How to start driving again?

[jedamum]

i am also timid kind of driver, primarily because my sense of direction is not so good. just sharing 2 cents.


1. don’t get your spouse to sit beside you if he is the critical sort or treasures his car.
get someone else (sibling/friend) instead.
but if really need to get spouse to sit beside you, be clear to him that you only want to hear constructive feedback.
i drive better with my children with me because i am very protective of them.
i never drive with my dh sitting with me after the first few rounds.

2. sit beside your spouse when he is driving. keep a look out on the road conditions too and ‘pretend’ you are the driver.
now when i sit beside my spouse, i will instinctively step on the imaginary brake when he gets too near to the car in front or ‘check blindspot’ before filtering.

3. start off by driving during off peak hours at familiar places first (eg send kids to and fro from school). go nearby shopping mall during offpeak. etc.

good luck.

[linden2000]

On the contrary, i find that putting up the triangular sign may not result in people giving way. Unfortunately there are some road bullies out there who assume that a woman driver with a triangular sign means ‘bad driver’ and ‘can bully’ so you may end up being horned at and tailgated more often.


Like the others have mentioned, it’s all about practice and confidence. Start off driving short distances off-peak hours before progressing to further places and the expressways. If getting lost is a worry, get a GPS.

Initially starting out, if you get horned at don’t panic and don’t be pressurized into doing things by other drivers. For eg right turn at traffic junction where you need to judge whether the oncoming car going straight from the opposite direction is far enough for you to turn safely. Don’t worry about the other car horning you from behind. Judge for yourself whether you can make a safe turn. After all, it’s your own safety at stake.

Just my 2 cents worth of sharing. Hope it goes well for you.

[jedamum]

linden2000:

Initially starting out, if you get horned at don't panic and don't be pressurized into doing things by other drivers. For eg right turn at traffic junction where you need to judge whether the oncoming car going straight from the opposite direction is far enough for you to turn safely. Don't worry about the other car horning you from behind. Judge for yourself whether you can make a safe turn. After all, it's your own safety at stake.

Agree.
don't be pressured to make any move.
nowadays, i use other driver's horn to help me keep a look out of stuff that i may have missed (eg lights turn green, i still dreaming :P).
but if people tailgate me, i'll reduce my speed :evil:
most importantly, have to be vigilant when pedestrian is concerned. they walk everywhere they like! more than once, i see the traffic lights turned in our favour, but the vehicle beside me still not moving. then realised that blocked from my sight, someone is trying to cross the road. :faint:

[MMM]

Yes, practise makes perfect. This applies to driving. If it has been so long, go for refresher course. But after which, make attempts to drive.


If you have a supportive spouse, volunteer to drive for those short trips and then gradually increase to longer/ independent trips. Since you are worried, you will be a careful driver, this probably will have less tendency for accidents.

I agree parking is a hard nut to crack. Maybe try to get someone to guide you in those public carparks first. Go for empty lots first before doing it with cars on both sides.

I recalled when I first passed driving and got a car, I drove from bedok to town. No one else in the car can drive as my hubby hasn't even learn driving then. Maybe a blessing in disguise for me as that made me the designated driver for a year. In the car, I had pils, nephew, hubby + me and we had to go to the lawyer's office. I drove along ECP left lane probably at a slow speed as my 7 yr nephew (he is 19 now!!!), commented on \"why is it so slow???\" and then drift off to dream land after awhile :rotflmao: Can't believe I was so gungho... I made it to town and the next challenge was parking... for a start, try those empty lots. As your confidence increases, then try with with a car on 1 side and then subsequent cars on both side. Wonder how I managed to squeeze into a lot, the memory is blurry. But when fil reached home, he complained of neckache and discomfort as he was holding on to the handle at the top of the car. He was probably more stressed than me.... It's really funny to recall this. I had some other minor incidents after that but all these are part of learning curve.

Actually despite that I've been driving for 10+ years now.... I still cannot do parallel parking. :oops: The initial attempts led to scratches on the car and I would rather walk very very far than to park in the parallel lots (unless there are 2-3 empty lots in a line so i can simply slot in. There was once that my boss wanted to go to a restaurant at upp thomson and I told him that if it is parallel parking, either you park for me or I am not going there.

[Chenonceau]

It happened to me before too. But my hubby went overseas for 3 months, and it was either drive or lug all the groceries by bus. For the 1st week, I was a nervous wreck but after that I haven’t looked back.

[MMM]

jedamum:

have to be vigilant when pedestrian is concerned. they walk everywhere they like! more than once, i see the traffic lights turned in our favour, but the vehicle beside me still not moving. then realised that blocked from my sight, someone is trying to cross the road. :faint:

This is so true. Sometimes the car infront stopped for a reason. So be patient and give them the benefits of doubt. Few months back, heard a case of a old man was knocked to death. The 1st car stopped to let him cross the road. But the impatient 2nd car overtook the 1st thereby knocking the old man down.

[hsm]

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement! Indeed, practise will make it more confident.. as some also mentioned, it's usually the parking!!


The 1st hurdle is actually just o/s my house doing a narrow U turn! I wish it should be just a straight road..

hmm.. probably needs another round of refresher 1st before asking dh to sit with me..

[kittybank]

胆大心细

[Herbie]

jia you!


I used to be very scared of driving out of my apt cos it’s a very sharp 90 deg turn at the exit area. But i tried it and i managed to overome tat fear.

[i3mum]

I agree, practise makes perfect.


You can try driving/parking at an carkpark when it is not so crowded. And also, try driving around your neighborhood which you are familiar with.

For the first few times, try it without you kids and find someone who is experienced to sit with you. This may not necessarily be your husband (Cos I know some of my friends told me their husbands will nag/scold at her, and since they are scare of the nagging/scolding, they rather give up trying.) Find someone who is patient to guide you along.

Ultimately, its you yourself who must be determined to pick up driving again. I m the youngest at home, but first to obtain my driving licence. When I just took up driving lessons, my mum \"poured\" cold water at me, saying that I wont have the guts to drive even if I pass, and commented its a waste of $$ to take up driving lessons. Most of my female cousins who has passed the driving test, did not dare to drive at all. I was very determined I must drive, otherwise its a waste, and this is a lifetime skills which no one can take away from me.

I really did it, and now I need not have to wait till my DH is around to drive us. I can be the Driver on my own, ferrying my kids & mum around ! This really save my dh alot of work too.