I had a fair bit of driving anxiety when I started out as well. I don't think it was as bad as what you ang Ghavrel are describing, but driving by myself definitely made me nervous, and I had to take measures to calm myself down. During my driving test I was even more nervous and made some errors. The funny part is that on my second test I was even more nervous and did worse, but they passed me that time (different instructor).
After a couple years of driving on my own all the nerves and fear faded away, and since then driving has felt easy and natural to me. You gain more situational awareness the longer you drive as well, so that you know, for example, whether or not there's anyone in that next lane.
But I have never, in fairness, driven in New York City. I imagine it's not the best place to learn. I first learned on empty country roads and then a town of only 20,000 people.
After a couple years of driving on my own all the nerves and fear faded away, and since then driving has felt easy and natural to me. You gain more situational awareness the longer you drive as well, so that you know, for example, whether or not there's anyone in that next lane.
But I have never, in fairness, driven in New York City. I imagine it's not the best place to learn. I first learned on empty country roads and then a town of only 20,000 people.
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
NSSP: Driving
13/12/2011 05:15:41 PM
- 1372 Views
I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 05:20:14 PM
- 880 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM
- 840 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 10:37:47 PM
- 809 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
- 875 Views
I failed my first test.
13/12/2011 05:49:58 PM
- 1023 Views
I had to take the driving test 3 time before I passed (posted at the wrong place )
13/12/2011 11:43:44 PM
- 874 Views
13 yrs old.
13/12/2011 06:02:22 PM
- 1024 Views
Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others
13/12/2011 10:27:59 PM
- 903 Views
Re: Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others
13/12/2011 10:37:41 PM
- 765 Views
Probably just a difference in perspective. Kids sneaking a vehicle for a jor ride is pretty common.
15/12/2011 03:51:30 AM
- 894 Views
It must be harder to overcome that natural fear in NYC.
13/12/2011 06:44:28 PM
- 841 Views
Isn't it traditional to fail your first test? Or is that just around here?
13/12/2011 08:14:01 PM
- 863 Views
I wouldn't think so
13/12/2011 08:25:36 PM
- 753 Views
It's rare to pass on the first try here. (according to driving instructor)
13/12/2011 09:44:39 PM
- 918 Views
I know Texas talked about doing away with it because the failure rate was so low
14/12/2011 03:15:11 AM
- 805 Views
I wonder how many people that have been driving for years and years would fail if they had to take
14/12/2011 12:03:55 AM
- 823 Views
Oh I think most people with years' worth of driving experience be fine.
14/12/2011 12:27:09 AM
- 1025 Views
I was even rather nervous about taking lessons and failed my first
14/12/2011 08:30:25 AM
- 963 Views
I love driving.
14/12/2011 03:24:59 PM
- 887 Views
Me, too.
18/12/2011 04:31:29 AM
- 801 Views
Did you ever attend a driving school? *NM*
14/12/2011 05:29:33 PM
- 386 Views
I don't think so.
15/12/2011 05:22:09 AM
- 903 Views
Yes, you did.
15/12/2011 04:44:48 PM
- 807 Views
That's not a sign.
14/12/2011 05:29:36 PM
- 864 Views
Whoa.
15/12/2011 07:21:52 AM
- 898 Views
Fewer cars on the road. Fewer double-parked cars. *NM*
15/12/2011 06:25:21 PM
- 325 Views
Also, you can tell when there's someone around the corner, because of the headlights.
19/12/2011 04:18:26 PM
- 863 Views
Oooh, that's a good point.
19/12/2011 05:17:16 PM
- 969 Views
It's more pronounced and important in the countryside where there are no streetlights.
19/12/2011 05:51:25 PM
- 970 Views
In the country there are deer
20/12/2011 05:53:17 AM
- 861 Views
Oh yeah, forgot about those. We don't have that many left, and only up in the Highlands. *NM*
20/12/2011 10:18:41 AM
- 509 Views
Driving tests are far harder in the Netherlands, from what I understand
14/12/2011 05:34:38 PM
- 815 Views
don't worry i fluffed my practical test up today
14/12/2011 08:24:56 PM
- 892 Views
I'm older than you and there's no way I would have willingly gotten behind the wheel at 17.
15/12/2011 05:12:29 AM
- 801 Views
I found driving nervewracking until I got to do it by myself. NZ has a great system, IMO.
15/12/2011 01:48:19 PM
- 729 Views
Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
- 861 Views
Re: Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
- 915 Views
No. But it is true that my risk aversion coefficient is too high.
17/12/2011 06:49:33 PM
- 716 Views
Isn't learning to drive in NYC sort of like
18/12/2011 04:21:47 AM
- 844 Views