Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
Vivien Send a noteboard - 13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
The thing is I don't have a lot of confidence in my driving abilities and I feel like I do make mistakes. Well not just feel like it- I know so. I have less confidence in my driving than in others' driving. A driver that made a mistake would be considered at fault, right?
I'm fine being the passenger, because I trust others to be good drivers. Within reason, of course- I wear a seatbelt and I never have and never will get into a car with someone the least bit intoxicated, no matter what he says of how "totally fine" to drive he is.
I think people largely tend to be less afraid when they are in control of the situation. I don't like airplanes because I'm not the one flying them, even though I know that the pilot has way more experience than I would. I'm okay with cars; I trust myself to drive well.
So... to a certain extent, yes. I don't think people consider themselves invincible, but I think they have a degree of confidence in their capabilities. I've been in two rather dangerous situations (one of which was really entirely my fault), and I managed through a combination of skill and luck to get out of them fine. That was something of a confidence booster, ironically.
No, it helped because I actually have an anxiety disorder, so when I left the house hours earlier, I didn't give myself the time to mentally catastrophize ("What if I get into a car crash?" "What if I drive into a ditch?"
and turn myself into a wreck. Pun not intended.
I'm fine being the passenger, because I trust others to be good drivers. Within reason, of course- I wear a seatbelt and I never have and never will get into a car with someone the least bit intoxicated, no matter what he says of how "totally fine" to drive he is.
Well, just because something is more likely to happen doesn't mean that it is very likely to happen. Car accidents are highly likely, yes, but fatal car accidents not so much. And fatal car accidents in which the driver was not at fault are quite rare, really.
The only way I see myself driving is by not thinking about the consequences. I guess what I'm saying is: why isn't *everyone* scared of driving? Do they just think that nothing bad will happen to them, they're invincible?
I think people largely tend to be less afraid when they are in control of the situation. I don't like airplanes because I'm not the one flying them, even though I know that the pilot has way more experience than I would. I'm okay with cars; I trust myself to drive well.
So... to a certain extent, yes. I don't think people consider themselves invincible, but I think they have a degree of confidence in their capabilities. I've been in two rather dangerous situations (one of which was really entirely my fault), and I managed through a combination of skill and luck to get out of them fine. That was something of a confidence booster, ironically.
Your anxiety: how did leaving the house hours earlier help? Maybe you left at a time where there'd be less cars on the road?
No, it helped because I actually have an anxiety disorder, so when I left the house hours earlier, I didn't give myself the time to mentally catastrophize ("What if I get into a car crash?" "What if I drive into a ditch?"
and turn myself into a wreck. Pun not intended.
This message last edited by Vivien on 13/12/2011 at 10:52:48 PM
NSSP: Driving
- 13/12/2011 05:15:41 PM
1640 Views
I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 05:20:14 PM
1137 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM
1070 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 10:37:47 PM
1060 Views
Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
- 13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
1148 Views
I failed my first test.
- 13/12/2011 05:49:58 PM
1258 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
1187 Views
)
- 13/12/2011 11:43:44 PM
1187 Views
13 yrs old.
- 13/12/2011 06:02:22 PM
1273 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
1169 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
1011 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
1152 Views
It must be harder to overcome that natural fear in NYC.
- 13/12/2011 06:44:28 PM
1122 Views
Isn't it traditional to fail your first test? Or is that just around here?
- 13/12/2011 08:14:01 PM
1112 Views
I wouldn't think so
- 13/12/2011 08:25:36 PM
1000 Views
It's rare to pass on the first try here. (according to driving instructor)
- 13/12/2011 09:44:39 PM
1181 Views
I know Texas talked about doing away with it because the failure rate was so low
- 14/12/2011 03:15:11 AM
1079 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
1142 Views
Oh I think most people with years' worth of driving experience be fine.
- 14/12/2011 12:27:09 AM
1268 Views
I was even rather nervous about taking lessons and failed my first
- 14/12/2011 08:30:25 AM
1225 Views
I love driving.
- 14/12/2011 03:24:59 PM
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Me, too.
- 18/12/2011 04:31:29 AM
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Re: Me, three.
- 18/12/2011 07:37:55 PM
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Did you ever attend a driving school? *NM*
- 14/12/2011 05:29:33 PM
503 Views
I don't think so.
- 15/12/2011 05:22:09 AM
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Yes, you did.
- 15/12/2011 04:44:48 PM
1068 Views
That's not a sign.
- 14/12/2011 05:29:36 PM
1113 Views
Whoa.
- 15/12/2011 07:21:52 AM
1149 Views
Fewer cars on the road. Fewer double-parked cars. *NM*
- 15/12/2011 06:25:21 PM
438 Views
Also, you can tell when there's someone around the corner, because of the headlights.
- 19/12/2011 04:18:26 PM
1098 Views
Oooh, that's a good point.
- 19/12/2011 05:17:16 PM
1224 Views
It's more pronounced and important in the countryside where there are no streetlights.
- 19/12/2011 05:51:25 PM
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In the country there are deer
- 20/12/2011 05:53:17 AM
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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
622 Views
Driving tests are far harder in the Netherlands, from what I understand
- 14/12/2011 05:34:38 PM
1027 Views
don't worry i fluffed my practical test up today
- 14/12/2011 08:24:56 PM
1130 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
1044 Views
and there's no way I would have willingly gotten behind the wheel at 17.
- 15/12/2011 05:12:29 AM
1044 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
973 Views
Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
- 17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
1145 Views
- 17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
1145 Views
Re: Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
- 17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
1175 Views
- 17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
1175 Views
No. But it is true that my risk aversion coefficient is too high.
- 17/12/2011 06:49:33 PM
958 Views
Isn't learning to drive in NYC sort of like
- 18/12/2011 04:21:47 AM
1070 Views
Don't worry about it it. I'm sure you'll get over it eventually.
- 18/12/2011 09:58:59 AM
1095 Views

