Driving!
 

I'm learning to drive, Subsim! Taking my test next week. :ahoy:

Any tips? What really annoys you when you're on the road? What do you appreciate?

Also: Kapitan_Phillips won't let me drive him around when he comes! He says he doesn't trust new drivers. Is this stupid? y/n?

Fun times, I finally got around to learning late last year. Don't get too disheartened I guess; during my first 'mock' test I got 62 points (fail is 45) and felt pretty bad but after much practice, on the real deal I got zero. My biggest frustration is that at my height, the rear-view mirror blocks out everything between 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock, and I have to constantly duck to see in that direction. Good luck!

Women drivers... ;)

Don't text and drive!

:yep:

Just recently here a lad drove into a couple coming home from dinner celebrating
their 40th wedding aniversary. Killed them both. He was txting a mate and drove into them headon. Got 18months home detention:roll:

Dont pick up hitchhikers!

The right of way goes to the driver with the biggest gun !

Stay to the speed limit (not to fast or slow), Don't ride on someones bumper and indicate before make a change lane or direction.


He should trust you!:up: Tell him he's a passanger or he's walking!:yep:

Best of luck with the test!:up:

If any cars get in your way.. just push them out of the way !!!
Remember... always remember to use the right finger when flipping off the driver in front of you !!
Before going out for a drive, research interesting four letter words to "enhance" the "effectiveness" of that finger. Practice in front of a mirror.
When doing the above, make sure you state these words at the top of your lungs. (whispering makes them lose their "effectiveness" while driving)
Be sure to watch out for other aircraft when you're driving.
When you're driving with Kapitan Phillips, be totally silent and then SCREAM AS LOUD AS YOU CAN randomly durring the drive.
Speedbumps=airborn=fun
airborn+stationary object=not fun
airborn+police car=probation or jail time=fun or not fun depending on your tastes and fetishes
:D

Awwwww, come on :down:

:rotfl:

Oh.. I forgot one...
Learn to drive with your knees so you can more effectively wave your arms in the air while cursing out the driver in front of you.
:up:

Everyone else who's on the road !!!! It's MY ROAD !!!! :stare:

Don't worry you'll do just fine.:yep:

Like they say in Show Biz " Go till you hit a tree " :huh:

No Wait it's " Break a Leg " :oops:

Ahhh Just be careful :up:

Remember that most other drivers are really just like you. When someone does something stupid, cut them some slack; next week may be your turn.

People doing anything other than driving. Piloting two tons of steel at any speed is a full-time job.

Courtesy.

Yes, it's stupid. New drivers can be more cautious and careful than someone who's been at it for years. Note I said "can be". Bookworm is right: he should trust you. Besides, how long has he been driving. If it's less that ten years, in my book he's still a new driver.

Points to remember (I am trying to be serious without the cynicism here....kinda):

1. LEO's can be as much of an asshat on the road as they like, but if you switch lanes without signalling they'll ticket you for it. Use your turn signals.

2. "18 wheelers" are bigger and heavier than your vehicle is, they also kick up dirt and gravel so it's best to let some other poor sod be a shield between you and the rear of the truck.

3. Be aware of your surroundings and conscious of what's going on around you. Convince yourself that ALL pedestrians are zombies that couldn't figure out how to properly use a crosswalk if their life depended on it and they think it's cute to jump out from behind a parked car in front of you (I really felt like running that idiot over).

4. Motorcycles are difficult to see, that's why they compensate with noise.

5. Check your 8 o' clock and/or 5 o' clock TWICE before changing lanes. Once to do a quick visual if anyone is there, and the second while you're changing so nobody tries to speed past you during the lane change.

6. The moron in back of you isn't going to be the one in the accident if you jump the gun at the traffic light because you were intimidated by his honking or speech, keep your head on your shoulders where it belongs.

7. Be calm, but don' be afraid to be forceful if you absolutely need to change lanes. Other drivers sometimes suffer "highway hypnosis" at the wheel and don't notice that your signal for a lane change has been on for almost a minute already. So don't feel afraid to ease into the other lane and force them to make room for you, just don't jerk the car into the other lane and knock a bumper off.

8. Look both ways at the intersection before moving through a green light, some people don't understand that Yellow means "slow down" NOT "Speed up so you can beat the red light".

9. Look at the map BEFORE you go on a trip so you know what to expect, please don't do that at the wheel. Have a partner do that for you.

10. YOU are driving, your parents are not. Helpful advice is welcome, sideseat driving is irritating and might get you killed.

11. Orient your mirrors so that once a vehicle begins moving out of your mirror, they come into physical view out of the corner of your eyes, this will help reduce your blind spot and assist in keeping tabs on who is where.

12. Weaving through traffic, trying to get airborne on speedbumps, and speeding on deserted stretches of road are all great and fun, but it puts alot of wear on your vehicle and attracts unwanted attention (like those lovely red and blue lights).

13. If you have a tailgater, just coast on the road and he'll eventually change lanes because he doesn't like being slowed down. DO NOT slam the brakes to startle him into backing off, you might actually hit him one day.

As far as new drivers go it really depends on 2 major points:

-Are you going to try and show off or are you going to be responsible?
-Are you a safe and reliable driver under adverse conditions? (Snow, rain, icy roads, moron in the left lane who likes hanging out in your blind spot).


Appreciates:

-Courtesy on the road (opening a space to let me change lanes, using a turn signal)
-Ambulances (don't get caught.......just kidding)
-Getting a good timing on green lights


Does NOT appreciate:

-Tailgaters
-Schoolbuses
-Old people who are so senile they've probably forgotten that the speed limit is 35 not 15.
-Speeders who try and blaze past me before I change lanes
-Cars that don't use turn signals, but give me the bird when I'm supposed to psychically know that they're going to be changing lanes.
-Every other vehicle that slows down to 30 to gawk at another car crash that happens almost every other day and artificially create a traffic jam
-LEOs' that speed past me and I conveniently end up spotting the same patrol car at the McDonalds' drive-thru. (thanks for holding yourself to the same standards that you endorce.....:damn: )

Any other questions or requests for disillusionment?

Forty years of riding and I've never heard that one before.:rotfl: :up: