Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Ok Ive decided to learn how to drive

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:36 AM
Original message
Ok Ive decided to learn how to drive
after being a wuss about it for so long.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
SmileyBoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:38 AM
Response to Original message
1. Oh, great. Now I have to stay away from Northern Virginia.
And PLEASE don't do any driving through the Upper Midwest!!!:scared:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:38 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. hah everyone does that
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SmileyBoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #2
7. Not on I-94 in North Dakota, my man.
Edited on Tue Jan-25-05 01:41 AM by SmileyBoy
If you get stuck in a blizzard on that road, you're wholly fucked.

EXIT 202 - NO SERVICES
EXIT 206 - NO SERVICES
EXIT 214 - NO SERVICES
EXIT 218 - NO SERVICES
.
.
.
.
.
And so on...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:43 AM
Response to Reply #7
12. I wont be going to North Dakota
anytime soon really.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SmileyBoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:44 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. I don't blame you.
Edited on Tue Jan-25-05 01:44 AM by SmileyBoy
:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:48 AM
Response to Reply #13
20. heh I wouldnt mind minnesota tho
It sounds interesting.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KitchenWitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:01 AM
Response to Reply #20
28. Minnesota rocks!
except for our baseball stadium....We have lakes, parks, fairly low crime rates even in the urban areas, good schools, and activities for just about every interest.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KitchenWitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #1
9. hey!!!
WTF is wrong with driving through the Upper Midwest, other than virtually nothing to see for miles...:evilgrin:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SmileyBoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:42 AM
Original message
See post #7
n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
KitchenWitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:45 AM
Response to Original message
14. I am not in NoDak
There is an old joke about why it is so windy in Minnesota....I will not repeat it, but in Minnesota, at least, we have something at every exit off the interstate!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:42 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. its a diss on me not your fair region of the country
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rockymountaindem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:39 AM
Response to Original message
3. Do it man...
and then get your parents to get you a sweet-ass car and stock up on smooth CDs. Then driving will be one of your favorite things.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #3
8. Ive always been one of the most humble people in regards to cars
Just gimme a car. Yep I am sure I'll learn to love it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rockymountaindem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:45 AM
Response to Reply #8
15. Just speaking in hypotheticals.
Hey, if my town had a worthwile public transport system I'd be happy to ride the bus. Here at school I don't have a car, subways and buses can take me anywhere I want to go inside of 45 minutes and for less than $2.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:45 AM
Response to Reply #15
17. well we dont have a subway station within walking distance sadly
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
The empressof all Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:39 AM
Response to Original message
4. Oh John Kleeb
I wish I could teach you---It is a liberating experience. I didn't learn to drive until I was 27. A few months after getting my license I drove across country by myself.

My absolute best advice: Do Not have anyone in your family teach you to drive. It will make both of you un-necessarily crazy. If you have any apprehension-find a good driving teacher. Mine was worth his weight in gold.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:42 AM
Response to Reply #4
10. Thanks, I really am looking forward to it, this is something
I should have done two years ago.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yardwork Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:14 AM
Response to Reply #10
31. I didn't learn until I was eighteen either
Then I had to relearn with a stick shift. I had the crazy alcoholic anger-holic dad, too (gee, why are we all on DU) so eventually I got my license and then taught myself to drive out in the country.

I'm a good driver! I've been driving for more than 25 years and never had an accident (knock on wood). I did get a speeding ticket once but I went to court and got that taken care of. (If you get a speeding ticket ask here how to get it taken care of - you don't want it on your insurance record.)

You'll love it once you get the hang of it. Be nice and easy on yourself. Don't hurry. Don't feel intimidated by the thirteen year olds who seem to have been born knowing how to drive. Just take your own sweet time and get lots of practice.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DemBones DemBones Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:41 AM
Response to Reply #31
34. Sounds like my story except I was 27 before I finally learned.

Angerholic dad, mom who was too nervous about driving to teach me (being in a bad wreck does that to you -- which is probably also why I wasn't all that eager to drive.)

My husband taught me and it went fine once he understood that I didn't give a fuck how the clutch worked nor did I want to know the history of the internal combustion engine. An older friend of mine's husband taught her to drive after they retired and she had to make the same conditions with him -- shut up about the caburetor and tell me what to DO to make this thing move!

Now I've been driving thirty years (do the math, if you're curious), had one speeding ticket, no accidents, knock on wood.

You can do it, Kleeb!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Der Blaue Engel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:40 AM
Response to Original message
5. Hey, good for you!
After an initial encounter with a ditch and a bunch of weeds when I was 15, I didn't learn until I was 19, and then didn't really drive until I was 21.

It helps if you don't have a crazy anger-holic like my dad sitting next to you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. un oh, I got a crazy dad too but hes quit booze
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Der Blaue Engel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:04 AM
Response to Reply #6
29. Not alcoholic, anger-holic
My dad is just an angry man.

But hopefully your dad is neither. :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:45 AM
Response to Original message
16. good for you John
my mum learned to drive when she was over 50 years old - she used to think she wasn't "smart enough". I told her mum, look at all these freaking morons on the road. She did it, you can too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:46 AM
Response to Reply #16
18. Thanks, Ive been chickening out of it for too long
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jdots Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:47 AM
Response to Original message
19. Never let the fact of not knowing how to drive stop you
by admitting you don't know how,you will make an exellent driver. some rules of the road that will help.
# 1 have 58 bottles of water with you at all times
#2 Jelly donuts are a good distraction when you spill your coffee
trying to wipe the jelly off your clothes.
# 3 never drive without blabbing in a cell phone and changing c.d.s at the same time.
#4 only wimps use stearing wheels,turn signals,brakes and common sence on the road
# 5 when in dought beep the horn instead of slowing down
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:48 AM
Response to Reply #19
23. I am planning to turn my cell phone off when I drive
I am good at academic multittask but terrible at that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bloodyjack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:48 AM
Response to Original message
21. Awesome. Maybe you can coax your parents into buying you one of these


^^^See, it's funny because they're still Hondas. Ha.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:49 AM
Response to Reply #21
25. ha yeah
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Longgrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:48 AM
Response to Original message
22. Hey Kleeb
Seriously...I didn't get my driver's licence until two years ago...

Been driving for years, just never bothered to get my licence...

If you want some pointers or help, just let me know...:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:49 AM
Response to Reply #22
24. that would be appreciated, I am gonna try
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Longgrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:58 AM
Response to Reply #24
27. My best advice
Learn how to do three or four things at once...

You have to keep looking, pay attention to the road ahead...not the speedometer our the car behind you. If the car behind you hits you, it's his fault.

And when you go for your drivers test, you'll probably fail the first time. Just keep trying. Eventually you'll get your licence...:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
The Traveler Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 01:51 AM
Response to Original message
26. Go! Speed Racer, go!
Have fun, John.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hickman1937 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:06 AM
Response to Original message
30. In MetroDetroit, we learn to drive at 12
if you can ride a bike you can drive a car. Set the radio before you pull out, and leave it alone, and turn the phone off for the first six months. A stick shift is harder to learn, but much more fun.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
soothsayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:30 AM
Response to Reply #30
33. don't go for a stick here in congested NoVa---too much work!
Ok, it's good to know how to drive one, but start with an automatic and make things easy on yerself.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hickman1937 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 03:00 AM
Response to Reply #33
36. come on, I live in the MetroDetroit area,
traffic, traffic, traffic. bumper to bumper at 80+ on the e-ways. You can only do 0 to 60 off a ramp if you have a stick. Second gear in automatics sucks.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
huellewig Donating Member (700 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:18 AM
Response to Original message
32. I'm 27.
And have only driven a few times on empty country roads. But, next week I get the car that was bought for my and I plan on getting some practice and taking the test. I do still plan on riding my riding my bike to most places.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DemBones DemBones Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-25-05 02:52 AM
Response to Original message
35. HAH! I just posted in your "I'm 17.5" thread" -- you

should go read my post!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Apr 25th 2024, 01:42 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC