Driving Me Crazy!

Where I grew up, at the age of 15-1/2 years of age, we could get our driver’s permit.  A permit  allowed teens to drive a car accompanied by a licensed driver.  I wasn’t particularly eager to drive, but everyone else was taking Driver’s Training, so I enrolled in the class at my school.  (To my knowledge schools no longer offer it, and it is expensive to attend a private Driving School.)

So, I started off my first day in a car with an instructor and two male students.  The other two kids had their turn first.  Then it was my turn.  We were in a very large vacant parking lot.

All I remember about my turn at driving was when the instructor began shouting at me!  I had not done anything dangerous (no cars around to hit), but apparently I had done something wrong.  He continued shouting at me until I began to cry.  How embarrassing!  After the class, I went to the Girls’ Vice Principal to quit the class.  She informed me that the instructor was known for harassing the girls in his classes.

I didn’t even attempt to drive again for over a year.  Then, my father wanted to teach me.  He was a very patient and kind man.  I drove around our neighborhood for a while, and I was doing fine.  Then, I remember my dad saying, "Turn right at the next corner and park the car."  I followed his instructions. Once stopped, he told me that I had been driving the wrong way on a one-way street!  He hadn’t panicked or shouted at me.  He just got me off that street as quickly as possible.  But, I was a nervous wreck when he told me what I had done.

Periodically after that I drove with my dad, but I was always very nervous behind the wheel.  Finally, when I was going off to college, I knew I had to learn to drive!  I asked my girlfriend Elaine if she would go with me while I practiced.  For the first time, I was just driving along with my friend, no one teaching me anything, and I was a driver.  I wasn’t nervous.  I knew exactly what I needed to do and when. 

From that turning point, driving was never a problem for me.  I have never been in a collision that I caused, and (I hope I am not “jinxing” myself here…) I have never received a ticket for a traffic violation.

I really enjoy driving.  I have taken many driving vacations throughout my life, and I driven in about 2/3 of the 50 United States.  I had a very rocky driving beginning, but it turned fine.

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