First proper driving lesson. [Archive]

Scotty

12-15-2007, 08:58 PM

I did good ^_^

ive been out with my dad 3 times, just on a empty road, just on a quiet road no cars straight lines and corners.

So whats the instructor do, take me to a quiet place, i drive all the way on, to a roundabout, roundabout on 4th time in car :| not the best of ideas. get over it carry on.
Another roundabout, do that ok, and several more, onto a pretty busy road, (queue of about 6 cars behind me >.<)

and back.

So first time you try to hit 3rd gear whadda do? Thats right what it back into 1st, bad idea, then do it a few more times before you sort it out.

Figure out that your doing 10mph over the speed limit :p

I only stalled it twice so i was chuffed, 1st time was at a roundabout, forgot to push the blasted clutch in. 2nd time was just as i got onto my driveway xD hey atleast i didn't hit the house or my parents cars :D

Well it was all good fun.

D1337

12-15-2007, 09:08 PM

Ive driven a hell of a lot of times on busy roads and intersections, but my parents keep telling me i need to practice before i can take the required training course (more of a test)

calumc

12-15-2007, 09:15 PM

that will be me in a few weeks, im going for my theory test on the 5th of janurary and then I will be let loose on the roads!!! (being supervised by a parent at all times of course :p)
Now I just need some cash for car+insurance....

Computer-Geek

12-15-2007, 09:27 PM

My dad just needs to take me to get my permit then i can practice with him :D My sister recently got a car and hasn't touched it. :( It will be sad if I'm the first one to actually drive it lol.

.Maleficus.

12-15-2007, 11:11 PM

I get my license on the 21st :D. I'm so pumped.

I drive an automatic. I was learning to drive my dad's manual, but I popped the clutch so many times I've just given up (for now).

Mitternacht

12-15-2007, 11:21 PM

Spawn-Inc

12-15-2007, 11:31 PM

ya driving is fun fun fun! i have my g2 so i can drive all by myself, but pay for stupid insurance, its only 140 for 2 cars a month though so its not as bad as some.

when ever i drive alone i feel fully confident but when i drive others it feels weird for some reason.

as for speeding i tend to do 20km over the limit, like most others, but i drive according to conditions. i.e. if there is traffic i slow down and if there is snow i go to a empty parking lot and skid to my hearts content :)

NightrainSrt4

12-16-2007, 12:06 AM

Wow, I never realized how young a lot of you guys are. Im no old dude myself, I just pictured most of you guys in your 20's lol.

Driving is fun. I got over it pretty quickly though. What I want is my own autox track. But I will probably never own that much land lol.

Omega

12-16-2007, 12:41 AM

Yea driving a clutch car is no walk in the park. It's simple once you can do it its just a technique you have to perfect. It was hard for me because I learned in my dad's Mustang, which had 300hp. It's easier to learn how to drive stick in a low horsepower stick shift car; trust me.

I was about to say "Manauls are easy, what are you smoking", then I read the 300whp part...

I learned how to drive in a '74 VW Beetle that was so out of shape a toaster could outrun it. werd.

Elenril

12-16-2007, 03:05 AM

I got my license 6 months ago and I've still only done half an hour in an empty carpark... Driving round in circles, trying to avoid the imaginary cars but still crashing into them. After about 10 minutes I realised I'd left the handbrake up.

But hopefully I can get all my 50 hours done between now and the end of February, especially over the summer holidays, so I can start driving without constant supervision as soon as I turn 17! I bid thee farewell, 2 hour bus trips to school.

public_eyesore

12-16-2007, 03:10 AM

The only lesson I had was about 20 minutes with my mom and a couple of cones, learning how to paralell park.

Scotty

12-16-2007, 10:22 AM

I got my license 6 months ago and I've still only done half an hour in an empty carpark... Driving round in circles, trying to avoid the imaginary cars but still crashing into them.
.

Ive done that one too xD

Its going to be a pain in the ass to reverse when i start that, but i wont have any lessons till after the new year, maybe i should get some pracise in first :)

NightrainSrt4

12-16-2007, 03:59 PM

Parallel parking...learning to do that was a nightmare.

I was taught how to parallel park in Boston, in the middle of busy freaking Chinatown. My big ol' 240dl sedan tank trying to parallel park in china town with busy people walking all around me while I was doing it. Add to that a little Chinese dude in a big fish truck in the space behind me watching me giggling as he slowly inched the truck forward leaving me less and less space.

Ohhhh was I pissed. And the person I was driving with wouldn't let me go park somewhere else. I had to park there. When all was said and done I was heated, and there was literally inches between me and the other cars.

Ohhh was I pissed at that little asian dude in his fish truck. He was having a ball though. It was the funniest thing in the world to him. When I got out he apologized but said it was hilarious to see me try to park while he was doing that. I wanted to strangle him.

Needless to say, I can parallel park like a mo'fo now lmao. :dead:

The boy 4rm oz

12-17-2007, 09:50 AM

I passed my test last Saturday, now I can drive by myself.

Poor you night train, I still hate parallel parking lol, always try to avoid it.

jdbnsn

12-17-2007, 09:53 AM

:up: Congrats! Watch out for those pedestrians now.

The boy 4rm oz

12-17-2007, 09:59 AM

Thanks buddy (if that was directed at me lol).

Airbozo

12-17-2007, 02:24 PM

I learned to drive in my moms '68 Plymouth station wagon. I was 12. I had a paper route and the only way to deliver the Sunday paper was in a car. I would get up WAY early on Sunday and fold the papers, then wake up my mom to drive me around. I started getting up early and before waking her up, I would go take the car for a spin in the church parking lot down the street (really mom, I was just warming up the engine for you). That stopped when she got up early one morning...

Took my driving test in a manual transmission souped up Vega. In a snowstorm. My only misstep? When turning left onto a one way street, I did not take the leftmost lane. At one point during the driving test, I had stopped on a hill for a signal and the DMV tester reached over and turned off the ignition. She wanted to watch me start the car and take off on a hill using the emergency brake.

Fun fact; In the US, MOST cars are automatic transmission. In Europe most cars are manual transmission.

Scotty

12-17-2007, 02:35 PM

:up: Congrats! Watch out for those pedestrians now.

I thought they were to slow you down :dead:

Terry, yea hills there is a hill 9well slope) coming upto a roundabout, i stalled it lol. The first thing you forget is to put the brake on... Starting wasn't that hard, the instructor is a great fun guy didn't even shout when i nearly destroyed his gear box, ah fun times.

Airbozo

12-17-2007, 03:18 PM

I thought they were to slow you down :dead:

Terry, yea hills there is a hill 9well slope) coming upto a roundabout, i stalled it lol. The first thing you forget is to put the brake on... Starting wasn't that hard, the instructor is a great fun guy didn't even shout when i nearly destroyed his gear box, ah fun times.

During my trip to Scotland this year I encountered my first Round-a-bout (well there is ONE in socal, but that is another story) and to top things off I was just learning to drive the right hand side of the car, with the shifter on the left. I pulled into the roundabout and was not paying enough attention and cut off a big truck who braked hard and laid on the horn. The two cops in the car behind the truck were quite amused as my brand new rental car (15 miles on the odometer) lurched and bucked into the center of the roundabout and _almost_ stalled as I fought to find first gear (starting out in 3rd was not easy). I finally found the gear, burned a little rubber off the tires (excuse me, tyres) and drove on. Too bad I took the wrong exit as I would be back to that roundabout to try again... By the end of the trip I had mastered the roundabout and am now a big proponent of them here in the states.

Scotty

12-17-2007, 06:15 PM

Haha. Roundabouts are awesome, you can screw so many people up with one mistake :P

Atleast you went the right way.

I saw a rental car come up to the roundabout IN the correct lane, then some of them split for traffic coming on to the rb and traffic going off, this guy then switch the side of the road, went around the round about the wrong way and went off down the wrong way! I was so shocked. The worse bit is there were cops who didn't notice!

.Maleficus.

12-17-2007, 07:53 PM

My friend just failed his test today :(. He didn't stop enough at a right light (right turn on red), and the instructor counted it as running the red light.

I'm not worried though, I'm taking my test in a city that has like, 3 different roads, 200 potato farms, and just as many tractors.

4 more days OMG!

.Maleficus.

12-22-2007, 01:53 PM

I got my license yesterday :D. I can now drive alone!

Quakken

12-22-2007, 04:45 PM

I've had my license for about two months now, and I love driving a manual (here in colorado, not in a big city). Traffic sucks, but downshifting in the snow is better than locking your tires up in a brake.

Manual driving does take more skill, but I think it gives much more control, power, and gas mileage. My car would be boooooring with an auto. Its a 95 acura integra. Too bad we aren't allowed to have anyone except family in the car until 6 months of having a license. Kind of hurts the social aspect, but I guess it probably is better to drive with less distractions for the first half year.

Scotty

12-22-2007, 09:45 PM

I got my license yesterday :D. I can now drive alone!

Oh god, its not safe!

Thank god im in a totally different country, and with thousands of miles of sea between.

Greco101

12-23-2007, 01:05 AM

Wow, I never realized how young a lot of you guys are. Im no old dude myself, I just pictured most of you guys in your 20's lol.

Was thinking the exact same thing...

simon275

12-23-2007, 05:03 AM

Seriously what is so weird about roundabouts? Like if you have never seen one before I guess it can be a bit wtf what do I do. I think they are good for an intersection where you don't have traffic lights. At least we don't have multi laned roundabouts like the do in the Europe they boggle the mind.

The boy 4rm oz

12-23-2007, 05:20 AM

We got a few 2 lane ones here is Australia, some stupid people try to change lanes when they realize they have missed their turn offs. Is quite funny when they try to take out another car to change lanes.

Scotty

12-23-2007, 07:15 AM

I believe we have 3 and maybe even a 4 lane roundabout in the UK. Positive on the 3 one for sure.

Elenril

12-23-2007, 08:33 AM

We have normal one lane roundabouts at every street corner, and there is a multilane roundabout where I work (Simon, shame on you for forgetting!!)... Oh, and of course the huge roundabouts in the country with about 10 different entrances/exits.

.Maleficus.

12-23-2007, 10:11 AM

Hehe, don't worry Scotty, I'll find a way to get across the pond and hunt you down :D. Then, I'll go get Dave :twisted:.

And yeah, a while back we did a poll on age, our biggest group was kids in the 11-13 range I think. Up until a week and a half ago, I was only 15. There are a lot of young kids here.

The boy 4rm oz

12-23-2007, 11:53 AM

Yeah I only turned 16 this year (legal driving age in Australia) and now I have my full license.

luciusad2004

12-23-2007, 03:59 PM

This may be a really stupid question but... wtf is a roundabout?

Anyway, while im posting i guess ill give my auto experience. I have had my liscence for maybe half a year i think. Normally In the US people get them around 16, I got mine around 18. I tried to drive my mom's car w/ a manual transmission recently and i didn't find it entirely pleasant. (I usually drive an automatic.) I giggled like a little school girl though as the car shook violently every time i would try to get going from stop. Once i get going i don't have much of a problem, its just starting that kills me. Unfortunately shortly after my first excursion in the manual, it started snowing and i don't feel like learning to drive stick in the snow, plus no one is ever home to teach me. Maybe in the spring i will learn.

Scotty

12-23-2007, 04:30 PM

This may be a really stupid question but... wtf is a roundabout?

Lol someone had to say it XD

http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cb/roundabout-live-local.jpg

http://www.camrose.com/engineer/roundabouts/graphics/roundabout.gif

luciusad2004

12-23-2007, 04:59 PM

huh... that looks interesting.

I don't see what sort of advantage it would have over a normal intersection though. Other than looking pretty.

Although now that i think about it i don't see any traffic signs or lights so maybe it makes it so you don't' have to stop?

Quakken

12-23-2007, 06:40 PM

It keeps traffic flow going, instead of large stop lines. they can keep a large amount of vehicles moving and not having to wait at a stoplight by slowing you down and slinging you into a circle of metal, moving death.

You are supposed to yield to people already in it. And there are no laws saying that you can't just whip around in a circle 50 times either, which is very fun.

calumc

12-23-2007, 06:52 PM

You are supposed to yield to people already in it. And there are no laws saying that you can't just whip around in a circle 50 times either, which is very fun.

IDK where you are but in the uk its an offence to go around a roundabout more than 3 times :)

Reyer

12-24-2007, 01:31 AM

I got my permit a few months ago, I have been driving every where. I am pretty comfortable driving now, I don't have to strain to remember stuff like looking in the mirrors or checking my blind spot.

I am pretty much a better driver than my mom already.

luciusad2004

12-24-2007, 01:36 AM

I have trouble getting my mirrors to point so i can see my blind spot... I was trying to get from around the rear quarter panel back but figured it was impossible to set them up to see there. I was disappointed because im paranoid about switching lanes and hitting someone. Now i just look over my shoulder whenever i switch lanes and its nerve racking because i have to take my eyes of the car in front of me. I want to mod my car with sensors that will tell me whenever there is a car around me... that would be awesome.

Quakken

12-24-2007, 01:51 AM

luciusad2004

12-24-2007, 02:00 AM

You're supposed to look behind your shoulders when you change lanes ANYWAY.

Oooohhhh... so i was doing that right... I have no self confidence.:lick:

simon275

12-24-2007, 04:38 AM

Yeah I only turned 16 this year (legal driving age in Australia) and now I have my full license.

You mean you are on your L's? Which is different to a full license and you must have someone in the car with you.

Elenril

12-24-2007, 05:06 AM

The first time I drove, I didn't know how to slow down, because in racing games all you have to do is take your finger off the accelerator button. So I took my foot off the accelerator... and the car just kept going! :dead:

You mean you are on your L's? Which is different to a full license and you must have someone in the car with you.

Yeah I was thinking, that's weird coz even if you do live in a different state with possible different driving rules, you still wouldn't be able to get your full license within a year at 16.

FuzzyPlushroom

12-24-2007, 04:43 PM

Heh, I guess I'm doing all right, then. I'm a decent driver; still not that good at parking, and overly cautious with the back end of the car. Since I'm a dirty American, I'm learning on a slow-ass Mercury Mystique (fun fact of the day: that's an anagram for Ye Squirmy Rectum) with a slushbox; makes things easier until I need to get up a hill...

Once I get my license, and the snow melts, I'll be in an '89 Volvo. Then I can hit inanimate objects all day! :D

The boy 4rm oz

12-24-2007, 10:56 PM

Yeah I was thinking, that's weird coz even if you do live in a different state with possible different driving rules, you still wouldn't be able to get your full license within a year at 16.

I got my P's in 9 months. Got my L's at the end of April and passed my final test a few weekends ago.

Elenril

12-25-2007, 02:12 AM

I got my P's in 9 months. Got my L's at the end of April and passed my final test a few weekends ago.

What happened to your red and green P's, and staying on them for 1 year (red) and 2 years (green)? And isn't the minimum age for P's 17?

simon275

12-25-2007, 08:14 PM

What happened to your red and green P's, and staying on them for 1 year (red) and 2 years (green)? And isn't the minimum age for P's 17?

There are different laws on a state by state basis as the roads and transport authorities are controlled by the state governments I guess. Also I was talking to my cousin in NZ a they have the same system as we do in NSW but it is shifted a whole year back so you get your L's at 15.

The boy 4rm oz

12-26-2007, 01:26 AM

In S.A You have to be on L's for a minimum of 6 months with 50 hours (40 day and 10 night) of experience, plus you need to do a log book version or just a test. My birthday is in April so I got my L's at the end of April and spent almost 9 months getting my hours up. I finished my log book and now I am on my P1's (I have to display plates but can drive alone). After 12 months I take a test and then go onto my P2's (no plates).

Elenril

12-27-2007, 08:41 AM

The boy 4rm oz

12-27-2007, 09:18 AM

I consider my full license as me being able to drive by myself.

Quakken

12-27-2007, 03:18 PM

I consider my full license being able to drive myself as well as fill up all the seatbelts in my car.

Currently- just me and family. Nobody else until may.

Airbozo

12-27-2007, 03:36 PM

You're supposed to look behind your shoulders when you change lanes ANYWAY.

And there are no laws in colorado that I know of limiting the amount of times you can go around a roundabout. I mean, if a cop saw you he could definitely pull you over for reckless driving or impeding the flow of traffic, but if you aren't doing anything over the speed limit or getting in anyones way, you could probably keep going around forevuh.

WTF? When did Colorado get roundabouts?

IDK where you are but in the uk its an offence to go around a roundabout more than 3 times :)

I want to know who is counting...

Interesting fact;
The first roundabout in California was put in in Long Beach. Within the first month, the son of the engineer that fought for and designed it died in an accident as he tried to navigate the roundabout.

IndyRacer27

12-27-2007, 06:39 PM

Wow, reading this thread makes me feel old. When I got my license there were no steps involved. Learners permit at 14, but I was scared to do much driving then. I got my license at 16 - no restrictions - take anybody, anywhere, anytime.

I have trouble getting my mirrors to point so i can see my blind spot... I was trying to get from around the rear quarter panel back but figured it was impossible to set them up to see there. I was disappointed because im paranoid about switching lanes and hitting someone. Now i just look over my shoulder whenever i switch lanes and its nerve racking because i have to take my eyes of the car in front of me.

After driving as much as I have in the past 20+ years. I figured I knew all about blind spots, and how to deal with them. That is, until I learned to drive one of these:

http://www3.telus.net/indyracer27/797.png

Everything on the right side of the driver is a blind spot. In fact, we call the right side of them the blind side. In front of the truck, there is a huge blind spot also, this picture was taken from about 40 feet away, and if the camera man stepped forward about 10 feet, the driver would lose sight. Everybody I work with jokes about taking one of these to town. It wouldn't fit on a two lane highway.

D1337

12-27-2007, 07:12 PM

Someone should buy one of those trucks, then build a house on top of it, and drive it through the hills of the country side D:

Airbozo

12-27-2007, 07:18 PM

Wow, reading this thread makes me feel old. When I got my license there were no steps involved. Learners permit at 14, but I was scared to do much driving then. I got my license at 16 - no restrictions - take anybody, anywhere, anytime.

....

Everything on the right side of the driver is a blind spot. In fact, we call the right side of them the blind side. In front of the truck, there is a huge blind spot also, this picture was taken from about 40 feet away, and if the camera man stepped forward about 10 feet, the driver would lose sight. Everybody I work with jokes about taking one of these to town. It wouldn't fit on a two lane highway.

I also feel old reading through this. Since I lived in a "farm town" I was legally able to drive any farm equipment at the age of 13 or 14 (see how the memory goes?), so long as I was not a certain distance from the farm. Funny thing is, I did not live on a farm or even near one. I still had fun though.

Concerning that truck; There are rules of the road and then rules of raw tonnage. The later trumps the former.

IndyRacer27

12-27-2007, 08:01 PM

There are rules of the road and then rules of raw tonnage. The later trumps the former.

In the mine I work in, we follow normal highway traffic rules, including yield and stop signs. A lot of mines throughout the world that use these trucks, use the rule that the loaded truck has the right of way. It puts a lot of wear on the brakes stopping 1,500,000 pounds. In one of the training sessions to drive these, they show a video of one driving over a regular, full-sized pickup. Absolutely flat! The tires alone are 12 feet tall.

Scotty

12-27-2007, 11:11 PM

Wow, reading this thread makes me feel old. When I got my license there were no steps involved. Learners permit at 14, but I was scared to do much driving then. I got my license at 16 - no restrictions - take anybody, anywhere, anytime.

After driving as much as I have in the past 20+ years. I figured I knew all about blind spots, and how to deal with them. That is, until I learned to drive one of these:

http://www3.telus.net/indyracer27/797.png

Everything on the right side of the driver is a blind spot. In fact, we call the right side of them the blind side. In front of the truck, there is a huge blind spot also, this picture was taken from about 40 feet away, and if the camera man stepped forward about 10 feet, the driver would lose sight. Everybody I work with jokes about taking one of these to town. It wouldn't fit on a two lane highway.

Who cares if you can't see whats coming, just think of all the people you could kill and get away with it... Wait.. wait.. no bad idea.. dont give ideas...

Have to love the size of the headlights compared to it thogh