Were you nervous when you first started driving?

Yes, very, but I was 16. In my case, it passed within about 6 months.

Yes.

I lived in Nebraska and more than a mile and a half from my school. At that time you could get a to school and return from school permit at 14 and ½ years of age. My brothers were in the car and I was responsible for them on the drive to and from school.

I was very nervous. My drivers ed teacher made me drive back and forth over a very narrow bridge and then drive through an under tunnel as this was the only way to get to the main shopping in my area. He did this twice a week for 9 weeks until I was finally comfortable driving that course. I was 17.

I was 16 and fearless. Guess who bent a lot of sheet metal. I got to be really good, but I still get a little nervous when I have anyone else in the car. They trust me, that makes me nervous.

My father had me park facing uphill on a very steep hill in a 1846 Dodge. He pulled up the emergency brake and then said, “Start the car and drive it without sliding back down the hill.”

Take two aspirin and repeat until I could ride that clutch and gas like a rodeo cowboy. But initially, the car simply slowly slid down the hill. My father was formidable and really scared me. Before we even started our lessons, he pontificated, “A car is a weapon just like a loaded gun.”

I have always been a careful and very conservative driver.

Yes. And I still am, 25 years later. It took me about a year to get over the worst of it.

My horror of getting lost makes it worse. You can get a lot more lost a lot faster driving alone in a car than you can either on foot or on public transportation. And even if you know where you want to be, you can’t always get the road to go in that direction or disentangle yourself from one-way streets. However, I’m at home now, so you know I did eventually get found.

I wasn’t nervous enough at 16. I was in no way ready to be let on the streets at the time.

Hmmm. Edit, I guess. 1946;

That car

@gailcalled My father restored a 1946 Pontiac. He loved working on old cars. That car was showroom ready when he was done with the restoration.

I was pretty comfortable until I rear-ended someone back in November. After that I was cautious to keep the distance behind the person in front of me.

I was 23 when I actually got my license, so I was a bit older myself. Despite driving before getting my license, I was very nervous when it actually hit me that now I have the responsibility of paying costs associated with having a vehicle, and the fact that I had to drive fulltime. My nervousness went away about a year driving my own vehicle around.

When I look back at all the equipment I’ve had to learn to operate on many of my jobs though, driving a standard highway vehicle seemed something silly to be nervous about. I still get nervous driving at times, especially in more populated areas, but I’m still glad that I drive. I live in a rural area too so I have to drive.

24 and still too nervous to begin learning, but know that I should probably get around to it soon. People drive like lunatics in Southern California—and not just on the freeways. I have had so many near-miss accidents as a passenger. I don’t trust other drivers and always feel on edge when traveling by car. I am a no fear flyer, though.

Kudos for getting your permit! :) I wish safe travels your way.

Yes, I was very nervous when I first started. I was excited, but I was nervous. When I first started driving it felt like all I was doing was mindlessly obeying what the instructor told me to do and that I didn’t really fully understand what I was doing. And I couldn’t imagine how I’d be able to do it on my own without someone guiding me.

And it absolutely passed. I hate to be so cliche and talk about “practice”, but really, that is what made my nervousness go away and made me feel comfortable behind the wheel. I just had to do it over and over before a lot of it started to become automatic.

@muppetish Yeah, if I lived in the busier areas of California or New York City I probably wouldn’t drive. I just don’t trust others driving well above the speed limit to not kill me or be considerate. I’ve heard driving in the areas that I’d mentioned is a whole different ballgame. Damn I can barely even handle driving in a smaller city like Harrisburg, lol.

Yes I was nervous when I first started driving. I still get nervous when the people around me start driving like fools.

Back in the 60’s when I was in high school they showed us movies of the locations of car accidents. One movie was called “Red Asphalt” and it haunts me even today. I vividly remember two guys picking up a dead auto accident casualty to put him on a gurney and his face just kind of fell off to one side. It was just hideous to watch but really made me realize how important it is to drive safely and defensively and it has stuck with me all these years. All auto drivers should be required to watch a film to prepare them for the real world.

There are various toned down versions of this movie on You Tube. The ones that I’ve seen have been edited to take out the truly gruesome parts.

Remember, “Safety is no accident”.

yes, I thought that it was going to be like driving a go-kart and idk about anyone else, but I think its hard to drive a go-kart lol…the pedals are very sensitive. I am much better at real cars! :)

Nervous about the driving… No.

Nervous about being 14 years old and getting caught in a stolen car… Yes.

@gailcalled I learned on a stick shift as well. My dad did the hill thing with me. It was frightening. Finally I figured out how to slowly let up on the clutch while gently increasing the gas. When I showed this to my dad, he just frowned and said “You’re destroying the clutch pad”

The first time I ever drove I just got into the car no instruction needed and drove up two trees. Nervousness isn’t bad as long as it doesnt stop you. I get nervous when certain people ride with me. I also get nervous in a rental car esp if I am in a new city. Lots more cars on the road much more complex traffic patterns and faster legal speeds. But after an hour or two it wears off.

Stick shift I tried a couple of times but I got nervous about tearing out the clutch in someone else’s car and that prevented me from doing it enough to get the hang of.

Yes, I think it’s natural to be nervous when you first start driving. There are a lot of skills involved which you don’t yet take for granted.

I was petrified at first. I’ve been driving a long time now, but I still get nervous when driving in a car different from my own or in an unfamiliar city. Especially with so many cell phone talkers on the road.

Oh yeah, I remember thinking, I can’t wait until this is second nature. Now it is and some of my best times are loud music driving with windows down!

Was driving a tractor before I started learning, so when the time came, no problem. Just like driving that tractor, only faster.

I got my license a couple of weeks ago (a NYS junior’s driver’s license) and I haven’t driven by myself yet. I’m okay at driving, but I still incredibly nervous, especially on the highway. I deeply fear getting into a car accident, and I’ve been in several, so that may account for my nervousness.
I hate driving, and wasn’t excited to get my license like other people my age. I’d rather take a train or bus.