Hey Lucky Wishbone...

I'm going to take a little bit of a different angle. I was very similar to you when I first started learning to drive... I was nervous, had a terrible sense of direction, wanted to slow down so that I could take my time figuring out what to do, and generally wasn't a great driver. (In my defense, I didn't have a driving class and my dsyfunctional parents apparently thought I should magically just "know" how to drive, so I really learned by trial-and-error - which I do NOT recommend.)

I actually think MOST people start this way (so I'm a little surprised by people telling you not to drive at all). Driving is a skill that we learn by "practicing" (i.e. actual driving). Just because you're not confident and skillful NOW, doesn't mean you won't ever be.

So, here's what I'd recommend...

1. Get a hold of a good GPS and carry it with you. If you know where you're going and don't need it, fine. However, if you have trouble navigating (and I *still* do) - a GPS can be a life saver. It is for me. You know how some people talk about how getting glasses changed their lives? That's what the GPS does for me. I don't have to worry about getting lost, and when I'm trying to get someplace new, I don't get as distracted watching for turns or buildings, because the GPS will tell me where they are (i.e. I can pay attention to the driving). For those of us that don't have a fabulous innate sense of direction, it's really a miraculous, wonderful, infinitely useful thing. (Just don't play around with changing the options WHILE driving - do it while parked!)

2. Is there anyone you can practice with? Preferably someone calm who will not yell at you? Whether that's a parent/aunt/uncle/grandparent/driving instructor/etc - I think actually DRIVING is what will give you more confidence, and help solidify the skills. That's what has helped me the most. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become - but if you're not comfortable YET, having someone around to help guide you can be helpful.

3. As others have said, make a point to use your full attention driving. Pay attention to what's going on around you (other cars? people out walking? kids playing that might run into the road). Watch out for inanimate obstacles too (bumps, poles, curbs).

You might need more practice... you might not be ready to start driving yourself back and forth to school alone. And, that's OK. Riding a hot, crowded bus is still much better than getting into an accident and possibly killed! You just keep practicing... get some support from more experienced drivers in your life, and eventually it will start to click.

To make my point, I failed my driving test at LEAST twice (that I remember) and my mother basically refused to take me back until I knew how to drive (again, without help or lessons, go figure). Despite that, I'm a pretty good driver today - and I'm very comfortable driving... it just takes lots of practice!

Good luck to you, and stick with it...

Oh, and I think you can still get a license with no highway experience. I've actually known licensed drivers that were scared of highways and avoided them. I actually find highways a bit easier (once you are used to the speed) - b/c there are few people entering traffic, no lights, and the road itself feels a bit wider. Just fyi.