cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/43565899
Context: I’m 19 and have had my driver’s license since last summer. I was never interested in driving, but my family pressured me into signing up for driving school (they said it’s a basic skill), so I did it and got my license - somehow - despite never feeling safe or in control behind the wheel during the learning process. I haven’t driven much since then, but on the few occasions I did, I still felt out of control. Two weeks ago, I had a pretty bad car accident due to failing to yield the right of way (I struggle with multitasking). I got hit by two cars. Thankfully, my boyfriend was with me. He’s a bit older and much more confident, extroverted, brave, and uninhibited - he managed to handle the situation with the other drivers and deal with all the protocols for me because I was completely overwhelmed and just crying. Thankfully, no one was hurt, so I only got my license suspended for 60 days, a fine, and I have to pay for the damages. My dad settled all of that already. Now I don’t want to ever drive again. But my dad says it’s fine and that every driver gets into an accident at some point.
Not driving when you feel that you cannot do it safely is a mature decision. Driving is not a requirement for a good life.
They said, should you want to continue to drive, drive like a granny and don’t let anyone stress you to get out of your comfort zone. Driving like an old granny is the safest way to drive. If you need to drive slow to feel in control that is what you should do. Ignore any ass hat that gets stressed behind you. If they honk or try to force you to speed up, just ignore them. Go at your own pace. The same goes for any passenger in your car that tries to get you to speed up or go out into a crossing before you are certain you are on top of things. Ignore them or throw them out. When you drive, you decide what is a safe speed. Everyone else can fuck off.
I do want to add in that driving slowly isn’t safer, but driving predictably is. If it is easier for you, driving slowly is fine, but be sure to use directionals and other signals to indicate intent to other drivers, make sure to follow the signs and rules of the road consistently, and be aware of the other cars around you who may drive eradically if they are getting frustrated.
Being able to multitask well is fundamental with driving safely, and keeping your speed low is one way you can reduce that mental load. But driving slowly on its own will not do anything to keep you safer. (Rather, low speed collisions are safer, but driving slow won’t necessarily prevent collisions or accidents on its own.)
Single smartest decision I’ve ever made was applying my hatred of rushing to my driving habits. I still mostly move with the flow of traffic, the faster lanes even, but when it comes to decisions, its a coin-toss between taking the absolute correct decision or hitting the brakes(brakes will suffice for 95% of decisions, and if not, you’re speeding or following to close). Once stopped at an intersection, there is no reason to proceed until you’re certain you should.
if you’re going to drive like a granny, you need to be aware of the road rules around when you need to pull over and let people pass. in some places (parts of TX for example) if you are going under the speed limit and there are 5 or more vehicles behind you, you are obligated to let them pass.
as someone who feels their heartrate spike just from being near loud traffic, god bless grandma drivers. PLEASE go 30km/h on 60km/h roads and force everyone behind you to atone for their daily sins
There are infinite wrong ways to go about a problem, and yours is one of them.
cope and seethe, maybe get a moped so you can nimbly get around them?
I’d rather campaign for traffic calming features and lower speed limits, but you do you.