<p>I learned to drive at 21 and then immediately drove across the country. I’m sure my parents were terrified.</p>
<p>Advice:</p>
<p>Don’t get distracted by passengers. My first near accident was caused by a crying baby.</p>
<p>Don’t back into mailboxes.</p>
<p>If you’ve pulled into a right angle parking space from one direction if you want to leave going back the way you came, you have to be extra extra careful pulling out because your wheels and the slight angle of the car will be set so it works better to back out the way you came in.</p>
<p>If you are still feeling that tense about driving in traffic and unsure about turning, braking and backing up, I would strongly recommend that you get your mom to go out with you at around 6 AM on a few Sunday mornings. Until you feel like you can make those judgments about when to brake, how to turn and then straighten out the wheel, and so forth, you really don’t need the pressure of lots of other cars.</p>
<p>Re-reading your comments, one specific suggestion about turning - after you turn a corner, you don’t really have to turn the wheel to start going straight again. If you loosen your grip on the steering wheel (don’t let go, just don’t grip it tightly) the wheel will slide through your hands until you are going straight again. Try this in a parking lot with no other cars nearby. One of my kids had a hard time with this issue too, thinking she had to maintain a death grip and turn the wheel to make a corner and then wrench it back. Your car wants to go straight and should do that unless you turn it left or right. I finally taught her by holding the wheel with her as it happened. She also learned to parallel park by holding the wheel with me. Literally getting a feel for how it worked was more effective than anything I could say.</p>
<p>One thing that surprises me a bit is that you aren’t required to do any kind of drivers’ education. Here in California new drivers need to take a class before they can even get a learners permit to practice. Are you exempt from that requirement because you’re 20? The California DMV also publishes a booklet explaining all the rules of the road; is there something like that in CT?</p>
<p>While driving is new to you, you need to limit as many distractions as you can. So, turn the radio down or (preferably) off. Also, if you have passengers, tell them that you need to concentrate on driving, so keep conversation to a minimum.</p>
<p>Once you are more comfortable driving, you will be able to do both, but while you are still learning, it’s best to have your full focus on the road.</p>
<p>In MA, it is a little complicated. We have the T green line, which are actually trolleys, and one does not need to stop at these tracks. But school buses are not only required to stop at all operational railroad tracks; they are also required to open the door and look down the track before passing. Any vehicle with flammable cargo must also come to a full stop before crossing railroad tracks.</p>
<p>Several of us have been emphasizing this point because it’s important. Do not sit on the bumper of the guy in front of you. If you do, you’re an accident waiting to happen.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’ll be driving in Massachusetts, yes?</p>
<p>From page 70:</p>
<p>“Always keep enough space between your vehicle and others to give yourself room to stop
safely or avoid hazards.
• Use the “two-second” rule to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Pick an object in front of you, like a sign post or a tree. When the vehicle in front of
you reaches that object, count out “one one-thousand, two one-thousand……”. If you
reach the object before you count two, you are too close. Slow down until you’ve put
enough distance between you and the other vehicle.
The two-second rule is a minimum safe distance for good road conditions and moderate traffic.
Count three or four seconds for added safety and when traffic allows.”</p>
<p>familyof3boys - yes, right now I have no idea how other drivers text/play with the radio while driving. It seems way too hard, lol. </p>
<p>puzzled - I had gotten my permit when I was 16 but it was only a written test. Of course, that was over four years ago so I’m sure it doesn’t count for much but still. I think CT is pretty chill - once you turn 18, to get your license all you need to do is take an 8hr drug and alcohol course, take the written exam and then the driving test. You don’t need any formal instruction whatsoever. </p>
<p>Deb - thanks for the link! I’ll be driving in southern CT mostly, IDK yet if I’m gonna have a car up at college, in Storrs.</p>
<p>It’s pretty common for states to waive driver’s ed past a certain age. BUT, there is often an insurance break if you take it. That’s the way it works in MA; they encourage you to take driver’s ed with an incentive/penalty. I’d make sure about that.</p>
<p>I will be 19 in 9 days and I have renewed my permit once… meaning I’ve had it two years. At first, I drove a bit. I had a drivers ed course and drove with my mom a bit. But, things happened - a death in the family, school trips, and jaw surgery. I never got in touch with drivers ed (had one more course to take!) again. Now I’m back where I started - no idea what I’m doing. I won’t be driving in college at all. So, I don’t know when I’ll learn to drive. Next summer I’m having another major surgery… so, life sort of doesn’t want me to drive I guess. Also, my parents work all day, and I have no spare car to test on. With them gone, I have no practice. Also, for kicks, my father WILL NOT let me drive with him in the car. So only my mom is able to let me practice and often times she’s tired and doesn’t want to. I’m in a pickle. I wish my parents had made me learn at 15 like everyone else. </p>
<p>Maybe I’ll learn during Christmas break and get it then since it’ll be less traffic around here. Anyway, good luck! I hope I get my license soon…</p>