I have a feeling the next time will go better. Actually she drives pretty good now but just does something once in a while that scares me to death. For example she starts school on September 2nd. We were going up to her school for testing and you have to make a left on a busy road. There is a trafic light with a left turn arrow so it should not be a problem. There is one lane straight with two signals and then a sign for left turn and a third light with the red light or green left arrow. She saw one lane for straight and two green lights and was all ready to make her left turn just as a bunch of cars were zooming towards us and even though the left turn light was red. If I hadn't stopped her I probably would not be alive since they would have hit my side of the car.

We are now going down to DMV and running the whole driver test course with me making even the smallest corrrections in what she does so hopefully the next time will go ok. She hopes for her drivers liscence before she starts school so I don't have to take her. Actually I would rather take her than visit her in the hospital after a wreck.

i surprised any of you have any hair left after some of these stories i've read. i'd have done pulled all of mine out!

I think they really are careful and cautious while they're out there, it's just that we're so used to seeing things "before" they happen and then subsequently making the right choice on what to safely do, that when they actually do something that's "almost" dangerous, we're ready to have a heart attack.

Turning left into oncoming traffic really would make me $#!T my pants though!

When my wife first started driving, I was waiting for "the call" every day for the first week or so. Then the first month. Now, I figure if she's made it this long, she should be just fine. Still keep my phone handy but I know she's doing a good job and I don't worry about it anymore.

Since my wife started driving it was a lot less stressful and less guilt around the house. She was no longer stuck at home. She drives very well but I dont ride with her much, she gets a little upset that I dont like to let her drive but I tell her that I am a man and the rules state that I get to drive. She just calls me silly and that usually ends it.

As far as letting a 16 year old drive, to me it doesnt matter if you are 16 or 116, the young adults of today have no concept what a privilege it is to drive. First they want to drive then they decide that the $2000 car you are going to let them use is not good enough.
Now I want to hear about what pieces of crap everyone drove as their first car.

I had a 1979 Chevrolet Chevette, no floors in the front seat, engine burned oil like it was gasoline, and I had to share it with my sister who was under the impression that the gas tank magically filled itself up every friday night just so she could go out with her friends.

I had an '85 Olds Cutless Sierra. Bought it, drove it home and on the way it threw a rod. Had to buy a wrecked one and change the engines out before I had even driven it around.

Being a true "gangsta" in high school, I had more money invested in my stereo/speakers, rims, and that little gold crown sitting in the back window than I did in the whole rest of the car.

Keepin in tradition though, when I sold it, the engine died within a month and the guy that bought it from me tried to sell it back to me. "No thanks, I'm not interested."

'79 Toyota Corolla. 150,000 miles when I bought it, AM radio, 4 speed, no air. $500.

1984 LTD Ford Station Wagon. One of those 1980's semi bight yellow color. It moved like a tank though, with steel bumpers. Retired it for $1000 in 2001 under the California gross polluter law, when it failed smog, better yet the year it was randomly selected to have smog checked by a particular dealer.

'71 Dodge Dart. That old slant 6 engine wouldn't quit. Too bad the fenders kept rotting away. This was the car I learned to do body work on. Then I picked up a '64 Corvair which I still have out in the garage right now (restored).

Ah, you guys are making me feel ancient not just old.

MY first car was a 1950 Pontiac slope back with a straight 8 engine. My biggest toy was a '54 Mercury Convertable that I put a 57 T-Bird Engine in, put a custom top on it, louvered the hood, added three scoops and attempted a candy apple red paint job that was beyond my talents. Of course the stock electrical system in the merc was 6 volt and the T Bird Engine was 12 volt so the darn thing usually didn't start right so I always had to park on a hill. I would have liked to have had a big garage and parked the cars that I traded in for a few hundred including my 57 chevy as well as the 55. My first new car was a 61 Tempest LeMans convertable with the engine in the front and the tranny in the back. It made Motor Trends car of the year that year but I haven't seen any of those in ages. I guess my other favorites were my Javelin and my 78 Z-28 Camero. The car I miss the most these days was my VW Shirocco (SP?) which got 55 miles to the gallon highway and 45 city or so and I could drive for weeks on 5 bucks. The other I liked a lot was the Solstice I just sold to get a clunker (Cougar) for my wife to drive. She would have killed herself in the Solstice.

Wait til she learns to drive.... in a few months you're going to hear, "But now I drive so good. We must buy again this Solstice."

'71 Ford Pinto. Had a 2000 cc engine I had to rebuild myself...first and last time I ever rebuilt an engine. That car lasted me less than 6 months though, when the transmission finally died and it just wasn't worth getting a new one. Got a Ford Mustang II for a song, and that lasted me through my freshman year in college when I ran it out of oil and pranged a rod through the engine block.

Huh... I used to be a Chevy man and my 1st was a 71 Vega Kammback Wagon. I have no tragic war stories though the car was "slightly" modified. Something was always breaking but nothing major. Worst POS I ever owned was a 72 Opel GT. I consider Solex to be a 4 letter word! If you've been there then you know.

my first vehicle was a 73 chevy 3/4 ton truck with dual exhaust glass packs. i could drive it like mad and get 11 mpg or take it real easy and get 12.5 mpg. i took the first option

56' ford bought from lady in hospital for $50 with 48,000 miles. 3 on the tree, but sychronizers went out. Learned to pull that tranny unhang the synchronizers, and slap it back in in 1 hour. First absolutely new car triumph GT6, most exciting porsche 930 turbo over twisty mountain roads. Most overrated range rover piece of you know what. currently 05 chevy ssr with 400 hp motor and 6 speed manual. I am with turboguy in divulging my age via my first car, probably like him have owned 100+ cars in my lifetime and wish I had that warehouse for some of them, 56 nomad, 60 & 61 mercedes 190 sl 61 chev 60 ford falcon. And agree about the slant 6 steadiest running motor that came out of detroit bar none.

My first car was a 1967 Mustang. I had access to lots of cars because my father owned an autobody shop. This particular needed lots of work, but it was a former bracket racer so it had a close-ration 4 speed and a narrowed 9-inch rear end to get me started. It was a fun project. I started on it when I was 13. I started driving when I was 14 (shh don't tell the policeman!)

Since it was being worked on alot of the time I also drove... a 72 opel GT, a 72 toyota corrolla, an 82 buick regal (very nice car in retrospect), a 70 impala, a 77 chevy pickup, and a 72 Chevy Nova. I don't know what it was about 1972... they just happened to be the cars I had access to buy cheaply... Oh, this was before I turned 18, then I I got rid of those cars and moved on to others.

Sorry for getting back on subject here but try two at the drivers test was a bust. Try thee will be in 10 days. She has spend more time parallel parking in her 7 months with her learners permit than I have in my life and normally does great. However, I think she was nervous. The pylon that simulates a parked car and her fender sorta shook hands and once again the test ended early. I really thought she would breeze through it this time. The saying is that the third time is a charm. Guess I get to drive her to school for the first week at least.

Here's hoping 3 will be the charm.

For the next exam, might I suggest you buy the examiner some man-chocolate? ...

They sure are strict our there in Pennsylvania. I don't recall parking as being part of the test here at my local DMV. More like 5 minutes around the block, one lane change, and a left turn was all that is needed. A few feet of straight reverse and basically normal parking at the end.

Got back from our European vacation last night and was checking the mail today. Found an interesting but disturbing piece of mail from the FL dept of Motor Vehicles addressed to my wife.

It says "The documents you provided us in applying for a drivers license (her permit) have been sent to Immigration and Naturalization Services for verification. Since we have not received a response (from USCIS), your driving permit..... will be canceled effective 9/10/2008" It goes on to say that we will not receive any further notification regarding this matter nor can an extension be given for the driving permit.

Thanks again USCIS for screwing us one more time.

My wife passed her drivers test with flying colors yesterday on the third try. Now I can worry everytime I am not with her and the phone rings. I would suggest if anyone is reading this in Western PA that you put your car in storage. The roads here are no longer safe. I think she was more thrilled with getting the drivers liscence than when we got married, hummmmm.

We finally got my wife's learners permit figured out. There was a problem as we had never gone back to SSA office to change her name on the SS card and to remove restrictions now that she has her green card. They were having troubles matching her other info with her SSN. Went to SSA office last week and waited 2 hours to do that, and then the drivers license office, then a phone call to Tallahassee. This week we received her official laminated learners permit that replaces that temporary piece of paper. The new learners permit says it expires in 2015! That's great as I believe it will take that long for my wife to learn how to drive. Do you know what it's like sitting in the car as your wife drives 10 mph, the impatient drivers are stacked up behind you, and they can't pass? I told her she should pull over and wave them around. She stopped right there and looked at me like, what are you talking about?

So far we haven't hit anything except a few curbs. This is really making me nervous as we have a 3 month old car.

You guys are scaring me already Vika has never had a license, and her friends that have seen her try to drive apparently say they cannot imagine her driving every day. Can't say I am looking forward to the "lessons".

I read these posts and start to worry.. My wife did not drive, but I did put her behind the wheel few times to try, on a parking lot. It was fine, much better than I expected. Just do not put any pressure, and do not yell or make fun or whatever would make her more nervous or to be afraid.
I think when she will be here we will continue evening/night lessons on some parking lots, and within a month or so she would be ready to drive and pass the test.
Basically it should be the same attitude as with learning English, take it easy and encourage trying it more often and make her feel good about it.

Good idea. Maybe a mall parking lot on Sunday morning. No curbs, and only the occasional lamp post as an obstacle.

Parking lots are perfect for another reason too: safe parallel parking training using marked spots. Tilt down the right rearview mirror for her, and she will learn to do it in few days, safer and cheaper than curb rash on wheels.
And because there will be less pressure and less danger of causing damage to the car she will feel at ease and things will work better and faster, make it fun.
Basically this applies to teenager learning lessons too I guess

Even after the 15th training hour, it's still not worth it.



Try a movie theater parking lot instead. Way less people and absolutely zero women looking for shoes instead of other cars. Before noon on any day works well.

Dr. and dentist offices work well after hours for parking practice and then take her to that movie theater to let her practice "high speed" maneuvers. Get her out there on the first day and do a turn at 5 mph then another at 35 mph. You might $#!T yourself, but she'll get the point. One of the hardest things for them to understand is accelerating/braking and the connection between increased speed and centrifugal force while turning. You'll end up going from 40 to 4 real quick, missing the turn, and then reversing at high speed (while still turning) and then starting all over, only to swing way too wide this time and into (simulated) oncoming traffic.

You can show them a million times how to do it properly, "coach" them through it, but as said above, it's best just to save your breath to cool your porridge.

Go to the parking lot, turn them loose and tell them to "figure it out." (Because that's what she's going to do anyway whether you help her or not. Only difference is this way you avoid the argument and stay out of the dog house.)

I almost miss driving practice. Almost.

Enjoy the 10 miles an hour while it lasts. It won't. Our best spot to practice was school parking lots. Very few people in the evenings and weekends and usually enough of a layout to make it interesting. Another thing I did, she was having trouble backing up so I had her circle the school parking lot a few times in reverse. It was enough practice she did much better.

I can recall my wife driving the access road from the theater parking lot to the mall parking lot at 10 miles an hour or less and the traffic backed way up behind her. Now sometimes she reminds me more of a Moscow taxi driver. I was never big on seat belts but that has changed.

It sounds like the theater, etc. suggestions have to do with the layout of the parking lot. I guess the only casualties would be small bushes if you choose the time right. I see where having some ostacles that won't total the car might be useful. After a basic understanding of the difference between accelerator and brake is reached.

I'm only typing this today because a seat belt saved my life. (On more than one occasion, I might add.) It's amazing the amount of wreckage and carnage you can literally unbuckle and walk away from if you're wearing your seat belt.

The carnage is also amazing if you're not wearing your seat belt, but you won't see it.

why not just get her a motorcycle without the motor?

Is that a John Deere or is that Brazil's attempt to win gold in the Mowlympics?

keep that pic, if your wife wants an exercise bike, show her that.

Oh snap! Good one charles! But, we've already proven how motivated our wives are... hell, they can't even drive!

i still shudder thinking about that pic of your jeep against the house!

There was a guy looking at my Jeep the other day and it has a pretty nice crack in the windshield. He said, "what, did the wife get mad and throw a rock at your window?" I replied, "No, but she did do this...."

Unintentionally, of course. Dents and dings I can deal with, but once my breaks go out.... there's gonna be some 'splainin to do.

My wife has been driving some around town and she is improving. Only one way to get better and that is go out and do it. This past weekend we made a quick trip down to the Florida Keys to prepare our house for hurricane Ike. She wanted to drive some on the way home so I let her start down there and by God she drove the whole way home, about 4 hours. I only pissed my pants twice.

Not bad!

Sweet!!

Damn, vacation thread is about pissing, now this too..
Strange fixation on this forum

Welcome to the Russia forum. A page or two of good info.... sixteen pages of piss and pie.

Every one has to have a hobby!

dude, i'm in korea. they drive like they are crazy over here!

Remember when driving in Korea -

As fast as possible, wherever possible (Sidewalks? What sidewalks? If my car fits here, I'm driving here!)

Stop lights, street signs, intersections... those are "suggestions" only

Slow down for the cameras... then speed up like you're at a drag strip (same goes for speed humps)

Busses, trucks, and any vehicle bigger than yours not only has the right of way, regardless of lane or direction, but they'll TAKE the right of way right away from you

Pedestrians are WRONG and should cross the street at their own risk, not yours

There's no such thing as a merge

A "minor" accident is anything where your vehicles still run - Broken mirrors, fender dings, bumper taps, etc. - don't require police to be called. In this case, simply get out, yell at the other guy a little, then get back in and drive away.

Park anywhere you want, just make sure you have a little sign on your windshield that has your "handpone" number on it so they can call you. If you answer your "handpone" and someone starts yelling at you in Korean, go move your car.

You don't "yield" at a roundabout, you speed up!

Never, ever pull over for the police. Lights on simply means "on duty" not "pull over." In fact, they don't actually pull people over. If you happen to get "waved over" to a police check point (similar to the ones in Russia) simply say something about being a foreigner, not speaking Korean, and keep driving.

If you want to exit, turn, etc., you should do so from the farthest lane possible and at the highest rate of speed possible. To really give folks a heads up, turn your hazard lights on.

Always flash your lights and honk your horn.... always! (Especially when sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.)

Watch out for Americans... they're the worst drivers on the road!

I think that about covers it. Once you learn how to drive there, it's extremely fun! (and efficient!) (And OH S#!T$$$$%%#@@#+)

i'm just staying on base, it seems safer. besides, they have a pizza hut in the basement of the dragon hill

If you walk down to Itaewon there's a lot more than pizza for sale!

heck no, there's crazy people driving around out there!

If you wanna have some real fun, get in a taxi on base and then tell the driver to take you somewhere off base. (Watch the whiplash as you exit the gate, and don't forget your seat belt!)

did that to go to itaewon, or however it's spelled, to get a wallet. the taxi driver cut off a motorized 3 wheeler, then cut in front of some mopeds, and then swerved in front of a moving bus to let me out. and that's after only about 1 mile!
not been off base since.

What base Charles? Just curious, as I spent about nine months in Korea (years ago).