Driving problems, please help!

1. I'm getting my licence this August, but I didn't even touch the highway. I can go up to 50 mph, but my dad thinks I'm not ready for the last speeds up to 80 mph because of my attention span. I don't think the DPS will give me my licence if I never went on the highway, will they?

2. I'm terrible with directions. I still confuse my right with my left and vice versa. And I'm scared of situations when I don't take my usual path to a destination. Like what if a road closes off or there's a shortcut, I feel like my brain is rewiring for a new deal that I can't handle. But I still know how to get to nearby locations, just with distant places.

3. Even though I got my permit last Febuary, my brain has not adapted to speed control. I still have problems maintaining my speed (not all the time). Either I'm too slow or too fast!

4. I'm unable to make quick judgements. Like when I make a turn, my brain just stops and I just freeze all of a sudden. My dad then shouts at me that another car comes and then I go. It's a habit that probably can't be fixed. My driving teachers also have told me that I can't do somethings fast.

Given the information you provided I'm not sure that you should be driving at all. But to answer your main question, as far as I know driving on freeways and highways isn't a part of the driving license test. It isn't here at least... which is unwise in my opinion.

So....you've given us many reasons why you should not be behind a wheel, but no reasons why you should. Seems like you already know the answer.

Have you had your eyes checked recently...including peripheral vision and depth perception? What about reaction times....can you properly respond to rapidly changing circumstances?

This isn't about following rules, which I know young people are loath to do. This is about avoiding injury and possible loss of life...including yours.

Perhaps some professional training would help. I'm sure there are driving schools around you someplace. It's important enough to do it right.

Good luck.

Well, I did go to driving school last year and I wear better glasses, so that's not the problem. My reaction time is just slow when I drive. And as for me, I get uncomfortable when something I'm used to is now changed to an environment when I'm constantly active. I mean, it's not a problem when I'm at 40... okay, maybe a little speed control issue, but it's nothing major.

Reasons I want to be behind a wheel is because I don't want to go home from school in a cramped bus, I want to perform shopping errands anytime I want, I want to help my family, and I can get out of the house when it's too upsetting and I just wanna run away.

But what if I tell them that I can drive anywhere except for the highway? I know a girl who can drive somewhere, even the highway, but never drove around in a city, yet she earned her license anyway. It was a vague conversation, but still, I don't think she completed her whole log for driving.

Being able to drive yourself is a great skill to have. When I just started driving I had some inhibitions too, particularly when faced with unfamiliar routes and highways. Additional training plus alone-time behind the wheel after you get your licence(no one yakking in your ears and making you more nervous) usually sharpens your skills, builds confidence and reduces some of those inhibitions.

Please ensure though that you are mentally fit to drive. Driving a vehicle is serious business. It requires focus and dexterity. Losing focus for even a second, hesitating on a busy road or braking too slowly in a situation that requires immediate action can turn that machine into a weapon of destruction.

Wishbone,
I agree with George H. I'm not sure you should be driving at all. I feel alright saying this because I also do not drive due to medications and how it effects my ability to make good, fast and correct decisions. I don't want to be the cause of a slow to react choice or cause others to be unable to make the right choices.
Think carefully about driving whenever you get behind the wheel and try to learn , hopefully your reactions and confidence will improve.
Good Luck to you,
Sami

In my opinion no one in HS should be driving to school when they have buses as transportation, it just adds to the pollution.

If you have had drivers training and still having so much trouble just re-new your learners permit until you get more experience behind the wheel. Driving isn't a requirement for growing up it is serious business. My middle sister took 4 tries before she passed her license test. Then on her own she smashed into a parked car because she had attention problems too. This was back in the early 70's in a small town so traffic wasn't a problem.

Got to agree with George and Sidestepper that it does not sound like you are ready to drive on your own. You said you just got your permit in February. That means you only have a few months experience driving. Why not give it more time? More experience behind the wheel might help with some of the problems you are having.

Driving is serious business. You are piloting a vehicle that can cause serious damage, even death. Give yourself time to gain the experience to be safe doing it.

It could be that you need more practice. MUCH more practice. At a guess, how many hours do you drive in a week? Can you repeat your driving instruction? (From a professional instructor...not family) How about Driving Simulators...do you have access to them? They are a good way to safely and inexpensively log some driving time.

You need practice staying in your lane, making turns at intersections smoothly, obeying signs and signals, and most importantly, anticipating and reacting to the bizarre crap that other drivers do every day. It just takes lots and lots of practice, until you can act and react automatically without having to take the time to think about it.

I've always wanted to use a Driving Sim. Where are those found??

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.

Back in my home town, the public high schools used them in conjunction with "on the road" instruction for their Drivers Ed. curriculum. Also many of the private driving academies used them. Dunno what may be available where you are. If nothing else, get a good quality video game that features driving or race cars or whatever, and use it with a steering wheel, that replaces the joystick or mouse. This will at least allow you to develop the hand/eye coordination and reflexes which are necessary for steering, avoiding obstacles, etc. etc.

Don't know right from left? Write the initials "L" and "R" on the back of your hands....don't worry about what people will say. In a couple of days it will be second nature to you. Don't worry about navigation at this time....it's the least of your worries.

Just try and relax, driving doesn't need to be hard. My biggest issue with driving is that it gets boring and I stop paying attention.

The more practice you have, the more comfortable you will be. And remember, going slower will lead you to make better decisions.

I got my license without ever driving on the highway I think. I live in lower NY and you are actually not allowed to go on the most common highway in my area with just a learner's permit anyway. If you expect to be driving on highways a lot though, you should probably have more practice, maybe early in the morning or late at night when the roads are less busy.

What really helped me right before my test was my father's insistence on driving every single day in like the week leading up to it, when it becomes routine the decisions start to come naturally.

Being yelled at won't help diminish the anxiety that you have about driving. I find driving very difficult, also.

Practice, Practice, Practice. Find roads that you feel comfortable on and practice your driving and speed at the right limit. Keep on practicing until you get more comfortable and can fully control your vehicle. I assume that where you live has speed guide limits for bends in the roads. Stick to those guide lines, or stay under them until you know you have control of your vehicle.

If you feel sleepy don't drive. If you are drug affected don't drive. If you have any alcohol in your body don't drive.

Before a learner driver in Australia get to be tested they have to log 200 hours with a fully licensed driver in all kinds of weather conditions and during the day and night.

Good Luck.