Driving a Car

[Publius]

Hello everyone. A trivial topic but I'm curious.
This is going to depend on age here but how many of you folks drive a car?

The reason I ask is that I have been learning for quite a while now. I'm 25 this year, so I have left it very late (I'm in the UK so you can get a license at 17) as I've always managed fine without a car and simply could never be bothered (something to do with not trying something I might not be good at?)

So I started learning to drive in October 2012. Yeah, well over a year ago. I had a few lessons and was doing ok but it's not something I felt was coming naturally. It was like starting over again every lesson. I had one one-hour lesson a week.

In December 2012 I stopped due to back problems which restricted my movement and picked it up again in March. It was going ok. Did my theory (written test) in June and passed first time. The easy part!

However, I find it incredibly difficult. Since moving back into the family home (a temporary thing) I've been using my mother's car (UK law states there has to be someone with you, however) but this has become more infrequent because I find it daunting. I feel like I'm never going to properly learn. And it's coming to the point where it's slightly embarrassing to tell people I don't drive, especially when you have a girlfriend and friends who are some ten years older than me.

Does anyone else have experience with this? Is it an INTP thing? I just feel like I can't concentrate on driving as I'm constantly thinking about other things. The focus I feel while writing this text I just can't transfer to driving a frigging car. As a result I am an erratic driver. It's also tied with using my hands - something I've never been good at. I'm terrible at building things or playing any sort of sport. T

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

The more you get used to it, the less erratic you'll be. Spend some time in an empty parking lot at night (the bigger, the better), and put yourself through the works over and over again. I'd personally have whoever's with you actually get out of the car and watch for a portion of it (the law in the U.S. is the same, someone has to be with you, but.... ).

Otherwise you need to learn to focus squarely on your driving before you can become good at it. No noise, no distraction, only what's in front of you and in your periphery (unless you're changing lanes or turning, obvs ).

Or, you know... do what Si does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGCS3cNaM_c

 

[GodOfOrder]

I remember when I learned to drive. It sucked, and I hated it. But once you get used to the feeling it's actually quite nice. You can get from A-b without having to rely on anyone, but it's all about getting past that initial awkwardness.

 

[Happy]

Everyone is a shit driver until at least a couple of years after they get their drivers licence. It took me 10 driving lessons with probably the best driving instructor you can get before I could even drive without stalling.

When you get your licence and drive by yourself, you realise how bad you actually are. But thats when you start to improve in leaps and bounds. When you have the pressure of having to do it yourself, you pick it up really fast. I was a rubbish driver as a teenager - if I was the driving examiner, i'd fail me - but now after years of practice I'm probably in the top percentage of drivers on the road. It just takes time, dude. Stick with it.

 

[Helvete]

I'm learning at the moment. I'm okay with the driving part mostly, but I also find my mind can wander. It doesn't happen too often and I'v made a few mistakes where I'v felt like a massive idiot afterwards. I think the key is to relax and take things slowly (it's what's working for me anyway) after that your confidence will only build and it'll help you focus more.

Only thing is I haven't really started on the theory yet what would you recommend as good resources to learn?
(I'm UK also)

 

[Kenny]

Been driving for years, but don't anymore since i live in a big city and it has become unnecessary. Once a while borrow a car or a van, depending on the situation. At first i was terrible at it and crashed a brand new car, one of the first times i was driving for myself. Be aware of your surroundings when you are driving! I drove over a red light, that would change dynamically, depending on traffic. I noticed the light just turned green from some distance and could easily make it, before it would turn red again. Boy was i wrong, it apparently switched to red 2 seconds after i looked. Just watch yourself and don't do anything stupid

 

[Kuu]

The problem is in fact that you are trying too hard to focus, which makes your brain anxious. After practice things become automatic, so you just seem to float about and you don't have to *think* about what you are doing.

Learning to drive can be terrifying at first, specially in a place like the one I live where most people are savages...

 

[Deleted member 1424]

I am very fond of driving, provided the traffic isn't terrible. I feel a bit bad for my passengers though, as it occupies the part of my brain responsible for internal thought analysis and thus smoothes my stream of consciousness. This means I won't shut the hell up.

 

[Pizzabeak]

Lame excuse for weak/suppressed Se. In America girls are usually the first to get their "shit together" at a younger age, with their first job, car, and driver's license. Just drive, unless you're a hipster and care about the environment, then bike or take public transportation.

How long did it take for you to learn bike? Could you do it first t without training wheels? I see new people trying to skate all the time, you can tell they haven't been skating for too long because of their balance. When you see someone that has been skating for years, they have no problem keeping their balance on a board.

 

[Amagi82]

Operating machines has always come as naturally as breathing to me. I learned how to drive around 15-16 years old, and by 20, I was one of the best drivers I've known before or since. I'd regularly attend autocross events, take my car to the track, etc, and beat all sorts of people in superior machinery. Wholly without arrogance, I was very good. If I had financial backing, there's no reason I couldn't have become a professional race car driver. But alas, that was never gonna happen- I'm not a millionaire, I don't have the contacts, nor the resources. What I did get was a ton of speeding tickets, because the thought of driving less than 20mph over the posted limit was mentally unbearable, and in the end, I had to make the choice between learning to drive slowly or being in and out of court for the rest of my life. So I sold my sports car, sold my motorcycle, and bought a Civic, and learned to drive as economically as possible- made that my challenge. I learned to zone out and not pay attention, because that's the only way I can drive legally. I'm still a professional driver at 31 years old, having worked as a truck driver, trained as a helicopter pilot, and worked in a variety of other transportation-related jobs, but I'm not as good a driver as I was when I was 21. I do pride myself on the fact that I can drive anything with wheels and most things without.

TL/DR: INTPs are fully capable of being excellent drivers.

 

[kaelum]

I'm a clumsy INTP, and started taking my driver's road test when I was 17, failed twice, then retook it when I was 27 because of a promotion opportunity. Passed the test then, and, yeah, it can be scary at first, but then you get used to it, and like godoforder said, it gets fun. Expose yourself to driving at least once a day and challenge yourself to a new experience once in awhile (new location, turns, parking, longer distances). The steady exposure gets you comfortable.

 

[Hawkeye]

Does anyone else have experience with this? Is it an INTP thing? I just feel like I can't concentrate on driving as I'm constantly thinking about other things. The focus I feel while writing this text I just can't transfer to driving a frigging car. As a result I am an erratic driver. It's also tied with using my hands - something I've never been good at. I'm terrible at building things or playing any sort of sport. T

Firstly, hello!

I seem to be relating to your predicament at the moment, except mine is regarding university essays. Within the next two weeks I have to write the following:

• 1 x 1,500 words
• 1 x 2,500 words
• 2 x 3,500 words
• 1 x 5,000 words

I'm currently ignoring the total word count. It's preventing me from doing this --->

Now, I've never had a major problem in the past writing essays, but for the life of me I cannot figure out why I am being such a moron this time around. I feel like I know what I need to put and have even written draft outlines for some.

However, when I sit down to begin writing them, my head suddenly becomes flooded with so many things I can't think straight. I end up over-thinking minute details that in the grand scheme of things, are more-than-likely not important.


I think over-thinking seems to be the key issue as has already been raised by others within this thread. It's a hard thing to stop doing, but I guess if you turn your focus to the now (driving), it might help reduce brain overload and relax you a bit.

 

[Lot]

I deliver pizza for a living. I've done this for probably 8 years. Probably clocked 300-400k miles just delivering pizza. It really does get easier. I love driving.

I was a terrible driver, like everyone else. Now I get compliments on my driving all the time. Even people that are scared of riding as a passenger tell me they feel safe.

Also, someone mentioned day dreaming while driving. I do this way too often. But you would be shocked at how good your body is at responding before you even acknowledge things going on around you. I do some of my best thinking while driving.

 

[The Gopher]

The problem is in fact that you are trying too hard to focus, which makes your brain anxious. After practice things become automatic, so you just seem to float about and you don't have to *think* about what you are doing.

I have pulled up to stop lights and only *wake up* when it becomes green. At that point you are left wondering when and how you stopped.

However that is not ideal. I have only driven 3 times in the last three years though. Probably due for some practice.

 

[Solitaire U.]

Driving came naturally for me. The idea of it was so attractive to me that I had no patience to do it within the limits of The Law. I was stealing my mother's car and going for midnight drives at 12 years old.

Though I chalk that up to my ISTP-ness. Driving isn't exceptionally difficult, but it's an activity that requires being in the here and now to perform skillfully. Sure, practice makes perfect like with anything else, but if you have problems with task-attentiveness, or if you're scared, or if it's simply not something you're comfortable with, probably better to arrange for alternative means of transportation.

 

[pjoa09]

I am a shitty driver when it comes to being patient and following the rules. I just like driving like an asshole. I am good at being an asshole. INTPs are good at being assholes. Just kidding, I am still thoroughly convinced I am not a proper INTP.

 

[BigApplePi]

I agree. Driving is difficult and well nigh impossible where I live because of the traffic. If it wasn't for traffic and cars in parking spots I could go, drive and park anywhere I wanted. And those lights. Green, red, yellow ... whatever. In the city they're all the same for everyone. Makes no difference. Cars do not stop to examine lights because it's so difficult to drive. Lights just get in the way of their progress. Pedestrians are annoying. They tend to jump this way and that unpredictably and just get in the way. That's why it's so difficult to drive in the city.

In the country it's different. I drive. Usually I drive on the road though. One has to observe traffic speeds else one arrives in a ditch along the side of the road or over an embankment. Then it becomes almost as hard to drive as in the city. That's why I favor sticking to the road. What is annoying though is you can't progress safely down a long steep hill at a pace of your own choosing on your own. I tried to do that in the country and another car with sirens and flashing lights tried to get in front of me and stop me. All those lights and noise in the quiet countryside I found distracting. I showed him ... my driver's license and insurance card. That was proof I was authorized to drive and owned my car. Some nerve of that guy. Why did he stop my progress anyway? I would try to sue him but he was so angry and threatening I felt intimidated ... and for what? Nothing but driving.

I wish you progress in your driving Publius and hope you have better luck than I have.

 

[Redfire]

I took 10 classes when I was 17 and the instructor told me I was ready to take the exam. But I had to do some tests before. I passed all of them, except for the psychological one. So they wouldn't even let me take the exam.

However, even if I had a driving license, I wouldn't drive. I'm too scared. I can ride a bike, and don't mind using any sort of public transportation; so I manage.

I imagine, though, that when I first learned how to ride a bike or how to swim I sucked at first. Now I'm good. So yes, it's just practice. But I'm still very scared, so, whatever.

The problem is in fact that you are trying too hard to focus, which makes your brain anxious. After practice things become automatic, so you just seem to float about and you don't have to *think* about what you are doing.

Learning to drive can be terrifying at first, specially in a place like the one I live where most people are savages...

Peores que en Buenos Aires? :P