Driving is...

[imabrat]

way harder than it looks. It's going to be a longggggggggggggggggg time learning how to drive. Any tips? I'm surprised I'm not in a ditch right now, my turns are that bad.

 

[PigletGurl]

When turning, cross your hands, and keep one hand on top, always, don't keep them both at the bottom, as that is the usual tendency. Don't place your hands too close together, or turns will be harder to achieve. For changing lanes, look in the side view mirror, then turn ur head back to cover your blind spots (not viewed in mirror), then accelerate slightly or lift foot off accelerator but never brake! Try to keep about at least half a car of a distance when driving. That's all I have for now.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

It'll get easier! Just keep at it.


As for turning, listen to what Wanda said. Also, follow the curb. If the curb turns softly, turn the wheel softly. If the curb has a sharper turn, then turn the wheel sharper. That's why my driving instructor told me.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Don't cross your arms in an X formation; its the worst possible mistake you can make, as you're locked in the turn. Rather, when you're turning the wheel, one hand goes to the bottom and switch the other to the top. That'll take a few tries.

My turns still suck, but it comes with practice. Slow down before you enter a turn, and make sure you're able to clear it if other cars are around. Once you turn, make straighten the wheel and accelerate. That should happen very quickly.

Also, for reasons of etiquette, put on your blinker before you slow down to turn.

 

[cindys_castle2011]

Just RELAX!

When I first started driving, I was always so tense that my neck would be sore the next day.

Just take a deep breath, and go at your own pace.

I learned to drive on backroads so it didn't matter how slow I went.


Just relax is the best tip I can come up with. Don't stress about it, as long as your confident in yourself than nothing will go wrong.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Sonya, whatever you do, don't drive with your arms in an X.
The safest way to drive is at 2 and 10 (like as in a clock) and street hand over hand.

Don't be stare at the another car while turning, trying to avoid it. When you do that, your car tends to steer towards it.

Anyways, driving gets so much easier.
Are you driving standard or automatic?

 

[Babyjustrun]

Safe following distance is easier to figure out when the car in front of you passes a landmark, and you start counting seconds until you pass it. If you're less than 2 seconds behind it, you're too close.

 

[CrazySteph]

Before I started driving.. I kept saying "I just want to do well." and everyone told me "Practice makes perfect" but I never believed them lol

but it really does! I mean, yeah, I got into a car accident.. and that was just an unfortunate event from ice. but I mean, practice really does make perfect!! You get better every time you drive. it'll get easy I promise!

Now i'm to that point where i dont want to drive anymore lol

 

[Sparx]

are you driving a manual or automatic? my driving advice hinges on that. lol

 

[Sparx]

i just read the whole thread.

keep at least a car lenght going 30-40, and then go more after that.

when i would commute to and from work, i drove about seventy for thirty minutes, and i wouldn't get within three car lenghts from the cars infront of me. going that speed if a car stops, i would not have had a chance to put on my breaks and we would both have probably died.

one piece of advice i have is about your mirrors. your passenger side mirror kindof really has no point. yes, you can look to your left lane, but you can do that just as well with your rear view. point it to the ground. trust me. you can use it to park, look at lines on the ground, and make sure you know where your car is in the road. keep your drivers side mirror pointed a little outward, so you can see things behind you and if things are coming around you (like cars passing you)

 

[imabrat]

Automatic.

 

[PigletGurl]

I wasn't crossing ( i dont really know how to explain this crossing thing, but its not actually an 'X') my arms for my turns, so my instructor told me to do so. It makes your arms more versatile for turning, and u turn faster, so i've noted. You just have to know the right way to do it.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I wasn't crossing ( i dont really know how to explain this crossing thing, but its not actually an 'X') my arms for my turns, so my instructor told me to do so. It makes your arms more versatile for turning, and u turn faster, so i've noted. You just have to know the right way to do it.

I know what you are talking about.

Like if you're turning left. You start turning the wheel to the left, then you're left hand goes to the top of the wheel while you're right hand is on the bottom. It's not an X. My instructor told me to do the same thing.

 

[KidGoofy]

Relax...my instructor was a jerk to me. I was never able to relax but somehow still got my permit. When I got my license I only practiced for a week before getting my license. But I relaxed and got really good. Just dont get extremely cocky and think you are better than you are...those are the people that get into accidents. And for every 10 MPH's stay 1 car length back...like if you are going 60 stay back 6 lengths.

 

[PigletGurl]

I know what you are talking about.

Like if you're turning left. You start turning the wheel to the left, then you're left hand goes to the top of the wheel while you're right hand is on the bottom. It's not an X. My instructor told me to do the same thing.

Exactly. I was doing it the wrong way, without crossing, and it always took me forever to make a turn.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Exactly. I was doing it the wrong way, without crossing, and it always took me forever to make a turn.

I rarely turn like that anymore. I usually just use one hand. I think it's easier.

 

[PigletGurl]

I rarely turn like that anymore. I usually just use one hand. I think it's easier.

haha yeah my dad does it with one hand, but thena gain i havent driven a whole lot, ive only been driving for 1 year and 1/2. i enjoy being the passenger and not having to be aware of my surroundings lol

 

[BabyPiglet]

It'll get easier! When I first started driving, I only drove on this little street near my dad's office. I was sooo scared to go on a 'real' street! Practice makes perfect; it WILL get easier!

Please make sure there is a safe distance from any approaching cars before you make a turn. I cannot tell you how many times I've had to slam on the brakes when some random car pulled out in front of me!

Also, slow down on curves. Basically, when you first start driving on curves, you need to take it really slowly so you don't drift into the other lane or lose control. It's really easy to do if you're making your turns to fast!

Uhm...turning signals. It's such an annoyance when people don't use them. Always be checking your mirrors, always keep your attention on driving when you first start. Don't take a drink or talk on the phone or whatever, just drive.

 

[PigletGurl]

Ehh, I still get scared when I drive, but I try to stay calm, always. I have to drive tomorrow for 2 straight hours on the 'big' roads @ 60 mph. -shudders- oh well haha
I just imagine myself in a video game, that usually works for me.

Just think of a happy place, haha.

 

[imabrat]

I was fine on the actual driving in a straight line part. (Only, I needed to watch my speeding a bit. ) But when it was the turns, the car was all over the place. I'd drift into the left, try to get in the right, and end up on the right shoulder. The only time I made a semi decent turn was into a driveway, which was not my own. I used blinkers, looked in the mirrors (almost had a freakout when I saw someone behind me), and was able to brake slowly.