Learning to drive later in life

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Where is this? Why not do this? Safer says me How strange...

Having both hands on the wheel is always going to be safer than just one, regardless of the situation. At least that is what I was taught in regards to this situation.

[Scandi 4,181]

I love driving and have done so since I was 13 years old (don't tell anyone!) so that's the easy part for me - also the fact that we only drive manual where I come from, automatic transmissions are kinda rare still. So driving automatics in the Amerikas will be super easy, I don't even see it as actually driving (the car does most of the work for you!).

My issue though.. will be that I've lived all my life in a village of about 4000 people and have very little experience of city traffic.. and I'm moving to a BIG city with crazy traffic. That'll be interesting..

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

OP, my wife was the same way when she came here from the Philippines. She only ever drove a motorbike and when she came here it was a long learning process with trying to drive. She failed the written exam literally 4 times before she passed and one driving test before she passed so don't feel bad. She is one of the safest drivers I know, and does not like trying to drive on the Freeway which here in Los Angeles is hard to do.

Have you had to buy a new clutch for your husbands car yet?

[UnaMexicana 153]

New clutch? Hahaa that is cruel

I am going through the same struggle as you are. I figure it is worse because I already drove in Mexico City (I know) for over 10 years. It is SO hard to re wire your brain to actually follow the rules and learn new and very specific things... The joys of the imperial system... The many many road signs and their classification... Oh, those four way stops. It does not help to see people do illegal things and make stupid mistakes all the time. Drives me mad now that I am trying to learn the rules, haha. I want my license too!

I had visited several times before. I drove for like six months without ever being pulled over once... Husband said I was doing a very good job. And now, I can't drive because I am a resident. I have been here for a week and I don't know what I would do without the bicycle, Bart and Caltrain. I can't get insured anymore or legally drive with my Mexican license... Not until I get the CA license. Arrrrgh!

All this long rant just to tell you I am there with you. I even considered driving school. But first, I will try and pass the test with self education, Google and YouTube videos.

I wish you luck!

[TheRowgles 10]

My wife who is from the Philippines never had to drive either. I taught her when she got here. Now she drives better (and safer) than I do. But when she was learning, there were moments.... Once she was turning at an intersection and didn't yield to the old couple, and they were like deer in headlights. The woman ran one way across and the man ran the other way back to get out of her way. And one time she almost came to a complete stop in the middle of the interstate, right where just that week a semi truck ran over a car and killed the occupants. She had to take her driving test 3 times. We even had to go to a town far away where the testing person wouldn't know her, and we practiced driving all the streets and roads near that facility for a week before the test so she would be familiar with all the possible routes and traffic when she tested. The tester passed her, but told her she should still practice a lot. She was 34 or 35 at the time,

Now she is an expert driver, never in an accident, never a speeding ticket, and she has had to drive EVERYWHERE by herself, long distances. She is great, and I admire her.

We also drove up to where the testing place was drove around probably for a total of like 8 hours and I still failed. I guess it's more about knowing how to drive come any road situation rather than just memorizing certain areas. Ah well! That's amazing and good to hear that she does so well now.

OP, have you ever considered taking a few driving lessons with a driving school? I was in a similar situation like you (at the age of 29, I had never driven a car and had to start from scratch - I didn't even know how to use windshield wipers and roll down car windows!). The driving lessons I took helped tremendously. I got to practice and ask all of my questions about how to drive correctly and pass the test. Passed on the first try.

Good luck!

I am actually currently looking into getting a couple hours of lessons with a driving school, hopefully they can fit me in before my test next week. My husband still (still as in, I still do it lol) makes fun of me for pushing the button for the window the wrong direction

OP, my wife was the same way when she came here from the Philippines. She only ever drove a motorbike and when she came here it was a long learning process with trying to drive. She failed the written exam literally 4 times before she passed and one driving test before she passed so don't feel bad. She is one of the safest drivers I know, and does not like trying to drive on the Freeway which here in Los Angeles is hard to do.

Have you had to buy a new clutch for your husbands car yet?

Haha I swear he grinds the gears more than I do. I think that's because he never really fully depresses the clutch. I only mess up when I rev up too high I guess - I still don't know much about it to talk about it haha. Whenever that happens though I'll just be like whoops sorry sweetie, burned dinner again!

[Rc123rc 528]

I've been driving for 44 years. As far as backing up is concerned, it used to be the norm to just check around you and then turn your head around with one arm over the shoulder. Cars had big back windows. However, with modern window size and placements, blind spots, etc that might be difficult. If you have ever driven truck or towed a trailer, you know you have to use mostly mirrors and side windows. It's tough to get used to so I can sympathize.

California Driver's Handbook States:

Back up. Backing up is always dangerous because it is hard to see behind your vehicle. When you are backing out of a parking space:

• Check in front and behind the vehicle before you get in.
• Know where your kids are. Make sure they are away from your vehicle and in full view before moving your vehicle.
• If other children are nearby, make sure you can see them before backing up.
• Do not depend only on your mirrors or only looking out a side window.
• Turn and look over your right and left shoulders before you begin backing. As a safety measure, look over your right and left shoulders again while backing.
• Back slowly to avoid collisions.

Basically, you don't focus on one thing. Back slowly and keeping checking all your surroundings. A good example: What if you are backing out of a parking space? You need to turn the wheel usually. That's means there might be a vehicle to your left or right that the front corner of your vehicle is getting close to as you make the turn out of the space. Also, you may have checked for pedestrians or obstacles at the beginning but cars move, pedestrians pop out of nowhere and shopping carts mysteriously appear where there where none before.

I have a 19 year old daughter that is going to learn shortly how to drive. She is scared of everything. Also, my fiance is from Japan where she walks or rides public transportation everywhere. She has a license but practical driving experience is almost none. Japan drives on the left. I am going to have to teach her how to drive in California because unless you live in one of the big cities, you drive everywhere to get where you are going. This should be interesting.

Safe Driving everyone!

[Spmaria 11]

Same here. Lived in Moscow near the subway station then moved to New York City. Never ever wanted to drive. And I also was in the accident when I was 12: my cousin took me grocery shopping on his motorcycle and we ended up off road with lots of bruises. I'm kinda scared of speed and failures. I love transit where I can sit and read something without paying attention to the road and traffic, my husband owns a small black limo business in the City so I always had an access to every possible public transit. I never thought about getting a license. But a little over a year ago we moved suburban New Jersey and had 2 kids. Yesterday I walked 40 minutes one way with 2 toddlers to pick a parcel at the post office and get a gallon of milk for kids at the local deli. Then 40 minutes back. And those street aren't made for walking with kids, half the way there wasn't even a sidewalk... So I'm going for my permit on Monday. Scared to death to pass the road test in 3 months.

[orangefrap77 5]

My husband is also learning to drive - he's 23 and technically he had his G1 in Canada, but that doesn't translate to anything down here (especially since it expired while we were at University). He just took his Florida Learner's test and he was asking me questions to see where I stood. I've been on the road for 8 years and there were some things I have forgot or don't know the exact law on...Anywho, we're getting him started on proper driving lessons since it's been 7 years for him since he had a lesson.

OP, if it helps you feel better, my mother was also from Toronto and didn't learn how to drive until she was 31 (about 6 months before she had me). She only got her license when she promised her tester that she would NEVER parallel park...she holds that promise to this day

[Rc123rc 528]

My driving test inspector had me parallel park on a hill facing upwards. He must have been in a sadistic mood.

[WandY 430]

Two pointers from someone that has taught driving to Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants:

1. On interstate highways, slow drivers need to stay in the right lane. Many foreigners seem perplexed by this rule, but that's the system on most interstate highways - if not all.

2. If you get a moving violation ticket (i.e. speeding, etc.), there may be points assessed towards your license. This means that your license will be in jeopardy of being revoked or restricted (if too many points in a given period). Also, traffic citations may result in a higher insurance bill. You can often get a lawyer to reduce/change your ticket to a non-moving (no points) violation. Usually, this means "fixing" the ticket from a speeding ticket to a non-moving ticket (defective exhaust, etc.), thus saving your points and insurance costs. This does, however, mean you will pay a larger fine and legal expenses. If you are prone to tickets, best to "fix" them before getting points.

One more thing: Don't use your phone while driving. It's dangerous and it makes people mad. Drive and arrive alive.

[Phil&Mich 36]

as I was reading your story, I cant help but laugh because I experienced if not all almost all of them, except I practiced in an automatic, I came from Windsor and we're living at Michigan, they said there's no difference because we're only about 35-40 minutes away, but when I was practicing in Windsor it was easier, too much car and too much aggressive drivers here in Michigan..

my husband just bought me my own car about 2 weeks ago, (no problem in getting my license because I had G1 in Canada) that's all I need to apply for my license here.

he believed that when I have my own car I will be more excited to go out and drive, that way i'll be more confident, but alas, my car is sleeping in our driveway lol

one time he called me and asked me to park my car infront of our house (side street parking) because he's going to bring his company car home and he need to park in the driveway, and so I did! I tried all the techniques he taught me about reverse, and tried that reverse side parking, for the love of all the angels, I succeeded going to and fro, about 10 times., sometimes I was in a middle of the road, other times back tires in the curb or sometimes I feel like all the tires of my car are all getting away out of control :rofl: I went out of my car about four times to check if I parked ok, then finally I think I made it and I was so proud of myself only to realized my underarms were sooo wet!!!!

I was just hoping no one of my neighbors were watching me then..

Edited May 11, 2016 by Phil&Mich

[TBoneTX 46,194]

1. On interstate highways, slow drivers need to stay in the right lane.

2. Don't use your phone while driving. It's dangerous and it makes people mad.

1. Thank you. This goes for internal highways, too.

2. Thank you.

Edited May 11, 2016 by TBoneTX

[3rd 84]

The third error which bugged me the most was I was at a stop sign about to turn right and I hear sirens so I look around, and since I am already as close to the curb as I can be because I'm about to turn right and at an intersection, there is no real room for me to pull over. The emergency vehicle comes up behind me and passes me and I turn right. But before it cleared and I turned right the agent told me to pull over. I had no idea what that meant since I was already as far right as I could be and at an intersection. I also really regret not asking her what I should have done, I was just caught off guard.

You were at an intersection. I know the road manual differ from state to state but I know CA says that you need to move through the intersection then pull over to the right. This is probably what she expected from you, but it was a [suboptimal] way for her to do it.

i heard if you are over 25 you just need to do the driving test no written test so that is lucky

I don't know if this is true. I'm going in for my provisional on Monday and I have to take the written test and I'm 28 years old. I'd actually expect to take the test, it would worry me so many people not knowing the rules of the road! Although, it's completely another thing that a lot of them don't abide by them. The amount of people cruising along in the middle lanes on the highway makes me want to rip my hair out!

Edited May 12, 2016 by TBoneTX
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[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

What Harpa said about throwing your hand behind the passenger seat works for some instructors. Casually turning your head isn't good enough especially during road test. My instructor took a point for doing the casual head turn. And when you drive in Austin,Texas, using your driver side mirror and a little head turn is not the safest approach. Folks will run you off the highway.

OP shouldn't be embarrassed. I took my driving test at the age of 24...there's no embarrassment about that. As my friend will say, "who's checking?"..lol. Good luck

[IguanaCouple 26]

Parallel parking can be a real #######. Both my wife and I have parallel parking anxiety and I suspect we re on YouTube somewhere trying to parallel park and taking 10 mins to do it.