How did you learn to drive?

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cainsdive

Senior member
Sep 4, 2002
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Self taught. Stock-car track and farm vehicals. Lots of fun. Manual too (stick shift).:beer::D
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,998
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Around here it was mandatory to get training from a certified instructor, so my high school offered classes. Did the required class and road time to get the certificate, but that's pretty simplistic, it's the bare minimum. Did plenty of hours with my parents too until they were convinced that I was ready. Driving a car is simple, most men pick it up right away (and most women never get it, let the flaming begin!! :evil: ) and it's just hand-eye coordination. It requires much less dexterity to operate a car than it takes to master level 1 of Donkey Kong. The hand/eye part is child's play, make sure that your brain is up to the task, poor decisions are what gets you into trouble behind the wheel.
 

macwinlin

Senior member
Apr 11, 2002
523
0
76
Part driver's education course in high school, part driving under supervision of one of my parents and part experience driving on my own and learning from my own mistakes.
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
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Originally posted by: gregshin
lol i used to sneak out the car all the time when i was 14/15....just heard from people that you step on the brake put the car in gear and go. =)
ahhhh those were the best times of my life...

Stealing mom's car...those were the days. :)
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Well I took drivers ed but they didn't teach stick so I pretty much learned myself. My dad tried to teach me a little bit but I really didn't learn until I just got in the car and did it myself.
 

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
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*Step one* get onto horse
*Step two* ride horse
*Step three* don't fall off horse
 

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
10,621
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My dad taught me (on a manual) when I got my learner's permit at 14. Took drivers ed when I turned 15 so I could get my restricted - it was super easy by then. The first day driving I got to take the car out into traffic while the other kids were stuck in the parking lot.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
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Empty parking lot at the community college with my dad. Mandatory driver's training (California). Mandatory hours behind the wheel with parents in the car.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,613
11,255
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I started driving a Forklift at a Hazardous Waste plant in Tulsa about a month before I started driving :). And I learned how to drive that by jumping on, getting the drum huggers and picking up a 55-Gallon drum of Flam-Liquid and saying to myself "Don't F-up, Don't F-up." After that, driving a car was easy :).
 

leung324

Banned
Apr 29, 2003
340
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Originally posted by: DOACleric
Just got my permit so I need to start learning. Not quite sure how to go about it. Did a friend/relative teach you? Did you take a classes/driving school?
I'm opting to just pay and take lessons, since driving in NYC is no joke, and i'd like to learn all the tricks of the trade. Not to mention, i don't want to suck at driving my dads new car. Accidents are bad :)
So what were your experiences in learning to drive?

I never go to driving school, but got my license. just practice.
I live in nyc too
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
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Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
My dad.

Edit: Actually, in NJ there is a mandatory 6 hours behind the wheel class with a certified instructor, so I also did that.

Umm.. it's not mandatory.

My friend got his without even doing the 6 hours.

Yeah, it's only mandatory if you want to get your permit at 16 I think. Did your friend wait until he turned 17?
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
My dad took me up in the mountain in a late 80s caravan and gave men the keys after I got my permit....he made sure I didn't go slow

THAT WAS SCARY AS SHAT!!!!



He wasn't reckless though...we wnt on a day he was sure no others would be using hte road(middle of no where)


I learned VERY well that day 'how to become the box'
:cool:
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
My dad.

Edit: Actually, in NJ there is a mandatory 6 hours behind the wheel class with a certified instructor, so I also did that.

Umm.. it's not mandatory.

My friend got his without even doing the 6 hours.

Yeah, it's only mandatory if you want to get your permit at 16 I think. Did your friend wait until he turned 17?

lol..here in VAit is ALWAYS mandatory......


Even if your 45 and entering the state and want a license...YOU HAVE TO TAKE CLASSROOM


Poor oldfoogies...
 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
4,644
1
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Originally posted by: minendo
My dad gave me the keys, sat down in the passengers seat, and told me to drive.
My dad gave me the keys and a friend sat in the passenger side (he only had his driver license @ 1.5 year & don't know how to drive a standar), and I drove a way after stalled the standard car once. 30 days later I got my driver license with only 5 demerit for conering too fast.
 

McMadman

Senior member
Mar 25, 2000
938
0
76
As embarassed as I am about this, at 23 I still haven't even officially learned to drive - nor do I even have a permit/liscense.
 

HiTek21

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2002
4,391
1
0
My mom. She pulled into an empty parking lot gave me the keys to her CRX and taught me to drive manual when I was 14.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
My dad.

Edit: Actually, in NJ there is a mandatory 6 hours behind the wheel class with a certified instructor, so I also did that.

Umm.. it's not mandatory.

My friend got his without even doing the 6 hours.

Yeah, it's only mandatory if you want to get your permit at 16 I think. Did your friend wait until he turned 17?

nope

me and him went to the DMV to get our permits by ourselves since we didn't want to waste $300 bucks when we were 16

 

billandopus

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 1999
2,082
0
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Got my learners and my dad would take me out in the old beater and we would drive around in "squares".

I also took a driving course as well which was alright.

Nothing substitutes for experience though.

When I was first driving around I was pretty scared and nervous. Not scared/nervous of driving itself but of possibly hitting someone. Like many things you just have to get out there and do it. You'll get a handle of it pretty quick.

I learned how to drive stick from my wife's cousin's husband while we were visiting in the wife's small home/town. Not many cars so no traffic to deal with. Took me about 45 minutes and I was off and running. Stick takes practice and repetition to get it down flat but once you do you become a creature of habit.

Like stabbing for the clutch when you drive an automatic.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
My dad.

Edit: Actually, in NJ there is a mandatory 6 hours behind the wheel class with a certified instructor, so I also did that.

Umm.. it's not mandatory.

My friend got his without even doing the 6 hours.

Yeah, it's only mandatory if you want to get your permit at 16 I think. Did your friend wait until he turned 17?

nope

me and him went to the DMV to get our permits by ourselves since we didn't want to waste $300 bucks when we were 16

Interesting. When I took my brother for his appointment with his driving instructor to get his permit, I figured I'd save some time and take him through the line before the instructor got there. The angry chick (aren't they all angry?) yelled at me because his instructor had to handle the paperwork for him.