# What young people need to know before they start driving **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838 "2008-05-03T01:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/1 "2008-05-03T01:43:37Z")
[Inspired by the [marriage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465713) thread] My nephew is 14 and itching at the bit to start driving the instant he’s 15 in August. He claims that he “knows all about driving”, so, in the middle of a discussion of manual transmissions over dinner tonight, I asked him what rev matching was. He tried to bluff his way through but it was obvious he didn’t know what it was. I’ll start of course: 1. Assume that anybody near you is going to do something unexpectedly stupid, and leave yourself an out. 2. Maintain a mental map of all the vehicles around you, so that if you need to react quickly to something you instantly know where to go. Constantly check your mirrors. 3. No cell phone usage, hands always at 10 and 2 on the wheel except if you are on a lightly populated highway. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/2 "2008-05-03T02:05:51Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] [Inspired by the [marriage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465713) thread] My nephew is 14 and itching at the bit to start driving the instant he’s 15 in August. He claims that he “knows all about driving”, so, in the middle of a discussion of manual transmissions over dinner tonight, I asked him what rev matching was. He tried to bluff his way through but it was obvious he didn’t know what it was. 1. No cell phone usage, hands always at 10 and 2 on the wheel except if you are on a lightly populated highway. [/QUOTE] 2. I believe with airbags you are supposed to have your hands at 9 and 3 now. 3. I don’t think you can tell 14 year old’s anything about driving because they “know all about driving” already. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/3 "2008-05-03T02:07:19Z")
I’ll say what my Dad said eleventy two jillion million times. It’s like a chess match. You have to think ahead 3 moves for the other guy and 4 moves for yourself. and Too fast for conditions! Everything that ever happened in a car was the result of too fast for conditions. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/4 "2008-05-03T02:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] [Inspired by the [marriage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465713) thread] My nephew is 14 and itching at the bit to start driving the instant he’s 15 in August. He claims that he “knows all about driving”, so, in the middle of a discussion of manual transmissions over dinner tonight, I asked him what rev matching was. [/QUOTE] I’ll admit…I don’t know what it is and I drive a 5 speed :smack: . When a student of mine proudly shows me their new “hard card” I always tell them that the very best place to get into an accident is the parking lot. Go to a mall and people are chattering about what they bought, adjusting the A/C, putting on their seatbelts as they drive, whatever…anything but paying attention to their driving. So, watch your ass in parking lots. ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/5 "2008-05-03T02:30:58Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > I believe with airbags you are supposed to have your hands at 9 and 3 now. It’s not just about airbags: > [@](#): > > A lower hand position makes it less likely that you will overcorrect during an emergency maneuver, which is what often causes spins, slides, and rollovers. This position is also better from an ergonomic standpoint. In this position, the upper arms are closer to the sides of the body and the forearms are slightly bent, which alleviates fatigue on the shoulders and back. > From: [http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/Steering-for-Optimum-Vehicle-Control](http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/Steering-for-Optimum-Vehicle-Control) > [@mongo Ponton](#): > > Everything that ever happened in a car was the result of too fast for conditions. :dubious: If you’re talking about accidents, then this is not true. Many accidents happen because of carelessness and lack of attention. Nothing to do with the car’s speed. Here’s a basic rule: Make sure that you look in the direction that you are planning to go. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/6 "2008-05-03T02:40:42Z")
You are never as good a driver as you think you are. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/7 "2008-05-03T03:10:19Z")
The safest lane for an inexperienced driver cruising down the freeway is the one next to the right lane. (The right lane has lots of merges to deal with, and the maniacs are in the leftward lanes.) Leave enough time to get where you’re going, and you will be far less tempted to do something stupid. Ditto on the parking lots. In addition to the fact that people are often distracted, they are more two-dimensional than roads. Few people just cruise across a busy road out of nowhere, but they will jump across empty parking places all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/8 "2008-05-03T03:23:05Z")
Too fast for conditions! > [@](#): > > If you’re talking about accidents, then this is not true. Many accidents happen because of carelessness and lack of attention. Nothing to do with the car’s speed. Everything. From pregnancy to fender benders to running out of oil. Everything. Careless and inattentive at zero miles per hour is just the right speed for those conditions. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/9 "2008-05-03T03:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] My nephew is 14 and itching at the bit [/QUOTE] Is he champing at the itch as well? 🙂 I’d bring up the 2 second following distance, because if you count it in time instead of in feet, it adapts itself for however fast you’re going. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/10 "2008-05-03T03:54:20Z")
One of the most important things I learned as a teenager is: Do not swerve for anything short of a human. This means if a deer, dog, cat, rabbit, or whatever jumps in front of your car, DON’T SWERVE! If it is a little boy or girl chasing a ball, swerve. Now, of course slamming on the brakes is ok, but your less likely to get into a head on accident that kills you or someone else if you stay in your own lane. Now, as I got older, and more experienced, I have swerved for a non-human when it was safe, but when I was learning it was very valuable advise. Oh, and also, when in waiting to make a left turn, keep your wheels straight until you start the turn, just in case someone hits you from behind. ---
**Author:** ![silk1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@silk1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silk1976)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/11 "2008-05-03T03:59:44Z")
[QUOTE=runner pat] You are never as good a driver as you think you are. [/QUOTE] And what they tell you when you get a pilots license is true for driving as well - it is a license to learn. Unfortunately, both those truths take maturity to really discover the meaning of - which a 15 year old will not have. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/12 "2008-05-03T04:13:15Z")
In winter conditions, you’re much better off driving by yourself, 100 yards from anyone else, than bunching up with others, even if it feels safer. Learn what the blind spot is, and don’t drive in someone else’s. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/13 "2008-05-03T04:14:41Z")
Never give a taxi an even break. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/14 "2008-05-03T04:15:56Z")
Chains are your friend. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/15 "2008-05-03T04:31:24Z")
Never trust the turn signal of an oncoming car, until they actually make the turn. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/16 "2008-05-03T04:32:31Z")
My dad made me change a tire by myself before I could even sit in the driver’s seat. Wasn’t a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/17 "2008-05-03T04:38:51Z")
After having gone through it with three, I have only one thing to say: What young people need to know before they start driving? Put GAS in the family car yourself sometimes. Dammit. It’s a major PITA for Mom to hop in the car to go to church only to find it running on fumes. So put some gas in the damn car occasionally, eh. If you don’t have money, then come get Mom’s Discover card, whatever it takes, but YOU deal with it so I don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/18 "2008-05-03T05:01:02Z")
When somebody cuts you off and nearly kills you or your loved ones, remember that fifteen minutes later, you’ll be happy that you didn’t get out of the car and make it personal. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/19 "2008-05-03T06:29:48Z")
Speeding tickets are really expensive. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838/20 "2008-05-03T17:28:40Z")
Here’s a single rule that is simple, useful, and just plain _vital_ for a 15 yr old kid: “If I do anything stupid , my dad will take away my keys”. And tell the kid that when his friends urge him to go joyriding/speeding, etc, he should repeat that rule out loud to them. “It’s all because of my stupid dad!.. so no, I can’t go drag racing, sorry. I’m cool for it, but my Dad’s an asshole.” So Dad gets called a-hole…It’s better than being called by the police morgue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-young-people-need-to-know-before-they-start-driving/447838.md?page=2)