How old were you when you got your drivers license?

Question

how nervous were you? how did you overcome being nervous? what advice can you offer to someone who is older but has real phobias about being on the road?

Answer 1

I was 15, but just got mixed up on my age. About two or three years later I recognized the mistake and had it corrected.

Lots of practice and study will make you a pro and much safer. Have taught AARP defensive driving classes over five years and was an flight instructor and aircraft accident investigator. The three main things I came up with after teaching classes was: 1) Pay attention to your driving and don't be distracted. Don't use cell phone or tune radio etc. in traffic.
2) Don't be in a hurry which includes driving too fast or following too close. Leave early and take your time.
3) Never run a green ... yes green light. Just because the light is green does not mean it is safe to go. Many people are killed just going through a green light.

After having an accident that finished our car, I came up with two more.
4) Avoid left turns as much as possible. If you have an accident making a left turn it is almost always your fault.
5) Really pay attention to safety when buying a car. The best color for safety is white.
About 50,000 people are killed on the highway every year so please be careful and avoid the rush hour if possible.

Answer 2

I was 16 when I got my drivers license. My dad took me to a large open field and let me drive around in circles, getting the hang of controlling the car. Just driving was so cool. He started letting me do that at age 14. By the time I was ready to get my driver's license I was ready but still a bit nervous. I asked my dad to go with me. After the test, my dad sat in the back seat when I went on the the test drive. The instructor let me use my car, that way I was familiar with what I was driving. The scary part was when traffic was passing by on the other side of the road. The best thing to do when a car is headed your way is very simple ... keep your eyes on your lane. Believe it or not everyone is a bit nervous the first time. Some more than others. You will do fine, no worries. 8~)

Answer 3

I was 16 (I'm 27 now) and yes I was very, very nervous. As with anything, practice and the more you do it the more you will feel comfortable. If you have your temps, bring someone along and only drive in parking lots for a while. When you're comfortable with that venture onto back roads, then residential roads, then main roads. You have to ease your way into it. There is no certain time limit, just move on to something a little more difficult as soon as your comfortable. If you're too nervous that could cause you to make bad decisions..ie, hitting the gas instead of the brake!....so take your time! You will be fine i'm sure!

Answer 4

15 1/2 for my permit and 16 years 1 day and a few hours for my license.

Not nervous at all.. but that's just the way I was.

Phobias: If you are not ready yet.. don't take it. Get someone to drive you to a local cemetary and turn you loose behind the wheel. Everyone drives slow there and there is no pressure. Not only that but chances are that if you hit someone they are already dead (sorry.. bad joke)

When my kids were old enough I took them each (in their own time) to the local one. Got out of the old truck I kept for just that purpose, tossed the kid the key and sat under an old oak with a book..Told her to drive by the tree once every 10 minutes but otherwise to have fun.

Worked like a charm.. then I just had to teach them how to parallel park.
.
For that I used a large parking lot at night and some red cones.
also closed and also no pressure .

SOooo if you need more practice to gain a comfort level, try that.

Answer 5

I was 17 when I got my license, but I no longer drive because I have phobias about driving, too. About a year and a half ago, I was in a very bad accident and ever since I have been too terrified to drive and even riding in a car is a problem, sometimes.

Mostly, I avoid driving by taking the bus or walking. Recently, I have started to drive some again. My boyfriend makes me drive around the block now and then because he says I have to get over my fear. We go about ten miles an hour, but at least I haven't passed out from fear, yet. I wish I could tell you that I got over my fears and how I did it, but I'm still working on it. Maybe you could try starting slow, though, too? Do you have someone you trust that would be willing to drive around the block with you?

Answer 6

I was16 years old when I got my full licence.
Was nervous only for a start but I got over that and I love driving a lot. I even have my heavy truck licence and can go for the trailer in about 2 months time. Drive no more that the speed limit and always wear your seat belt. (I just lost a friend in a car accident on the 27 of January 2007 it involved speed and she wasn't wearing a seat belt). Stick to your side of the road. Maybe if you are nervous practice driving in a paddock or field or something or if its the manual gear change you are worried about get and automatic car (great for driving round towns and cities - if find anyway as i never have to worry if I am going to stall the car or not) LOL
GOOD LUCK

Answer 7

I was twenty three. I put it off until I absolutely had to have a car. Part of driver training in those days was to show horrifying movies of automobile wrecks and I was scared to death. I finally decided I would learn to be the best driver I possibly can. One thing I noticed is that bad drivers are always getting in accidents that are "not their fault." Good drivers can avoid accidents caused by other drivers by being alert, maintaining a more than safe following distance and by driving at a speed appropriate to the conditions. Once you get behind the wheel and develop some confidence you'll like driving. Being in control is less nerve wracking than being a passenger with someone who isn't as competent as you will be. Take a good defensive driving class and learn all you can.

PS Since I learned to drive I have worked as a taxi driver and a tour bus driver. Passengers have commented on how calm I am when I drive. I tell them I leave all my emotions (especially anger at other drivers) at home and focus on doing my job.

Answer 8

I was 16. I was a little nervous. I just did exactly what the instructor told me to do. I made complete stops, stoped before exiting parking lots to make sure there weren't any peds in the way, slowed down in school zones, etc.
Just think...the person who's administering the test is only a person...and a person who works for the DMV, for that matter! No reason to be intimidated!
If you're afraid of the road, all I can say is in time you'll become less afraid. That's how it was for me.

Answer 9

16

Answer 10

believe it or not 27, three years ago
i always had a boyfriend or parent to drive me around
i had fear of failure
it wasn't until my husband passed away and i moved back to my home town and saw that i couldn't depend on my family to run all over for me (although they would)
i thought it's time to do something about it. and i did

i drove my parents car everywhere we went, and then one day i decided even though i couldn't parallel park worth a damn, that i was gonna get the test
i also found the 'test driving route' and followed it a few times, just to see if i could do it.
it only took 2 times and i passed, the first time i was really nervous and i went 35 in a 25 zone and hit the curb.
the second time ,i took what i did wrong the first time ,and applied it to the second time

good luck, i know how it feels, after you get your license you will wonder how you ever survived without them...

seriously take a deep breath and do it, you have nothing to lose, you get three chances to pass. and i for some reason you don't, you can wait a while and with your determination, you will succeed.