exits from town, I scream at people who are creeping slowly past the stop signs or red lights, suspecting they are going to cut me off....

I really do realize I need to stop it....they can't hear me and it just stresses me out and may even distract me. It's just really, really hard.