Back and a little scared...

[Stargate offline]

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't been active on the forums lately.... because real life and events on other forums interferred.... but I need some help....

I'm going to be sixteen in four months; then I'll be able to drive, and honestly I'm scared to death. My parents are always talking about how I must make the right decision, have to do the smart thing, but what if I mess up? What will happen then? They want me to take care of my little sister when we go out once I start driving. What if I can't protect her?

[LadyLucy offline]

*hugs you* hun, I was scared too when I first started driving. (ok...so my drivers ed. teacher scared me more than anything else...but yeah.)
1. Don't worry. EVERYONE messes up. I backended my neighbor's car into my own once on complet acceidnet, because I was freaking out about a choir rehersal. So, lesson number one: do NOT freak out and or get in a car while stressed. It is not a good idea.
2. Don't worry about protecting someone. Just make sure she has her seatbelt on, and that you're driving carefully, not recklessly. That's all you can do.
3. They give you a LOT of time to learn things. At my school, we took a class way before we were even alowed to TOUCH the drivers ed. car to practice. And, it's a good idea to go on practice runs with your parents or an old friend/sibling. (once you get your permit). That helps alot too.
Don't fret, hun. Everything will be fine. *hugs you again*

[Sithking Zero offline]

I had the same problem when I started driving. I wasn't so much worried I'd kill myself (though that was a big factor in my fear,) but I was more concerned that I would screw up so royally I'd kill someone else's family. The thing to do? Start slowly. Find a subdivision under construction, or in a school parking lot, and practice without other drivers on the road. Then, work your way up to smaller things, like driving to your school, or going to a friend's house. Keep working up your confidence until you're confident behind the wheel.

And don't worry, everyone gets Jitterry. I still do, but since I've only been driving about six months... yeah.

[*Star* Gazer offline]

I just rode in my car today. I drove on a HighWay. And we didn't almost crash into a tree like last time!

Um...that wasn't helpful was it?

Well, this might be basically what everyone else says, don't freak out, don't stress out and don't be scared. I nearly drove into some strangers car in a parking lot. NEARLY....

So here's my advice-

Look ahead, if your driving on any kind of road LOOK AHEAD. Watch out for animals (that depends on where you live. I'm in a country where deer like to jump out of nowhere. If you live in a city like New York well...then ignore me...I have not a clue how to drive there.) But as I was saying about looking ahead, LOOK AHEAD.

Watch for cars at all times, my dad has told me whenever theres a turn try your best to look beyond because usually you cannot not see where in the world your turning into.

Oh and pay attention to EVERYTHING...

And one more thing, don't look at your speedometer. I've been trough triaining sessions with my dad when it comes to speed. He says FEEL the car. (He's weird but it works!) Feel the transmission kick in a something else I cannot remember.


So there is my 2 cents....

[Rail Runner offline]

Stargate...everything will be ok...just relax and concentrate. These fears will disappear with time. Practice is a good thing. You can learn to feel the car. Watch for pedestrians too.

[SmackDown! offline]

Hey, You're not alone, Stargate. I was (and still kind of am) actually a little scared myself of driving. Just try not to worry about it. It's like what Virtualized STI and *Star* Warrior said, relax, concentrate, look ahead, and pay attention to EVERYTHING. It sounds hard (and trust me, I know), but once you get it, it'll be just like riding a bike.

[*Star* Gazer offline]

Lucky you I can't even ride a bike am I'm almost 18...O_O I think there is something wrong with me...

SO hope you do okay StarGate!

[Jazzy Josh offline]

All I can say is to ask your parents to chill out. Putting so much stress on you might make you have an accident because you are directing your focus on them instead of the road. Other that that, never let your guard down. Yesterday me and my mom were in a rollover.

Freaking wrecker bent the axle too.

[Rudger offline]

How is that possible? did he tie the other end of the car to the guard rail or what?
anyways...
You'll be fine, I'd like to know what kind of 'tard parent puts their daughter in the car with a new driver, but that's me. I can't really offer you any advice because driving comes naturally to me, I've been around cars and trucks all my life and driving's in my blood. I can offer reasurances though, and my reasurance is that NOBODY is as bad a driver as they think they are. It actually helps some people to think that they suck at driving, it makes them work harder to be better, it's when you think you've got it down pat that cockiness get's in the way and causes accidents. My friend attemted to drive with his knees while high, he doesnt have a licence anymore.