Comments on: Learning how to drive is about starting even after you stall

By: Kaitlin

Kaitlin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:21:13 +0000

I think learning to drive stick is scary at any age. Try not to stress out when you stall; it happens to us all when we're first starting out!

I also second Antano's suggestion that you try to learn on an empty road (or a big empty parking lot, if you can find it). Going to a municipal building's parking lot on a Sunday is usually a pretty safe bet.

Good luck, Sacha! It really is fun once you get used to it. Soon enough you'll feel like you're a race car driver, shifting like an expert. That's how I feel now, anyway.

By: inpi

inpi — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:34:33 +0000

Hi Sacha,
I agree with Antano that learning to drive is great fun, even if you have difficulties and feel panic. I think you are living an adventure right now, only you aren't clearly aware of it yet.

I learned to drive very late, when I was over forty, so you may imagine how it was hard. Yes, hard, but so much adventurous, thrilling and fun! A newbie astronaut in Nasa wouldn't have such fearful and exhilarating sense of accomplishing an impossible mission.

Antoine de la Garanderie, the French author I've told you about recently, has interviewed great champions of several different sports about their training habits. All agreed that they used to see themselves running, jumping, playing tennis, or whatever, while just sitting in their living room. They would relax, close their eyes and imagine in detail all that they would be doing when they would be "running in the arena".

That tip turned to be very useful to me: I prepared my practical driving lessons with a map and some notes about how I should move my feet and hands simultaneously, and then I would lean back, close my eyes and would go "for a race".

At first, I would immediately met my panic and uneasiness, and happily so, because it has been the chance to welcome it, accept it, and, slowly, let it just vanish. I believe these negative emotions stop us from spontaneously reacting, from letting our subconscious take the control and from deeply enjoying the adventure of this specific learning.
Happy driving, Sacha!

By: Antano Solar

Antano Solar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:10:51 +0000

You will learn it when you learn to enjoy learning it. Go for drive's on a totally empty roads where you know you are driving just for the fun of it and can be sure you are not going to hurt anybody.

Steps you can take

1. Don't hope to avoid the stalling sound rather enjoy the smooth transitions when it is still there
That will give you a feel of what's happening and you unconsciously will be a better at maintaining that smoothness
2. And if you get lost it is ok. learning happens in isolation as much as in connection. Even if you get lost you are learning the skill of driving smoothly in isolation. The skill of navigation is easier to learn afterwards( Thought I haven't seem to have learned it)

By: Terence Lo

Terence Lo — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:02:49 +0000

I remember my first driving lesson when I was 16. It was also one of the heaviest rainfalls of the summer. I was white knuckling trying to maneuver the car in reverse (with very limited visibility). Fortunately no cars, pedestrians, or animals were hit.

Taking a deep breath, relaxing, and visualizing success can go a long way to help!

By: Sacha Chua

Sacha Chua — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:36:56 +0000

All great ideas! =) Time to make myself a sign…

By: charo

charo — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:34:56 +0000

Things I learned whilst learning to drive.
+ When your car stalls, take a deep breath and pretend you don't hear the impatient beeps behind you.
+ Don't hurry, less worry. You'll get there eventually.
+ Sticking a big sign at the back of your car that says "I just got my license THIS MORNING" somehow makes anyone of any country wary of following your car.
+ If you intend to go through unknown territory, it's best to do some advance reconnaissance.

Hope this helps!