Driving Nuts
By Modestah
@Modestah (11179)
United States
April 25, 2007 11:24pm CST
How old were you when you learned to drive?
Who taught you, your dad or mom? a brother? your school?
What kind of vehicle did you learn in?
How long till you got your license?my father taught me to drive, it was a standard shift at first and I just could not get the hang of it. when I drove into the house - that was the last lesson for awhile. I really had no interest in learning to drive either. I had my bike and was happy with that. I was 18.
Then my mother helped me to buy a used car that was automatic. (she took out the loan, I had to make the payments) now that I did not have to worry about the clutch and shifting it was getting fun. My father hired an instructor to teach me how to parallel park - it took 1 half hour lesson and I got it. The next day I went for my driver's test and aced it. I tested in my own car and it was small. The tester was also being evaluated by the big boss so he was in my car as well. Mom thought for sure I was going to flub - but there were no marks against my performance. I got the bad driving out of the way on the way to the testing site...haha. I had turned into a divided highway on the WRONG do not enter side. oh boy!I had my learners permit for 6 mos before getting my license.
Five years ago a car sales man was trying to sell me a car that I rapidly discovered was standard shift. I said no way! he convinced me it was no big deal and taught me in a few minutes what my father couldn't get across to me... now I find automatic shift kind of boring.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Lauraleigh99 (4718)
• United States
26 Apr 07
My mom taught me to drive when I was 15. I couldn't wait to get my license. Then the day I turned 16 I went and took the drivers test and failed cause I rolled through a stop sign. So a week later I had to retake it
@ladyljs (1303)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Boy did that bring back memories. I learned at 12, when my father would take me across the border to an Oklahoma country road near the lock and dam that he worked at.
We would get up at 5 in the morning and drive to the designated spot, where he would let me take over...we had a 1969 Cadillac Sedan Deville that was about as big as a bus to learn on...although it was automatic.
I finally got the hang of it and have loved driving ever since...I do all of the driving for our family now. Even when we go on vacations, Mom wants me to take the wheel.
Oh..I I have never had an accident (knocking on wood!)
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Apr 07
my dad took me to empty parking lots and very windy twisty back roads. That first car, the standard shift, was a small one - Ford Escort Wagon. Good thing too, I might have done some major damage slamming into the house if it had been a Sedan Deville. (I know that refers to "of the village or town" but the name always gave me the creeps of it being "Devil" )
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
1 May 07
I had 2 people teach me to drive. A driving instructor at the high school I went to and my mom. I started driving when I was 15 1/2 (I also got my permit at this age). When my mom found out it was time for me to learn from the school she'd teach me in the empty parking lot of the church we used to go to. Even when I got the basics down she still wouldn't let me drive on the road! LOL When my driving instructor found this out, due to my slow driving with him, when we got back to the school he had gone straight up to my mother (she was waiting for me there) and told her to let me start driving on the street. She said she would next time she got a chance, but he said NOW. LOL So I ended up driving my mom home that day. I didn't do half bad and my mom let me drive from then on. I didn't take my driving test at the DMV until I was 17, only because I didn't feel ready before this. I passed on the first try.
Both the instructor's car and my mother's car were automatic.
1 person likes this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I was 15 when I learned to drive and got my learners permit. I was taught in 3 lessons from a driving school. neither parent had the time (they were divorced by then) I took my driving test at 16 and passed and have been driving ever since. I don't know how to drive manual and don't want to..lol. I tested in the driving school car so that was part of the deal when you paid for instruction. I learned in South Florida on very busy streets. My first lesson, the lady told me what everything was for and then took me out onto one of the busiest streets in town. I did great. I think the fear made me drive better. LOL
1 person likes this
@Ismavis (79)
• United States
11 May 07
I was 16 when I started to learn to drive. My dad taught me at the parking lot near his work place. The first car I drove was a Nissan Maxima and Dodge Stratus. I had to take Drivers Ed in addition to get my insurance down, so I had additional coaching!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
7 May 07
I tried to teach myself on my parents standard shift while they weren't at home. I backed it out of the driveway, but didn't know how to use the clutch properly and couldn't get the car back into the driveway from the street. A neighbor had to do it for me. I was in junior high school, I think. After that, I didn't learn until I was 20 years old. I took a class and have driven a stick shift since. They are fun. Now, I'm old enough, I want automatic everything..for the comfort! LOL
