Okay, so I've got a birthday coming up (YAY!), and I'm at a bit of a conundrum. You see, this year I have to learn to drive. According to my parents, I don't really have a choice in the matter... <_< I've been out driving once or twice, and seriously, it scares the... whatever... out of me. I almost go off the road every time a car comes the other way, and, and and, you know in snowy, icy, slushy, deer-infested New York, its just not cool! I even went to "car camp" last summer, but to no avail, I'm still extremely hesitant to get behind the wheel...

You know my brother was driving at like, 14... GAH! does anyone else have this problem? I mean, being able to drive would be -so- convenient, but you know, I'd rather live :unsure:

On a brighter note, lucky me, they raised the minimum wage in NY to $6.75 :D

I couldn't wait to start driving myself. My father started teaching me when I was like 8 or 9 years old. I was pretty proficient by age 12. The painful part was having to wait another 4 years til I could get my learner's permit and then another year til I could get my full license.

But your parents are right: driving a car is not optional in this country. Everything from your job opportunities to vacation travel will be severely limited if you don't drive.

Have you tried a driving school where they use dual control cars? Having an instructor with you who has a full set of controls might take the pressure off you til you get more comfortable in traffic situations.

To drive or not to drive, that is the question...

You're not alone there, Jouroo. I don't want to learn to drive, let alone get a car. Not only does it get me all nervous, cars pollute the atmosphere.

I'm planning to use a revoulutionary form of transport called 'walking'.

I'm not able to drive due to my low vision so I can't really offer much advice. My mother doesn't drive in cities or the highway but she drives in our town because it's small.

I get around fine without driving. I can just about walk anywhere here and in the city I use taxis. I get half price so it's not too hard on the wallet! My sister and I can also ride on the trains for free and I think buses as well but I've never looked into the buses.

I should learn to drive, really I should, I'm seventeen and we don't get busses in the country, but it's fairly easy to get a ride to Latrobe with my parents (they go six mornings a week, after all) and get a bus from there. But I really don't trust myself to be able to focus and concentrate on the road. Especially in a car, where I seem to daydream best. It's certainly an annoying decision to have to make.

I'm 22 and I don't have my licence yet and my brother's 25 and he doesn't have his licence. I live less than a mile off the max line and he lives in downtown Seattle, so it's not a huge deal for either of us, but I'm working on getting mine. When I'm at college I live in an apartment without a meal plan in a city so small it doesn't even have its own grocery store.

Well, I'm 15 and here in Mexico you can have a "driver permission" (it's like a driver's lisence) and i only have 5 months to learn how to drive..I like driving, but since I'm lazy........I need to learn also cuz my mom is stopping to be my Choffer...

I can't drive because I'm legally blind, but it hasn't been a problem. I can walk and use taxis to get around in town or get a lift from friends and family. Getting to the nearest city is a bit harder, but I generally go with someone else and I think there's a bus that goes there some days. So, I don't mind not being able to drive. It'll be a lot better when I get a guide dog and can get around easier.

I think my dad's trying to urge me to become a racer. O.o

When I was 12 my dad let me gun the car (We had) down a parking lot.

13 Slalom in the same parking lot.

I'm good at it. And I'm 14.

I have a friend who had her dad take her on the freeway the very first time she was behind the wheel. I'm glad Mom didn't do that to me.

B) I am 22 and had mine since I was 17. I love driving my truck except in the winter. It is the worst driving in Canada where I live in the winter. Where I live you better take a stunt course to drive soom of our roads in the country side. lol

Wow, I turn around for a minute...

Hmm, well I do live sort of "out in the boonies" so even if I drag my heels I -have- to learn to drive, no choice in the matter. Also, town is about a 7-10 minute drive from my house, and its a small town with no bus or taxi. The closest drivers-ed is at least half an hour away, though I suppose thats not much trouble.

The thing is when me mum begins to work full time, I'll be responsible for driving myself and my brother to school, and the roads can be really sucky around here anytime between November and April.

Anyone ever hit a deer? My brothers hit one, my moms hit like, five :blink: Poor stupid animals...

Ever try driving when there's freezing rain an inch thick?

Everybody's situation is different of course, but I can't picture myself not driving. Routine things like taking the dog to the vet and bringing home dog food (which comes in 40 pound bags) would suddenly become complex. Aside from all the household supplies I have to bring home regularly, there's vacation travel. I couldn't get to the mountains to go skiing nor to the trail heads when I want to hike. And places like Hawaii have no public transportation at all. Being able to rent a car and explore the countryside when I travel is big on my list.

I got a taste of something along those lines when I was in college. I went to school in Rochester, New York, right off Lake Ontario. First winter I was there they got 186 inches of snow. I also grew up outside New York City, so I was driving in Manhattan as soon as I turned 17. After those two experiences, most other driving experiences are mild. I even rented a car once in England and took a week long trip touring the countryside. Driving on the opposite side of the road was a real kick in itself. Felt like I was getting away breaking the law. :)

I'm 29 years old and I don't drive. to be honest I don't feel the urgency until now. I usually take bus to move to a corder or other to city but sometimes I feel lazy and I want to move faster.

Now that I work I like to drvie in order to be able to wake up later and arrive on time to my work and when I left my work arrive my home earlier.

Mom said that I'm insane 'cause my work is outside the city and that freeway is dangerous, ofthen in this season fog appears, and I have to be an expert driving in city before to think driving in freeway.

Moms never changes.

I'm 24 years old and I love drive (I can drive since 17 years) , is the best think, air conditioned, music, complete independence... but theres one problem.. to find parking :o .

ROFL!!! or to park..that's what causes problems to me when I'm driving.

With Abandonn that's no problem

I've got the same problem. Here I am, 20 years old, and I'm too freaked out to drive. Just the thought of crashing or some idiot on the road crashing into me scares the beejezus out of me. But I really should learn...maybe someday I'll face my fears....but today is not it :lol:

I love driving. :D I've got my P's, which is practically the same as a full license, except you can lose it easier if get caught doing something you shouldn't *must not speed. must not speed*

I'm not afraid of the car, or the road (I reckon I can drive half decently), but there are a few really, REALLY nutty people out there, and you wonder where they got thier license. I had some guy swerving behind a few weeks back, just because he thought I was going too slow (and I was on the speed limit, thank you very much). :blink: So, I just laughed at him. :P He was close enough up my backside, I hope he saw. ;)

It's a good thing to have, and once you know what you're doing, you're pretty right, but it is really the other people on the road you have to look out for. <_<

I had my permit for awhile but i let it expire and never went to renew it because ive been to busy with college. The Way gas prices have been lately i doubt that i will be able to get my license, till i finish school and be able to get a full time job.

I'm hoping this summer though if the Best buy here ever opens that i'll be to get a job there. Right now working in the Library and the Student Resource Center at school can hardly pay the bills :(

HA!!!

Good point. :lol:

Sounds like you are better off then me. I got layed off 4 months ago I have no job, a truck that burns 8.5L's/KM and 5 months of bills to cath upon.

"Remember, no matter how bad you have it others have it wrose!" Gets me through my day!

Ohhhhhhh man....brutal.

Me and my dad to a trip to the West Coast, and from Saskatoon to Calgary there was a killer head on wind. Me and my dad calculated the gas consumption on his truck, and we has 5 miles to the galon! :wacko: Stupid 'step-side' truck box! :P

Be Warned Now!!!

Once you learn to drive, your mom and dad will start making you run errands for them, like go food shopping and stuff. It seems all fun cause you get to drive and be all by yourself, but then it becomes no fun.

When I started driving at 17, by mom and dad would always have me do things for them. I'm glad I'm past that now, lol.

Though I do hate being my age now.

Oh, that's right, you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. :P

Actually, we drive on the right side of the road - literally. :P

:rolleyes: Yeah, yeah. :P

I still say it's wrong. :P

Man, I hadn't bothered about driving but lately I've been being nagged to sign up for the classes now, in which you have to write tests, and watch corny safety movies and all that crap. Blegh. I'm going to stick with my arguement that I'm not trustworthy or responsable enough, as in my frequent 'space-out' moments and need to run over people I don't like. If only it was like it used to be...drive the car for the instructer and bam, you get your license.

i actually cant wait till i get to drive ^.^

weee, I don't have to take driving classes!!!!

:ph43r: I failed my Drivers test three time before I got got it. I had never been in a big city little long drive in one before, of coures they make you take in the city down here now. Bahh Humbug!

Wow, I've been taking some practice quizes on the DMV website, some of these rules are so obscure...

Wanna see 'em? They're here :)

Driving ain't scary!
I started to drive when I was 11 years!!!
now I'm 16, and lllooooovvveee it!
I'm allowed to drive,just not on my own yet,I love having folks in the Van with me anyway!
talk to ya'll soon!

mikayla :P