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
1649 Views
I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 05:20:14 PM
1144 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM
1078 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 10:37:47 PM
1072 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
1161 Views
I failed my first test.
- 13/12/2011 05:49:58 PM
1265 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
1197 Views
)
- 13/12/2011 11:43:44 PM
1197 Views
13 yrs old.
- 13/12/2011 06:02:22 PM
1283 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
1179 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
1023 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
1160 Views
It must be harder to overcome that natural fear in NYC.
- 13/12/2011 06:44:28 PM
1134 Views
Isn't it traditional to fail your first test? Or is that just around here?
- 13/12/2011 08:14:01 PM
1124 Views
I wouldn't think so
- 13/12/2011 08:25:36 PM
1010 Views
It's rare to pass on the first try here. (according to driving instructor)
- 13/12/2011 09:44:39 PM
1189 Views
I know Texas talked about doing away with it because the failure rate was so low
- 14/12/2011 03:15:11 AM
1091 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
1154 Views
Oh I think most people with years' worth of driving experience be fine.
- 14/12/2011 12:27:09 AM
1278 Views
I was even rather nervous about taking lessons and failed my first
- 14/12/2011 08:30:25 AM
1236 Views
I love driving.
- 14/12/2011 03:24:59 PM
1157 Views
Me, too.
- 18/12/2011 04:31:29 AM
1059 Views
Re: Me, three.
- 18/12/2011 07:37:55 PM
1123 Views
Did you ever attend a driving school? *NM*
- 14/12/2011 05:29:33 PM
506 Views
I don't think so.
- 15/12/2011 05:22:09 AM
1177 Views
Yes, you did.
- 15/12/2011 04:44:48 PM
1076 Views
That's not a sign.
- 14/12/2011 05:29:36 PM
1120 Views
Whoa.
- 15/12/2011 07:21:52 AM
1163 Views
Fewer cars on the road. Fewer double-parked cars. *NM*
- 15/12/2011 06:25:21 PM
440 Views
Also, you can tell when there's someone around the corner, because of the headlights.
- 19/12/2011 04:18:26 PM
1111 Views
Oooh, that's a good point.
- 19/12/2011 05:17:16 PM
1230 Views
It's more pronounced and important in the countryside where there are no streetlights.
- 19/12/2011 05:51:25 PM
1218 Views
In the country there are deer
- 20/12/2011 05:53:17 AM
1096 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
624 Views
Driving tests are far harder in the Netherlands, from what I understand
- 14/12/2011 05:34:38 PM
1037 Views
don't worry i fluffed my practical test up today
- 14/12/2011 08:24:56 PM
1142 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
1054 Views
and there's no way I would have willingly gotten behind the wheel at 17.
- 15/12/2011 05:12:29 AM
1054 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
987 Views
Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
- 17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
1157 Views
- 17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
1157 Views
Re: Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
- 17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
1181 Views
- 17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
1181 Views
No. But it is true that my risk aversion coefficient is too high.
- 17/12/2011 06:49:33 PM
968 Views
Isn't learning to drive in NYC sort of like
- 18/12/2011 04:21:47 AM
1079 Views
Don't worry about it it. I'm sure you'll get over it eventually.
- 18/12/2011 09:58:59 AM
1106 Views

*NM*