Almost Ready to Give Up

[Ephesia 0]

Ephesia, maybe it's worth you picking up a knackered old banger that's an auto to get the hang of driving around, and then moving to a manual later on. Or not, as you decide. Plenty of Americans only ever drive an auto - they have no idea what the clutch is for or how to make a manual car go forward!

LOL. Funny you should mention that. A couple of hours ago I told hubby about this thread. He laughed, then told me in all seriousness he's going to get some credit card debt down after he gets his tax check, save a bit of money over the next few months, and get me a decent car that's an auto. In the meantime, I'm stuck with his super bright yellow manual car.

We are, however, going to visit with his best friend and family this evening. And his best friend drives an auto truck. I'm going to ask him to let me have a go at it. I love trucks. Vroom vroom!

PS. Driving lesson today got postponed to tomorrow.

[ChristinaM 0]

LOL I love making people have to slow down when merging

Even if someone is there I start to move on in, once it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them they slow down or move to the other lane Believe me, they'll move

And it's people like you who are scaring the heck out of Sharon right now

We all have some lousy driving habits, but wouldn't the world be a nicer place if we were all a little nicer on the roads?!

[Ephesia 0]

I always say. Dont let someone in your family teach you how to drive. Especially if they have been driving forever. They just dont have the patience My dad took me out once, and that was it for me. Never again did I ask him.

My husband is very patient, which actually makes me feel worse sometimes, lol. But you're right about the bit that they have been driving forever. Somehow, I don't think he really remembers what it's like to sit behind the wheel of this big steel machine that might possess a mind of its own. It also doesn't exactly help when they say things like, "Driving's really easy, hon. All you gotta do is practice."

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

LOL I love making people have to slow down when merging

Even if someone is there I start to move on in, once it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them they slow down or move to the other lane Believe me, they'll move

Please stop. It's not cute. It's bad driving. Have some consideration for others on the road. What's wrong with going a little faster or slower and merging correctly.

[Sharon 1]

2 things when merging

1. get up to the speed of traffic. It's very scary when traffic is going 55 and you're going 25. And DON'T STOP while merging (unless the traffic is stopped) you WILL cause an accident

2. when merging just don't rely on mirrors. look over your left shoulder. I still do this and have been driving for 20 years.

Well I was going 50 at least and accelerating and had my signal on from the very beginning and had very little on the merge lane left in front of me and still nobody was letting me get in. It was either stop dead or take the next exit so I chose the latter. What can I do then?

I have to rely on my mirror rch...lol. I'm in a mini-van with a high back and headrest and I am just under 5 feet 2 inches. So when I look over my left shoulder, all that I see is grey upholstery...lol.

Arrrrrrrgh I wish I just knew how to do it already! I didn't drive today at all cuz it was raining and foggy. Just as well too, cuz when we got to the top of a high point in the mountains here, we couldn't see more than 5 feet ahead of us for about 5 minutes. Maybe tomorrow....

[Sharon 1]

hahhahahahaa..

driving is easy. the car drives itself. what the problem?

no one wont hit you. people are afraid of high insurance rates.

relax and you will be fine. dont panic - nothing wont hit you.

Edited February 5, 2006 by Sharon

[Chicky 0]

LOL I love making people have to slow down when merging

Even if someone is there I start to move on in, once it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them they slow down or move to the other lane Believe me, they'll move

Please stop. It's not cute. It's bad driving. Have some consideration for others on the road. What's wrong with going a little faster or slower and merging correctly.

Why should I? In Oregon people merging have the right of way and the OTHER driver is the one who has to watch out for merging traffic and either slow, down or move to the another lane if its safe for them to do so. I don't run into them, but I let them know that I'm coming in, I have the right away and I always have my signal on indicating I'm merging as I come up where traffic can see my car. If its 100 feet of a lane before I hit the freeway they have more than enough time to see me and allow me to merge into traffic. It isn't bad driving on my part, I've never hit anyone, never came close, they are the bad drivers for not following the traffic laws of Oregon by not slowing down to allow merging traffic to merge, or moving to another lane to allow merging traffic to merge. I've seen people get tickets for accidents caused by merging, and the person on the freeway who didn't slow down was handed the whopping ticket and I've also seen people get into trouble for not being up to the speed limit when merging, or for slowing down and stopping as it was a hazard also. In Portland they have traffic lights to control the merging of traffic onto the freeway that way everyone isn't trying to merge at the same time. I don't know the laws in your state, but thats the traffic laws in Oregon. If they don't move or slow down when I start to move over of course I slow down and slam on my brakes etc, if they definitely aren't moving then I'd slow down. So NO, I'm not driving bad, I'm just following the traffic laws of my state, they are the ones NOT following the traffic rules rch

[KarenCee 3]

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Sharon)))))))))))))))))))))))))) you can do it....I know you can I bet we'll see you posting here pretty soon that you've gotten your license

[Sharon 1]

I always say. Dont let someone in your family teach you how to drive. Especially if they have been driving forever. They just dont have the patience My dad took me out once, and that was it for me. Never again did I ask him.

My husband is very patient, which actually makes me feel worse sometimes, lol. But you're right about the bit that they have been driving forever. Somehow, I don't think he really remembers what it's like to sit behind the wheel of this big steel machine that might possess a mind of its own. It also doesn't exactly help when they say things like, "Driving's really easy, hon. All you gotta do is practice."

My hubby is VERY patient too, more than I could ever be, I'll tell you that. Even yesterday when I broke down in tears of fear and frustration even tho I heard him sigh haha he was still very understanding about it, really. Like you tho, I sonetimes feel like he doesn't remember how I feel to be learning to drive. How can he when he freakin' drives these huge dump trucks and tractors and plows etc. every single day?

And oh yeah he says the same thing to me too...."You WILL get it, you just have to do it more."

Well I need to not be afraid to do it more too....

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Sharon)))))))))))))))))))))))))) you can do it....I know you can I bet we'll see you posting here pretty soon that you've gotten your license

LOL! I'm not as sure as you are about that but thanks, Karen.

I suppose I can dream, if nothing else.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

LOL I love making people have to slow down when merging

Even if someone is there I start to move on in, once it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them they slow down or move to the other lane Believe me, they'll move

Please stop. It's not cute. It's bad driving. Have some consideration for others on the road. What's wrong with going a little faster or slower and merging correctly.

Why should I? In Oregon people merging have the right of way and the OTHER driver is the one who has to watch out for merging traffic and either slow, down or move to the another lane if its safe for them to do so. I don't run into them, but I let them know that I'm coming in, I have the right away and I always have my signal on indicating I'm merging as I come up where traffic can see my car. If its 100 feet of a lane before I hit the freeway they have more than enough time to see me and allow me to merge into traffic. It isn't bad driving on my part, I've never hit anyone, never came close, they are the bad drivers for not following the traffic laws of Oregon by not slowing down to allow merging traffic to merge, or moving to another lane to allow merging traffic to merge. I've seen people get tickets for accidents caused by merging, and the person on the freeway who didn't slow down was handed the whopping ticket and I've also seen people get into trouble for not being up to the speed limit when merging, or for slowing down and stopping as it was a hazard also. In Portland they have traffic lights to control the merging of traffic onto the freeway that way everyone isn't trying to merge at the same time. I don't know the laws in your state, but thats the traffic laws in Oregon. If they don't move or slow down when I start to move over of course I slow down and slam on my brakes etc, if they definitely aren't moving then I'd slow down. So NO, I'm not driving bad, I'm just following the traffic laws of my state, they are the ones NOT following the traffic rules rch

It's called 'courtesy'. That's why. Don't just merge with the "F### you. I have the right of way, attitude". YOU said you look like you are going to side-swipe them. Not me.

BTW. I looked up Oregon traffic laws and you are WRONG. The people on the highway/freeway have the right of way. not the person merging.

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR DRIVERS

OREGON VEHICLE CODE

"811.285 Failure of merging driver to yield right of way; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a merging driver to yield the right of way if the person is operating a vehicle that is entering a freeway or other arterial highway where an acceleration or merging lane is provided for the operator’s use and the operator does not look out for and give right of way to vehicles on the freeway or other arterial highway."

http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/811.html

[pj1959us 0]

Sharon, reading your posts on this thread don't really sound like you. I have been a member here for quite some time, and know you have spit and vinegar when you need it. Now you need it.

Take the aspects of driving that you fear the most and practice practice practice them....and do NOT let your husband take over. Knowing you can just turn the wheel over to him is holding you back from getting over your fear. The next time you drive, tell him to not take over, no matter what. As you encounter these times you are uncomfortable or scared, have him talk you through it, but don't let him take over. Your husband sounds as if he can be a very calming influence on you...trust him.

Once you do the things that have frightened you a few times, you will be fine. I do know that seeing all of those cars coming at you can be scary at first, but prepare yourself and just work through it. You've seen them once...now just work through in your mind what you need to do when you experience it the next time.

This is something you MUST do and I know you have the strength within yourself to DO it. Your daughter depends on you and you will be needed in a short time by her....besides, just think of how big an accomplishment it will feel like when you do it...and I know you can.

Just do it. What's the alternative?

Go get 'em, tiger.

[Fuzzness 2]

I'm sorry but I have not seen or heard of anywhere where merging traffic have the right of way.

[ladybird216 2]

Halfway thru the off ramp and I had to pull over to the shoulder to let hubby take over cuz I was bawling and shaking and I'd had it.

Not sure if I am wrong here, but the way I read Sharons first post was that she was trying to exit the freeway...not merge into it!

[Chicky 0]

Well the guy from the DMV on the ride along for me to get my license is a dumbass then rch I was merging and he told me to go as I had right of away. I just looked it up also and you're right, the DMV where I live are idiots and always have been but anyway they are supposed to move and or slow down when someone needs to merge if they can safely do so.

I do move in and it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them but I come nowhere close, I have never come close to hitting anyone when merging, I don't live in a town with billions of cars on the road either so sometimes people just don't give a flying ###### and stay where they are to be #######. That's probably why they got the ticket, I was a witness to an accident where the person with the right of way was given the ticket because they did not allow the person to merge (they sped up on purpose so they couldn't merge and the person had already begun to move into the lane so they hit each other) so yeah, the person on the highway got the ticket no the merging person. I was also in a car when my friend got pulled over for going to slow when trying to merge as it was dangerous and she said, well if I was going fast no one would let me in. I've been ###### with a lot on the open highways here, semi's mostly but a lot of other people so that's why I've gotten agressive where I live, you have to because the people here drive like #######. So sorry if that pisses you off but I've avoided a lot of wrecks from people driving like dickheads here. Especially in the winter where people think they are invincible in their SUV's with studs so drive 70 (no kidding) on a 2-3 inches of ice with 6 inches of snow on top.

Edited February 5, 2006 by Chicky

[mercuryroad 0]

LOL I love making people have to slow down when merging

Even if someone is there I start to move on in, once it looks like I'm going to sideswipe them they slow down or move to the other lane Believe me, they'll move

Please stop. It's not cute. It's bad driving. Have some consideration for others on the road. What's wrong with going a little faster or slower and merging correctly.

Why should I? In Oregon people merging have the right of way and the OTHER driver is the one who has to watch out for merging traffic and either slow, down or move to the another lane if its safe for them to do so. I don't run into them, but I let them know that I'm coming in, I have the right away and I always have my signal on indicating I'm merging as I come up where traffic can see my car. If its 100 feet of a lane before I hit the freeway they have more than enough time to see me and allow me to merge into traffic. It isn't bad driving on my part, I've never hit anyone, never came close, they are the bad drivers for not following the traffic laws of Oregon by not slowing down to allow merging traffic to merge, or moving to another lane to allow merging traffic to merge. I've seen people get tickets for accidents caused by merging, and the person on the freeway who didn't slow down was handed the whopping ticket and I've also seen people get into trouble for not being up to the speed limit when merging, or for slowing down and stopping as it was a hazard also. In Portland they have traffic lights to control the merging of traffic onto the freeway that way everyone isn't trying to merge at the same time. I don't know the laws in your state, but thats the traffic laws in Oregon. If they don't move or slow down when I start to move over of course I slow down and slam on my brakes etc, if they definitely aren't moving then I'd slow down. So NO, I'm not driving bad, I'm just following the traffic laws of my state, they are the ones NOT following the traffic rules rch

It's called 'courtesy'. That's why. Don't just merge with the "F### you. I have the right of way, attitude". YOU said you look like you are going to side-swipe them. Not me.

BTW. I looked up Oregon traffic laws and you are WRONG. The people on the highway/freeway have the right of way. not the person merging.

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR DRIVERS

OREGON VEHICLE CODE

"811.285 Failure of merging driver to yield right of way; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a merging driver to yield the right of way if the person is operating a vehicle that is entering a freeway or other arterial highway where an acceleration or merging lane is provided for the operator’s use and the operator does not look out for and give right of way to vehicles on the freeway or other arterial highway."

http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/811.html

LOL - I can't believe you looked that up dude.