# I am now a licensed driver! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163 "2011-11-16T19:45:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/21 "2011-11-18T16:04:41Z")
> [@Clockwork\_Jackal](#): > > Kinda feelin like a big loser lately. Because I STILL haven’t driven on my own yet. I’ve been avoiding it for the last two days. And I know I shouldnt do that. It just kinda seems like a big step. Dunno why it’s such a big deal. I guess I always think that my husband will keep me from making a mistake. > > I’m like you Maiira, I get panicked by the least little unexpected thing. I think I simply have to start small, like drive 5 minutes to the park and back and go from there. Even experienced drivers get spooked by unexpected things on the road, that just means you’re paying attention! Your idea to start small is a good one. Start by driving to places that you don’t have to figure out how to get to, that way you can get a feel for the skills of driving without having to figure out directions at the same time. When my daughter learned to drive I remember telling her it’s like a new remote control, at first you have to look every time you use it and it feels unfamiliar, but soon enough you know where all the buttons are and you push the right one without thinking about it. Zoom Zoom! ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_Jackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clockwork\_Jackal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_Jackal)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/22 "2011-11-18T17:39:34Z")
Drove to the park and back (about 10 minutes each way) this morning all on my own! I did it! I think next step will be to drive to eithe the corner store or the grocery store. 🙂 Ok, feeling better about things now. Thanks for the support all! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/23 "2011-11-18T17:43:55Z")
Driving on your own at first IS scary - that’s not an unreasonable fear. Starting small is great advice - up and down the block, to the corner store and back, etc. Build on your successes and keep on keepin’ on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![all1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@all1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/all1966)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/24 "2011-11-18T21:29:45Z")
YAY!! You GO, girl!! Vroom, Vroom indeed! First the Park, then the Store, and soon, the freeway!! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/25 "2011-11-18T21:55:31Z")
> [@Clockwork\_Jackal](#): > > Drove to the park and back (about 10 minutes each way) this morning all on my own! I did it! I think next step will be to drive to eithe the corner store or the grocery store. 🙂 > > Ok, feeling better about things now. Thanks for the support all! Next step, driving onto the ferry!!! Okay, maybe in a few days, then. ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_Jackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clockwork\_Jackal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_Jackal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/26 "2011-11-20T03:03:21Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Next step, driving onto the ferry!!! Okay, maybe in a few days, then. Driving on to the ferry would be easy. The problem is that it dumps you right into downtown Seattle! I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. Or ever will be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/27 "2011-11-20T10:00:58Z")
I took drivers ed but I don’t think that my parents make especially good driving teachers. Just driving in my neighbourhood has helped me somewhat as well as the passing of time. I am looking forward to not being driven and to my first roadtrip. I plan to get AAA before my roadtrip, and a new car stereo. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/28 "2011-11-20T17:55:17Z")
Congratulations! > [@Clockwork\_Jackal](#): > > Driving on to the ferry would be easy. The problem is that it dumps you right into downtown Seattle! This would be a perfect afternoon for driving around the peninsula, which is far less scary than downtown. It’s almost always a perfect afternoon for driving around the peninsula. It’s gorgeous. And just a fun place to drive around semi-aimlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_Jackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clockwork\_Jackal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_Jackal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/29 "2011-11-20T19:35:02Z")
Actually, I drove to Safeway and back this morning and got all my Thanksgiving stuff that I needed. It wasn’t too bad. This is definitely a good day to drive around the island. 🙂 I feel like a bird that’s just been let out of her cage! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/30 "2011-11-20T22:18:42Z")
Being able to drive is extremely liberating! Yay! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/31 "2011-11-20T23:46:38Z")
congrats. don’t drive like my brother. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163/32 "2011-11-21T00:57:52Z")
Don’t forget that confidence in driving will spread to other areas. Pretty soon you’ll be skydiving, addressing congress-- who knows? My anxiety wasn’t too bad back when I started driving, thank goodness, and my mom was a really great teacher, so I lucked out. When it came time to drive in big cities though, I’d avoid it. When that finally got old and/or impossible I learned a trick that I still use in all sorts of situations. I just ask myself: 'what’s the worst that can realistically happen?" If I get lost, I will not wander forever, I just have to ask for directions. If I do a lousy job of merging, most drivers will just curse and move to avoid me. I mean, unless I just completely lose my mind, I’m not going to get hit, right? Drive yourself _everywhere,_ take it easy on yourself, and do laps for extra practice-- you’ve got some gorgeous town and country to enjoy! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-now-a-licensed-driver/603163.md?page=1)