Suffice it to say, even on medications, I'm very uncomfortable when it comes to driving. I'm way too easily distracted, often missing such important things as stop signs until they're brought to my attention; I don't have a "feel" for keeping a constant speed, sometimes wavering from 30 to 50 and back within a matter of seconds; I have difficulties staying in the center of the lane, afraid I'll either ride onto the curb or into oncoming traffic; and when things don't go as planned, my first reaction is generally to panic, a bad choice when one is out on the road!

I'm 20 years old, and I'm still on my learner's permit, because I just don't feel comfortable out on the road by myself. It's purely a personal matter; I don't think I'm quite ready yet, because every time I go out driving, it seems, I manage to make some ridiculously stupid mistake. Yes, it does make me feel a bit ashamed; I'm not alone, by any means-- indeed, many of my close friends are also pedestrians by choice-- but it's still frustrating when everyone and his brother seem to have a car and get around town quite well in it.

And it's only worse when you're living on an urban campus that's surrounded on three sides by the inner city and the fourth by the interstate. Not exactly the best environment for walking or biking, I'll admit... Sure, I'll catch a ride with someone else whenever I can, but I'll quite openly admit that it's not exactly the most convenient solution.

So... any advice? Suggestions? Rants? Even a few "me too"s would suffice, really.

I'm glad you mentioned you are only 20 years old. when I started reading your post I immediatly thought to my self, gee, sounds like me when I first started driving. I got my licence when I was 18. I did really stupid stuff like you. once I even drove down the wrong side of the street ! to this day there are people that will not get in a car with me driving. but I'm proud to say I have not had a ticket in over 10 years. ( I've been pulled over just to see if I was alright, hehe ) I quit driving from 18 to 22. like you , I was not ready . But just take it slow. you know when your not "with it" so don't drive then . But on days you feel ok. just take short trips . unfortunatly you are in urban area. I was out in the country . and would just drive back roads until I could handle it and keep my focus. Good luck, its nothing to be ashamed of and you will get better in time.

Originally posted by Barbette
I'm glad you mentioned you are only 20 years old. when I started reading your post I immediatly thought to my self, gee, sounds like me when I first started driving. I got my licence when I was 18. I did really stupid stuff like you. once I even drove down the wrong side of the street ! to this day there are people that will not get in a car with me driving. but I'm proud to say I have not had a ticket in over 10 years. ( I've been pulled over just to see if I was alright, hehe ) I quit driving from 18 to 22. like you , I was not ready . But just take it slow. you know when your not "with it" so don't drive then . But on days you feel ok. just take short trips . unfortunatly you are in urban area. I was out in the country . and would just drive back roads until I could handle it and keep my focus. Good luck, its nothing to be ashamed of and you will get better in time.

I am a so called Proffecinal Truck driver now and I can relate totally to your post when I was your age. I agree with what barbette is saying and allways look to the positive side.



"at least you have the sence to recognise your need for additional practice"

My Truck (http://www3.sympatico.ca/garrylawton/Fun.jpg)

Hang in and keep practicing Just be carful

Originally posted by Barbette
...just take it slow. you know when your not "with it" so don't drive then . But on days you feel ok. just take short trips . unfortunatly you are in urban area. I was out in the country . and would just drive back roads until I could handle it and keep my focus. Good luck, its nothing to be ashamed of and you will get better in time.
Yeah; I feel like I drive better on back roads and smaller highways as well, which I do quite often during the summer holidays. And I do feel like I'm getting better, slowly but surely...

Still, my uncertainty-- combined with my absolutely horrible sense of direction-- aren't exactly the best traits to have while driving, either.

Another thing is that many people-- my parents included-- often have a hard time understanding that certain days I feel more suited to drive than others. For them, it's basically as if I should be able to drive whenever and wherever I feel like it-- an understandable position, sure (if I had to drive to work every day, I doubt I could use 'not being in the mood for driving' as an excuse!)... but still, it's a bit frustrating.

Maybe show them this commercial if they haven't seen it, or simpler, just ask them if they'd feel confident driving while watching TV?

link to ADD commercial; http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79690.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

I was a very nervous driver when I first started. Having somebody else in the car with my while I had my permit was even worse.

Once I began driving by myself I did so much better. It takes a lot of practice and experience to become a better driver and to be less nervous about things.

I'm the opposite....I've always been a good driver and have always loved driving. I have a motorcycle lic. and a CDL lic. I drive for a living...

Maybe in time you'll feel better about driving.........

Paula

Codeman, see what happens when you assume things? I was ***-uming (and reeeally hoping ) that you were 38. That way, I could not feel so bad about my driving at 39!!! :) It's perfectly understandable that you're not such a good driver at 22. You don't have that much experience just yet, so just hang in there.

My driving is not bad all the time, but sometimes it's far from good, let me tell ya. I've gone down one-way streets, made sudden stops unintentionally, cut people off because I'm trying to make the exit, etc.

And all it takes is for me to become distracted (eeeeasy one!) by something and it's all over.

Also, having another person in the car makes me nervous. I guess I feel watched and I make mistakes. I prefer to travel alone.

All you need is more experience under your belt. One thing that helps me though, is relaxing music. I can get stressed driving sometimes, especially in heavy traffic. So soothing music helps me relax and focus better.

Hang in there! :)

I personnaly hate night driving. It is very hard to keep my focus. And bright lites shining at me are very distractiong. Even worse is driving in snow.

Originally posted by fasttalkingmom
I'm the opposite....I've always been a good driver and have always loved driving. I have a motorcycle lic. and a CDL lic. I drive for a living...

Maybe in time you'll feel better about driving.........

Paula


What do you drive there driver

I am told I am very anxious behind the wheel. I see well ahead what is coming both for myself and the cars around me, and get aggravated by the "idiots" that don't anticipate merging traffic, changing lights, construction etc. I thought I was supposed to be the one in the fog! It is definitely a point of hyper-focus for me. I sometimes scare people in the car with me. They say I may know what I'm doing & where I'm going but the cars around me don't!

Mark

Argh. I'm horrible driving at night, in the rain, etc.

Really, though, there are some good points brought up in this thread-- even I've noticed that there are times when I feel "in tune" with driving and others when I'm easily distractible and have difficulty paying attention to my surroundings. It's the same thing that happens repeatedly in classes, in my piano practicing, in my programming... there are just some times when I'm in the right state of mind, and others when I'm absolutely not.

But that brings to mind another issue. I doubt that an excuse that "I wasn't in the right state of mind to drive to work" is going to go over well with employers in the future, as truthful as that would be. So what are some suggestions for getting in that ever-so-important state of mind for driving (or is there any way to do so, short of waiting what may possibly be days for it to come)?

Sigh; quite frustrating when one wants desperately to drive, but feels uncomfortable with his own driving and rarely in the mood to do so...

Oh, and I've done many of the same things you mention or had similar things happen-- going down the wrong side of a divided highway, for instance, or passing several stop signs in a row without even having noticed them. It's very frustrating, because if it weren't for the passenger (my dad, in these cases), I probably wouldn't have even noticed that I'd made a mistake... not a Good Thing at all. That's one of the reasons I'm so afraid of getting out on the road on my own: I know I'd do such things and probably not even notice what I'd done.

And as I've said, I can't keep a constant speed without constantly staring back and forth at the speedometer; I can't judge where I am in the lane without looking out to the side mirrors as a reference (and am always afraid I'm going to sideswipe some other car)... it's very frustrating.

And to add to the frustration, there are all the other drivers on the road, which greatly increase my anxiety because, well, if you've seen Georgia traffic you'll understand, heh. And anxiety is not a good thing to add to the equation, when you're already having difficulties!

Sigh...one of these days...probably when I'm 30 or so, at this rate...if not after that...

Codeman, I wasn't comfortable with the concept of driving and still aren't. Motorized vehicals when not properly controlled are a frightening concept. Nonetheless I officially got my license when I was in my early 20's. I drove a long time prior. I have been considered a good driver, I think I hyperfocus. When I am upset I drive better maybe I hyperfocus more or just don't want to take a bad mood out on my driving as my Father did. I am fairly comfortable driving once I am on the road. I dislike interstates and busy city driving. When I am familiar it isn't so bad.
One thing that helps me controll my "lead foot" is cruise controll.
Like the rest say, you will get over it. When you have had more experiece driving, a bit at a time. Your necessity to focus will probably over come your fear..hmmm does that make sense?
I live in a med small town, and that makes it easier for me.
Good luck! I drive a big lincoln for the safety factor or my full size van.
Keep my child safer. (Oh and me too)I feel that is VERY important. Plus I can haul around tons of junk so I don't forget anything. Just leave it in there.

Yeah, I loooooooove my van too. I can't imagine driving any other car. Maybe someday I'll have a second sports car, but can't afford it right now, and there's too much traffic in CA to be able to make driving it fun anyway. And it blows not being able to see over traffic like in the van.

I once got a sppeding ticket in a small TX speed trap town on the way back up to college. Got another speeding ticket the very next day in a different speed trap on the way back home. My first speeding ticket (I think I've had 8-10--can't remember) was when I was 18. Got it in Diboll, TX coming back from Nacogdoches, TX. I was freaked out--thought my parents would kill me!

Can't stand driving at night either--too hard to see!

Don't drive Automatics!

If I drive an automatic I find it's much easier to get distracted simply because you're not as involved in driving the car.

Also on big boring highways I need to be in the tripple digit speed range in order to keep from daydreaming. (I won't recommend this though ;) )

When I do drive 65 it's scary. I get so bored I daydream to the point where I'm completely oblivious to whats around me.

Also, when on the highway there's rarely a need to shift gears which makes it even worse.

The ADDA conference had a session on AD/HD and Driving this past year. The tape can be ordered through http://www.add.org

The number of this tape session is ADDA-B14

Originally posted by InattentiveType
Don't drive Automatics!

If I drive an automatic I find it's much easier to get distracted simply because you're not as involved in driving the car.

Problem is, I'm nervous enough as it is! Maybe if I were more skilled in driving an automatic... but I have enough trouble keeping everything coordinated without the added challenges of manual transmission. I shudder to think how much worse off I'd be trying to shift gears at the same time as everything else, which I already find overwhelming... and besides, I'd probably wreck the blasted thing from staring down at the RPM gauge at the wrong time. (I can't even tell when my speed is fluctuating; at this point, there's no way at all that I'd be able to sense when it was time to change gears...)

'Tis a dangerous combination-- inattention and a lack of coordination. And besides that, when I'm not utterly zoned out, I tend to feel rather overwhelmed by all the things I'm supposed to be taking in...

Maybe I just shouldn't drive at all... :(

Incidentally, someone on another forum made a really good suggestion that seems to work quite well within my particular style of thinking: align the middle of the lane with your right foot. (Or left foot, if you're living in a country that drives on the left-hand side of the road.)

It's actually easier for me to line up the car that way than to align with some physical thing that I have to visually observe.

Now if only I could figure out a nice way to estimate how far the car extends in front of and behind me...