[Czilla9000]

I am starting California driving school on Monday. Should I be excited or horrified?



Any helpful hints?

 

[andrzejpw]

Are you starting a classroom or "road" based program?

 

[tom hankins]

You should be excited. It's the rest of us who should be scared!!
Just kidding, this is the begining of freedom. Just be careful, **** can happen fast while your driving.

 

[dhwilkin]

Multi-car pileups!

 

[brent_mr2]

When I took driving school, there was a student with us who had never touched a wheel before, not even a video game one. When he started "aiming" for a brick mailbox, we were all very concerned. The instructor didn't allow him to drive after that. We all couldn't believe that he couldn't grasp the very basic concept of steering. Scary.

 

[john_jcb]

Lucky thing for you about California driving is that there are so many cars most of the time everything moves at a crawl.

Just take it easy and listen to the instructor and have fun.

 

[timoteus]

Quote:

Originally posted by Czilla9000 I am starting California driving school on Monday. Should I be excited or horrified? Any helpful hints?

Excited.

Drive defensively. I'm alive because I do so and many other people out there can say the same because they're watching out for others. It isn't hard nor does it take any skill to play NASCAR out there. A little restraint goes a long way.

Bonus hint...A left or right turn signal is merely an open invitation for the guy behind you to fly up your ass. (Hey, what happened to the big toothy grin smily?)

 

[wallijonn]

after the class, see if you can take a driver safety class. finish it up with a Commercial Driver's License school.

if you go for bus driver, you'll learn certain tricks - like when you stop you should be able to see the bottom of the car's tires in front of you.

why?

because if his car dies, you have enough room to go around him.

you'll learn to see at least 2 blocks ahead, and 1 mile ahead when on the freeway. you'll learn what to look for and plan for.

when you learn to drive a cab or limo, you'll know where the side streets are, which are the fastest, and which are the safest.

by then you'll be ready for an actual driving course class - high speed avoidance, driving in wet weather, high speed flat tyre control, etc.

they told me not to pump the air brakes in bus school. i found out that sometimes i had to do that just to stop.

learn to drive the speed limit. the worse feeling is a ticket in the mail which was taken by a traffic camera. if it isn't your car - prepare to lose time fighting it in work.

and get a yellow car - it's easier to see. stay to the right unless you've planned a move well ahead. use the 6 second rule, not the 3 second rule. drive outside the pack. i use the 6 second rule when i give turn signals. i turn on my turn signals 6 seconds before i start my lane change.

where did i learn to drive? massachusettes. nothing like snow and ice to teach you early braking.

with early braking your engine and brakes will last a lot longer.

yes, i know how to throw the Miata around a curve.

heel and toe, baby. don't try it until you've mastered a 180 degree spinout.

 

[screwdriver]

usually the young drivers are kinda agressive - try to stay away from this .
do more defensive driving and only speed if you really have to.

 

[Nightfall]

Having spent some time there in the past couple years, because of the overwhelming amount of traffic in Southern California, you actually CANT drive. Take a walking school, or maybe ride a bike. I know people in LA who live ten miles from where they work who have a 90 minute commute. You can WALK that fast!


JC

 

[Xecter]

I was like lucky to have dad and uncle to teach me how to drive when i was 12.

When i started the drivers ed stuff it was a complete joke.


The my driving instructor was amazed that i could drive.

Don't worry about it.


Seriously.


Have fun

 

[Czilla9000]

It is a basic class so I can get my learners permit. I am very new.

 

[Xecter]

Ya drive smart. Hope that ur parents get you a nice sedan or something.



I was fortunate to get a BMW M5.

I was also, unfortunate to destory the beautiful piece of german engineering.

 

[wallijonn]

Quote:

Should I be excited or horrified?

neither.

you should be awed by the responsibility you are being charged with.

hitting a pedestrian causes a lot of paperwork.

you will have very high insurance rates. (which is why i suggested a safety course - to lower the driving insurance cost.) if you get a CDL you can't drink and drive. period. infractions (tickets) sky rocket.

that'll put a crink in your young bottom.

buy a heap to learn. prefably manual, with no power steering, power brakes, power windows or radio.

paint it yellow.

(all the dents will keep all the good drivers away from you. unfortunately it may attract all the bad drivers).

 

[kentamcolin]

Definitely excited! After 24 years of driving I still love it. Take some advice from a maestro, Jackie Stewart. Three times world driving championship with 27 Grand Prix wins, and he always talked about the importance of being smooth. This is true on the road just as much as the track. You shouldn't be tossing your passengers around. You can accelerate quickly, brake hard and corner quick, smoothly. Start building good habits right away and you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of driving in the long run, and you'll be able to have fun driving while your passengers feel secure.