Any advice would be appreciated for first DAY driving on the main road

[kris]

Ooh I missed this thread too.. How is it going? I remember you posted awhile back wanting to drive.

I'm 33 and still can't drive.. Failed drivers Ed twice in high school and my parents kind of sent me off to college not knowing how. I really want to learn but it's so embarrassing that I can't drive at my age and have never had a license.. I've considered taking adult driving classes but that's expensive and also buying a car and paying for insurance would be really expensive too.

 

[Suzanne]

Ooh I missed this thread too.. How is it going? I remember you posted awhile back wanting to drive.

I'm 33 and still can't drive.. Failed drivers Ed twice in high school and my parents kind of sent me off to college not knowing how. I really want to learn but it's so embarrassing that I can't drive at my age and have never had a license.. I've considered taking adult driving classes but that's expensive and also buying a car and paying for insurance would be really expensive too.

Hi Kris

Well, it isn't going right now, for a slot has to be freed up, for me to hire the car for the day. There was one just this weds, but no one could take me and so, that went by the way side. I am hoping to do it soon.

Driving the car won't be an issue for me and it is automatic, which is great; it is the fear that I will forget to look in all the mirrors and fail to notice hazards and get into a panic.

I feel deep shame that at 45 I am not a driver and so, I need to do this, for dignity.

 

[Greg]

Hi Kris

Well, it isn't going right now, for a slot has to be freed up, for me to hire the car for the day. There was one just this weds, but no one could take me and so, that went by the way side. I am hoping to do it soon.

Driving the car won't be an issue for me and it is automatic, which is great; it is the fear that I will forget to look in all the mirrors and fail to notice hazards and get into a panic.

I feel deep shame that at 45 I am not a driver and so, I need to do this, for dignity.

I wouldn't feel shame for not driving. If I didn't have to drive I wouldn't. The first car that I drove was a standard which took some time to learn. Everyday I drive about 2 hours back and forth to work and is expensive maintaining the car and for fuel. If there were public transportation where I was at I would use it.

 

[kris]

Hi Kris

Well, it isn't going right now, for a slot has to be freed up, for me to hire the car for the day. There was one just this weds, but no one could take me and so, that went by the way side. I am hoping to do it soon.

Driving the car won't be an issue for me and it is automatic, which is great; it is the fear that I will forget to look in all the mirrors and fail to notice hazards and get into a panic.

I feel deep shame that at 45 I am not a driver and so, I need to do this, for dignity.

Aw sorry your big driving day got cancelled.

For me, it wasn't so much the driving part as the other drivers. And also I'd do silly things like turn on the window wipers instead the turn signal and get into a panic. But I'm older now so maybe it wouldn't be like that anymore.

I also didn't know I needed glasses in high school so I legitimately couldn't see things like street signs... why it never occurred to me that I might need glasses, who knows.

And my sense of direction is horrible.. I'd get lost in the 2-horse town I grew up in. But we have iphones with gps nowadays

 

[kris]

I wouldn't feel shame for not driving. If I didn't have to drive I wouldn't. The first car that I drove was a standard which took some time to learn. Everyday I drive about 2 hours back and forth to work and is expensive maintaining the car and for fuel. If there were public transportation where I was at I would use it.

Thanks, Greg... usually I don't mind. I live in a big city so I can walk to everything I need.. and I've planned my work/living so I don't have to drive. But I miss out on taking my dog places like the beach.. she loves the beach and I can never take her without begging the few friends I have. And we can't go on hikes. I take uber a lot, but I can't take my dog.. she's really big.. mastiff.

And I'm in a bind for a summer wedding I reluctantly said I'd be a bridesmaid for.. I figured I could take a cab to the wedding site and it wouldn't be a problem, but turns out it's a 4 hour drive from the airport. I'm trying to coordinate with the bride for someone who's also flying in to see if we can ride together but I can tell she's irritated. She knew I didn't have a car, but didn't know I can't drive and had assumed I'd get a rental car :/ I really want to cancel that but I know she's already planning on me being there.. I wish I would have said no in the first place. IDK why she asked me.. she has 8 other bridesmaids.

 

[Suzanne]

I wouldn't feel shame for not driving. If I didn't have to drive I wouldn't. The first car that I drove was a standard which took some time to learn. Everyday I drive about 2 hours back and forth to work and is expensive maintaining the car and for fuel. If there were public transportation where I was at I would use it.

Where I live, Greg, driving is a must and my husband is not one for taking me places when needed!

 

[Greg]

Thanks, Greg... usually I don't mind. I live in a big city so I can walk to everything I need.. and I've planned my work/living so I don't have to drive. But I miss out on taking my dog places like the beach.. she loves the beach and I can never take her without begging the few friends I have. And we can't go on hikes. I take uber a lot, but I can't take my dog.. she's really big.. mastiff.

And I'm in a bind for a summer wedding I reluctantly said I'd be a bridesmaid for.. I figured I could take a cab to the wedding site and it wouldn't be a problem, but turns out it's a 4 hour drive from the airport. I'm trying to coordinate with the bride for someone who's also flying in to see if we can ride together but I can tell she's irritated. She knew I didn't have a car, but didn't know I can't drive and had assumed I'd get a rental car :/ I really want to cancel that but I know she's already planning on me being there.. I wish I would have said no in the first place. IDK why she asked me.. she has 8 other bridesmaids.

We just got Uber where I live. I can see where there would be limiting situations like the 4 hour drive.

 

[Greg]

Where I live, Greg, driving is a must and my husband is not one for taking me places when needed!

Yeah it is necessity where I live too. I can understand your frustration if he will not take you where you need to go.

 

[kris]

We just got Uber where I live. I can see where there would be limiting situations like the 4 hour drive.

I love uber.. I used to hate calling cabs.. that whole process of calling the call center and not knowing how much it would cost and having to pay cash and leave a tip and if you didn't have exact change they'd usually just keep the change as a tip and give me a hard time if I complained. Uber is all on the app, no cash, plus, they route it on gps so I can see where I'm at the entire trip

 

[Suzanne]

Yeah! Next monday at 8:30 am, I get to hire the car for the day! Hubs texts me and says: appointment for next monday at said time and I said: driving? He responds: might be!

If all goes well, we have decided to hire a car for a week, once a month, which will cost 500 euros but by calculating the cost, he reckons it would be cheaper than buying a new car.

I am just glad that I will get the chance.

 

[Judge]

Yeah! Next monday at 8:30 am, I get to hire the car for the day! Hubs texts me and says: appointment for next monday at said time and I said: driving? He responds: might be!

If all goes well, we have decided to hire a car for a week, once a month, which will cost 500 euros but by calculating the cost, he reckons it would be cheaper than buying a new car.

I am just glad that I will get the chance.

Under the circumstances that seems like the smartest play without any overwhelming financial committments. Enjoy....

 

[kris]

Tell us how it goes! Excited for you!

 

[Suzanne]

Under the circumstances that seems like the smartest play without any overwhelming financial committments. Enjoy....

Yes, at first he said that he honestly thinks that we cannot own two cars and being me, I freak out and said: well ok, but really there is no point me learning or practising, because to be fair, what is the point, if I cannot have a car? Soon after, he said: oh how silly of me, but if I have another job by then, then yes, of course we can get two cars. Actually, the insurance will be next to nothing because I can run of his insurance.

It is just that with his present work, which he needs to change, it is a question of: should we buy a new vehicle for his work or should we pay to keep it going? We figure it is probably wiser to keep the old van working for now.

 

[Judge]

Yes, at first he said that he honestly thinks that we cannot own two cars and being me, I freak out and said: well ok, but really there is no point me learning or practising, because to be fair, what is the point, if I cannot have a car? Soon after, he said: oh how silly of me, but if I have another job by then, then yes, of course we can get two cars. Actually, the insurance will be next to nothing because I can run of his insurance.

It is just that with his present work, which he needs to change, it is a question of: should we buy a new vehicle for his work or should we pay to keep it going? We figure it is probably wiser to keep the old van working for now.

Wow. That's HUGE if you can be named as an inexperienced operator on his policy for a good price. In the states that dynamic is usually quite ugly, mitigated only by whether or not the operator is principal or occasional to operating a specific vehicle.

Well...you'll both just have to "play it by ear" to see what works for you the best. The important thing is to first get comfortable with operating the car first. Then consider going out on the open road. Take your time...and keep it an enjoyable experience strictly at your own pace and no one else.

 

[Greg]

I love uber.. I used to hate calling cabs.. that whole process of calling the call center and not knowing how much it would cost and having to pay cash and leave a tip and if you didn't have exact change they'd usually just keep the change as a tip and give me a hard time if I complained. Uber is all on the app, no cash, plus, they route it on gps so I can see where I'm at the entire trip

I think that would be awesome to know the route that you are taking. For cabs you never know what route they are going to take and usually take the longer route to charge more money.