First time driving!

[Ultima]

Well, you saw my "Got my permit" thread, now here's my first time EVER on a city street driving a car. Also, its my first time EVER in very snowy and icy conditions. At night. I think my dad was really trying to test me or something

So, I'll tell you how it went. So start off, I was really nervous. With the snow and ice on the ground, it was almost impossible to see the lane markers and I don't have a good feel for the controls yet, so I wasn't staying exactly straight while driving (going slightly off course and had to fix myself every now and then). Also, I was probably closer to the center than I should have been since I didn't want to hit any parked cars or get too close to the sidewalk (and all the slush next to it). I put my turn signals on too late, nearly ran a stopsign, and my parents were bitching for me to step on the gas

All in all, I don't think I did too badly, considering its the first time I've really ever driven a car anywhere, and considering the conditions outside. I'll keep on practicing though, so I don't accidentally run any of you over ;P

 

[worth]

I remember my driver's ed teacher... If I was going under 60mph in a 55mph zone, he started complaining I guess from his seat, he saw the mph indicator from an angle, so it looked slower with 5mph to him...

 

[cressida]

you will get tired of driving and want a chauffeur in the future

 

[The Stigenator]

good news.. now take the wheel very very slowly. ICE is a pain in the ass to drive in. I did a 540 in my toyota when i didnt pay attention coming down the hill. I was too fast for that conditions. I was doing sub 20 in a turn that say caution 25. Still with the gravel and black ice + ice it was enough to knock some sense into my head. Luckily I had enough experience to steer my car away from the mountain face or teh cliff. I stopped right in the center. One thing though when that happenes you will respect the fact that your no longer in total control and that your no longer god. You can only direct it one way and hope it take it.

Drive carefully.. you will do fine if you take it slow and easy.

 

[toph99]

easiest way to learn is to do laps in an empty parking lot, that's what my dad did with me when i got my G1(permit) a year ago. Get the feel of the gas and brake, make sure you know how it feels to floor the accelerator, as well as slam the brakes(especially with ABS) then move onto a low traffic road, get used to setting up for left and right turns, eventually increase the traffic and the number of lanes, and you'll be on your way that's what i did, and in 6 months when i took driver's ed, my instructor was quite impressed. I wouldn't go onto icy/unplowed sitations until you know how the handle the car on dry pavement, this could make things dangerous. just my $0.02

 

[duragezic]

The most important thing probably is to LET GO of the brakes or gas when you start sliding. I think a lot of people hit the brakes coming up to an intersection but their wheels lock up and they start sliding so they hit the brake harder and slide out into the intersection (or rear end someone). You can often steer fairly well on snow/ice if you just let go and steer.

Heh I also hear a lot of girls in school say "their car sucks in snow", which I think means doesn't have ABS.

 

[TekViper]

just remember, everyone on the road thinks they own it. you have to constantly keep an eye out for the assholes that dont give a sh t. one thing i hate about people on the road is those people that are doing 55 on the shoulder as if it were another lane. there have been so many times that if i hadnt looked before i turned off into the shoulder (where the line curves out meaning thats where u enter the shoulder), i would have been rear-ended. bastards.

when u get the chance, on a really dark road at night with no traffic and open area, shut off your headlights. lots of fun

btw dont do that, its illegal

 

[ChinamanatNCSU]

The one thing that absolutely pisses me off when driving is other people not signalling when merging or turning. I make it a habit of doing it even when I'm alone on the road. Its weird, if someone cuts me off but signalled, I don't care as much as if he or she didn't signal at all, in which I get incredibly pissed and have to force down the urge to ram them

 

[polypterus]

I drove my dad's Lincoln into a ditch the first time I ever drove. My first and only "incident" (and that was 9 years ago).

btw ice does suck... go slow... I mean really slow... even if you think you're already going slow, go slower.

dc

 

[littlelilith]

<< The most important thing probably is to LET GO of the brakes or gas when you start sliding. I think a lot of people hit the brakes coming up to an intersection but their wheels lock up and they start sliding so they hit the brake harder and slide out into the intersection (or rear end someone). You can often steer fairly well on snow/ice if you just let go and steer. >>



Bad advice.. lol At least if your car has ABS. You're supposed to KEEP the brakes held down (they 'pump' automatically so they don't lock), and steer while you're braking. There's an entire chapter (not to mention large sections of videos) devoted to this in driver's ed.. lol

If your car doesn't have ABS, then yeah, you're not supposed to keep the brakes held because you can't steer and it makes things worse. I've heard, though, that you should tap the brakes [repeatedly.. quickly] to slow down but keep your wheels from locking. A lot easier to just have ABS, I think.

 

[commemoratives]

Growing up in Minnesota, the family tradition was to teach new drivers about icy road conditions by taking them on a frozen lake and letting them figure it out for themselves.

It is so cool to go in to a spin @60.... don't eat first.

Watch out for ice fishing holes!

 

[Zenmervolt]

<<

<< The most important thing probably is to LET GO of the brakes or gas when you start sliding. I think a lot of people hit the brakes coming up to an intersection but their wheels lock up and they start sliding so they hit the brake harder and slide out into the intersection (or rear end someone). You can often steer fairly well on snow/ice if you just let go and steer. >>



Bad advice.. lol At least if your car has ABS. You're supposed to KEEP the brakes held down (they 'pump' automatically so they don't lock), and steer while you're braking. There's an entire chapter (not to mention large sections of videos) devoted to this in driver's ed.. lol

If your car doesn't have ABS, then yeah, you're not supposed to keep the brakes held because you can't steer and it makes things worse. I've heard, though, that you should tap the brakes [repeatedly.. quickly] to slow down but keep your wheels from locking. A lot easier to just have ABS, I think. >>

Pumping non-ABS brakes makes you take longer to stop. Best method is to apply pressure slowly but progressively and firmly until the wheel starts to lock (with some practice you can feel this) then letting of pressure until the wheel just starts to roll again if it does start to lock. Quickly pulsing the brakes if they are not threatening to lock will elongate your stopping distance. I have yet to lock my brakes on snow. Black ice is another matter entirely though, and this is the real problem. Black ice can send a car off the road very quickly.

ZV

 

[Jerboy]

<< I remember my driver's ed teacher... If I was going under 60mph in a 55mph zone, he started complaining I guess from his seat, he saw the mph indicator from an angle, so it looked slower with 5mph to him... >>




hehe mine started complaining when I opened up the throttle more 25% or so. I floored it once and did he get pissed.

 

[yourharddrive]

i love ice, powerslides are fun in RWD vehicle

 

[Ultima]

Well, I've been practicing some more and gotten a lot better, although I still have some major faults.
- Don't check mirrors enough especially when changing lanes or merging from one road to another
- Brake suddenly in situations that I shouldn't be

etc...

It's not so bad though. I'm already at least as good as my friend who has over a year experience driving (and is not that good )

 

[Ultima]

Also (not to be prejudiced), I just thought that I'd note that most of the "conflicts" I've had on the road have been with woman drivers so far. lol