Drivers ED

[SilentHope33]

 So recently, I've been taking drivers Education and it's been pretty hard so I wanted to pick some of your guy's brain of drivers ED or driving in general. What is the best thing about driving, what's the worst thing about driving and what's one thing you think you can improve on your driving skills?

[tertiaryapocalypse]

personally i think driving affords me a lot of freedom! i still live with my parents, but when i can drive somewhere (typically school) it's a nice time that's really truly to myself. it's also a really good opportunity to listen to music ever-so-slightly more attentively than i usually do. i live in a big city & it's REALLY difficult to find parking, though, especially since i commute to our downtown area. side streets are always a good bet though, as long as you're allowed to park there.

i did drivers ed as a minor & it was pretty much the worst, and i think it's even more difficult over 18? at least in the states. the course i took was really unengaging. that being said, a lot of the technical aspects that i remember learning about (tire changes, sort of the 'anatomy' of the car) aren't things i was quizzed on & can be found online! so if there's anywhere to pay less attention to, it might be there. one thing that you definitely do want to remember is the exact blood alcohol percentages. i'm not sure if this'll apply for you, since driving laws/the process to attain a license differ from place to place, but just my two cents!

[Gans]

Even if it's just for driving the moving van every two years, it's still useful to have a driving license. That piece of paper still translates to independence. It's also a good trump card in business.

How to not get rusty... have no fear to get behind the wheel, when an opportunity arises.
How to have an easier start... practise the basics in a real car before having the first driving lesson. On an empty parking lot or at the countryside with friends / family.

Car companies annoy me. Too big, too powerful, as always. No Linux-like car with no-nonsense in sight. A non-rusting Citroen 2CV or a Trabant with a non-stinking engine, I hope to see those in production one day. Until then, driving cars regularly doesn't seem to be worth it (too expensive).

My driving instructor was a former armyman, certainly used to tougher situations than the average person. After a little mistake in an alley of trees (out of town), he told me:
"Look, that was your tree. Now you're dead."

That certainly helped to take driving serious.

[alexela64]

Best thing about driving is the freedom of going where you want, when you want to. I grew up in a pretty rural area, so it was incredibly freeing to not have to rely on my parents for transportation once i got my license.

Worst thing about driving is city driving IMO. I hate car-centric infrastructure, especially in places with a lot of pedestrian traffic. Not only does it put people in danger, but it causes a lot of stress to the driver.

 If i have to go to a heavily populated area for something, I'd choose public transport over driving, in all scenarios except one: if i'm traveling alone during the night (doesn't happen often but sadly driving is safer in that scenario. i try to avoid it like the plague because i hate it so much)

I wouldn't really say there's much i could improve on. I was taught to drive by a bonafide mechanic and picked up on it pretty quickly, plus I have had a LOT of practice. (not trying to brag, it speaks more to his skills than mine lmao)

If you're learning to drive, I would say the best advice is to just pay attention to everything you see on your windshield, not just the road. You never know when some idiot will do something idiotic lol 

[Swiftpaw]

I took Driver's Ed but as soon as I realized it was an option, I got an electric bike instead as an alternative to a car. I hated Driver's Ed and in retrospect it might have triggered a lot my harm OCD (I get they wanted to scare idiotic teenagers into not hitting pedestrians or getting into a wreck, but I'd get extreme violent intrusive thoughts about that happening every time I went driving).

The downside is I live in a place with some of the worst drivers in the country and have near misses almost every time I go out whether biking or walking. It's made me fairly bitter towards cars and car based infrastructure. I still love both biking and walking and feel like it makes me enjoy going out more.

[BlazingCobaltX]

Best thing about driving is accessibility, and it can be fun when the roads aren't challenging. Worst thing about driving is all the stress that comes with it. Watching out for others, shitty weather conditions, making sure you don't accidentally ruin your car, parallel parking. Oh, and it exhausts my bad knee. I had real bad anxiety while learning to drive and I was shocked when I passed at my first exam.  

That said, not learning how to drive was not an option. I built it up by taking two-minute drives to the local gym just to get used to the whole thing. Now I am at a point where I don't mind driving a car (until I have to find parking), but for most destinations I prefer taking public transport even if it can be less convenient at times.

[SilentHope33]

Totally, I'm still learning how to drive and its been fun!! But it's also hard too.

[bingus_baby]

Driving is an invaluable skill to have. Everyone will have to drive a car at some point, and having an ID is also important to have. (For travel, work, etc.) Better to get a license than a normal ID. Two birds with one stone if you ask me. At least in the US. If you’re going to the DMV, make it worth it. That place is a nightmare.

Driving tips, checking every mirror is hard at first since it’s a lot to keep track of, but it gets easier with time. Don’t adjust them while driving. It’s safer to wait for a stoplight.

When I started I really wanted to have one foot on each pedal, this is BAD. It also gets easier with time, but don’t do it. It’s bad for the car!

When in doubt, be too careful rather than too risky. Almost every day I almost get hit by someone trying to worm into traffic rather than waiting for a safe break in the road. If you want to turn and the cars keep on coming, it’s better to wait than to assume someone will let you in.

If you can’t see the bumper on the car in front of you, you are too close. No exceptions. Give them some space. On a related note, don’t tailgate. In most places it’s a crime, plus it pisses everyone off. Don’t do it.

If you aren’t over the speed limit, stay out of the left lane. (If you are in the US.) People will be rude to you, and this ruins the flow of traffic. (Unless you need to turn left soon, then it’s okay.)

If you are stopped in the middle of the road or think something may be wrong with your car, hazard lights on, get in the right lane if applicable. This blinks the blinkers and lets other cars know that something is wrong and to go around you. If the car is feeling sick, I’m sure it’ll want a bit of space until it feels better.

Lastly, car washes have free vacuums. (At least where I live!) So if your carpets get dirty, you can get your car washed, inside and out!! And some places have free coffee which is cool. It’s not good, but it’s free. If you get a car, or even just drive someone else’s, maintenance is important. A clean car is a happy car. Mine is old and nasty, but you bet I take care of it. If it dies tomorrow, it’ll die happy. And for repairs, local shops are generally a better choice, but it’s ultimately up to reviews online. Older, established places are best as they’re usually run by seasoned mechanics. Pep Boys is fine, but might not have the best quality fixes and end up costing more in the long run.

I could go on, but Melon might establish a word limit if I don’t shut up soon. I wish you luck, and hope I helped a bit.

[nintendowii99]

The best thing about driving is the freedom that comes with it, as everyone else has said. As an adult who never learned to drive (I grew up on a tiny island...it just wasn't necessary), there's a lot of things in life that I am restricted by. Jobs have to be within walking/transit distance, grocery shopping is more difficult, you can never really just "get out of town." Nowadays though, my wife has her car so I don't really have those issues. I want to learn to drive, it's just difficult to make time for as an adult.