Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
Vivien Send a noteboard - 13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
The thing is I don't have a lot of confidence in my driving abilities and I feel like I do make mistakes. Well not just feel like it- I know so. I have less confidence in my driving than in others' driving. A driver that made a mistake would be considered at fault, right?
I'm fine being the passenger, because I trust others to be good drivers. Within reason, of course- I wear a seatbelt and I never have and never will get into a car with someone the least bit intoxicated, no matter what he says of how "totally fine" to drive he is.
I think people largely tend to be less afraid when they are in control of the situation. I don't like airplanes because I'm not the one flying them, even though I know that the pilot has way more experience than I would. I'm okay with cars; I trust myself to drive well.
So... to a certain extent, yes. I don't think people consider themselves invincible, but I think they have a degree of confidence in their capabilities. I've been in two rather dangerous situations (one of which was really entirely my fault), and I managed through a combination of skill and luck to get out of them fine. That was something of a confidence booster, ironically.
No, it helped because I actually have an anxiety disorder, so when I left the house hours earlier, I didn't give myself the time to mentally catastrophize ("What if I get into a car crash?" "What if I drive into a ditch?" and turn myself into a wreck. Pun not intended.
I'm fine being the passenger, because I trust others to be good drivers. Within reason, of course- I wear a seatbelt and I never have and never will get into a car with someone the least bit intoxicated, no matter what he says of how "totally fine" to drive he is.
Well, just because something is more likely to happen doesn't mean that it is very likely to happen. Car accidents are highly likely, yes, but fatal car accidents not so much. And fatal car accidents in which the driver was not at fault are quite rare, really.
The only way I see myself driving is by not thinking about the consequences. I guess what I'm saying is: why isn't *everyone* scared of driving? Do they just think that nothing bad will happen to them, they're invincible?
I think people largely tend to be less afraid when they are in control of the situation. I don't like airplanes because I'm not the one flying them, even though I know that the pilot has way more experience than I would. I'm okay with cars; I trust myself to drive well.
So... to a certain extent, yes. I don't think people consider themselves invincible, but I think they have a degree of confidence in their capabilities. I've been in two rather dangerous situations (one of which was really entirely my fault), and I managed through a combination of skill and luck to get out of them fine. That was something of a confidence booster, ironically.
Your anxiety: how did leaving the house hours earlier help? Maybe you left at a time where there'd be less cars on the road?
No, it helped because I actually have an anxiety disorder, so when I left the house hours earlier, I didn't give myself the time to mentally catastrophize ("What if I get into a car crash?" "What if I drive into a ditch?" and turn myself into a wreck. Pun not intended.
This message last edited by Vivien on 13/12/2011 at 10:52:48 PM
NSSP: Driving
13/12/2011 05:15:41 PM
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I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 05:20:14 PM
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Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 09:58:55 PM
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Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 10:37:47 PM
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Re: I'm tempted to take this opportunity to poke fun at New Yorkers.
13/12/2011 10:50:38 PM
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I failed my first test.
13/12/2011 05:49:58 PM
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I had to take the driving test 3 time before I passed (posted at the wrong place )
13/12/2011 11:43:44 PM
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13 yrs old.
13/12/2011 06:02:22 PM
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Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others
13/12/2011 10:27:59 PM
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Re: Seriously? Why? At 13 you should have had some awareness of the danger you were posing to others
13/12/2011 10:37:41 PM
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Probably just a difference in perspective. Kids sneaking a vehicle for a jor ride is pretty common.
15/12/2011 03:51:30 AM
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It must be harder to overcome that natural fear in NYC.
13/12/2011 06:44:28 PM
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Isn't it traditional to fail your first test? Or is that just around here?
13/12/2011 08:14:01 PM
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I wouldn't think so
13/12/2011 08:25:36 PM
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It's rare to pass on the first try here. (according to driving instructor)
13/12/2011 09:44:39 PM
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I know Texas talked about doing away with it because the failure rate was so low
14/12/2011 03:15:11 AM
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I wonder how many people that have been driving for years and years would fail if they had to take
14/12/2011 12:03:55 AM
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Oh I think most people with years' worth of driving experience be fine.
14/12/2011 12:27:09 AM
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I was even rather nervous about taking lessons and failed my first
14/12/2011 08:30:25 AM
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I love driving.
14/12/2011 03:24:59 PM
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Me, too.
18/12/2011 04:31:29 AM
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Did you ever attend a driving school? *NM*
14/12/2011 05:29:33 PM
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I don't think so.
15/12/2011 05:22:09 AM
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Yes, you did.
15/12/2011 04:44:48 PM
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That's not a sign.
14/12/2011 05:29:36 PM
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Whoa.
15/12/2011 07:21:52 AM
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Fewer cars on the road. Fewer double-parked cars. *NM*
15/12/2011 06:25:21 PM
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Also, you can tell when there's someone around the corner, because of the headlights.
19/12/2011 04:18:26 PM
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Oooh, that's a good point.
19/12/2011 05:17:16 PM
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It's more pronounced and important in the countryside where there are no streetlights.
19/12/2011 05:51:25 PM
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In the country there are deer
20/12/2011 05:53:17 AM
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Oh yeah, forgot about those. We don't have that many left, and only up in the Highlands. *NM*
20/12/2011 10:18:41 AM
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Driving tests are far harder in the Netherlands, from what I understand
14/12/2011 05:34:38 PM
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don't worry i fluffed my practical test up today
14/12/2011 08:24:56 PM
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I'm older than you and there's no way I would have willingly gotten behind the wheel at 17.
15/12/2011 05:12:29 AM
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I found driving nervewracking until I got to do it by myself. NZ has a great system, IMO.
15/12/2011 01:48:19 PM
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Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
17/12/2011 05:50:16 PM
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Re: Amusing (to me) comparison to sex risks.
17/12/2011 06:07:51 PM
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No. But it is true that my risk aversion coefficient is too high.
17/12/2011 06:49:33 PM
- 769 Views
Isn't learning to drive in NYC sort of like
18/12/2011 04:21:47 AM
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