Learning to drive

[officebum1978]

Hi I'm currently learning to drive. Should have done it ages ago but have been able to get around without a car up until now! Am a bit surprised at how hard i'm finding it i usually pick things up quite quickly i'm good at sports especially football(soccer) so thought i wouldn't have a problem with the coordination thing. I guess my main problem is that i don't really react when in a sticky situation its like my mind is always somewhere else. I''m guessing i might find it easier if i was a SJ type? What are others experience?

[mgb]

Super easy. I found it more of a spatial thing than a coordination thing. After you master it you can drift off anytime you want to.

[officebum1978]

I think i'm gettin the hang of the coordination now. But its the other road users and the narrow inner city roads in England that fuck me up. our roads are always busy and cars parked everywhere leaving only gap for one car to get past so constanlty have to change gears and be looking in mirriors and having to stop which is where i lose it. But i'm determined to master this, prob need more practice!!

[cuspuser]

The fact that you have to learn and do your tests on a manual tranmission add an extra degree of difficulty we don't have in the us or canada, because managing the pressure/shift is just as difficult as learning the rest of skillset required for driving ... to this day i still can't drive a manual transmission (of course i've never tried sooooo)

[SheepDog]

Try one thing at a time. The clutch and gears come with time and practice. My first car was a manual transmission, and it wasn't long before I was rowing gears like crazy. Just give yourself time.

[Dman]

Yep, just takes practice. You may eventually end up loving it; I have a passion for driving. Don't know if it has anything to do with being an INTP though.

My best advice (aside from lots of practice) is to envision the car as an extension of yourself. Once you know your vehicle intimately, as well as it's boundaries, you find you control it as if it's one of your own limbs. Take it out somewhere safe, like a big empty parking lot, and practice turning at high speeds, stopping, accelerating, reversing, and especially parking. This way you will get to know the limits of your car and how it responds in different situations.

[officebum1978]

i'm gettin better on the gear and clutch control. It just breaks down when there is a lot going on some sort of sensory overload my mind goes blank and don't react in time!!! I'm gona get a car and get my bro to sit with me for more practice do u think this is a good idea? According to my instructor 60% fail test first time in UK!!

[SheepDog]

Depends on how your brother is, but practice is they key.

BTW, running through the gears is quite fun. I'm with Dman about really loving to drive.

[mgb]

i'm gettin better on the gear and clutch control. It just breaks down when there is a lot going on some sort of sensory overload my mind goes blank and don't react in time!!! I'm gona get a car and get my bro to sit with me for more practice do u think this is a good idea? According to my instructor 60% fail test first time in UK!!

Don't worry about statistics. And if it makes you feel better standard was brutal for me to learn too.

Besides after you get your license you can do all the fun stuff, especially in standard. Consider the "Jim Rockford", high speed reverse, hard turn (that turns into a 180) quick shift into first and you are off. Can't do that on a bike.

[knome]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

For anyone else who couldn't drive a stick because the people teaching them to drive it knew only that it worked and could not explain how...

((once I read this, I immediately started driving my manual without problems))

[SheepDog]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

For anyone else who couldn't drive a stick because the people teaching them to drive it knew only that it worked and could not explain how...

((once I read this, I immediately started driving my manual without problems))
Just like an INTP ;)

[Boneca]

I'm also learning to drive. I did the theoretical test (we have one theoretical and one practical exam in Sweden) a couple of days ago, and it was ridiculously easy.
But I fear the driving itself. The reason is that I can't seem to decide what to do quickly enough, and in heavy traffic there is just no time to weigh pros and cons the way I always do. It seems to me that it would be easier to drive if you were J, i.e. could make a decision and stick to it without knowing enough details.
I really hope this is something that can be learned. :huh:

Then again, since I always mix up left and right, I'll probably screw up on the exam anyway.

[Edmond Zedo]

If you're passionate about it, and you practice a lot (Easy to do with driving), it's just a matter of time. But there will be times when your confidence outstrips your skill, and that's dangerous. I heard it takes about 5 years to master driving (when I'd been driving for 2), and I agree. After 5 years it's pretty much all there.

[officebum1978]

I'm also learning to drive. I did the theoretical test (we have one theoretical and one practical exam in Sweden) a couple of days ago, and it was ridiculously easy.
But I fear the driving itself. The reason is that I can't seem to decide what to do quickly enough, and in heavy traffic there is just no time to weigh pros and cons the way I always do. It seems to me that it would be easier to drive if you were J, i.e. could make a decision and stick to it without knowing enough details.
I really hope this is something that can be learned. :huh:

Then again, since I always mix up left and right, I'll probably screw up on the exam anyway.

I totally agree it took me about 5mins to do the theory part, we have a video test on hazard preception which is slightly more difficult but if you use one of the practice CDs u can easily learn how to pass it.

I think i mentioned earlier i have similar problems to you when in traffic or on narrow roads. By the time i've analysed the situation its too late to respond. My instructor says that sometimes he looks over at my face and i'm looking ahead with a blank expression as if i'm miles away. I think SJ are better at this, i'm trying to surpress my thinking when i'm in the car (not always easy but have noticed that when i'm involved in sports i'm not thinking as much as usual, maybe this is the key?).

[Dman]

I totally agree it took me about 5mins to do the theory part, we have a video test on hazard preception which is slightly more difficult but if you use one of the practice CDs u can easily learn how to pass it.

I think i mentioned earlier i have similar problems to you when in traffic or on narrow roads. By the time i've analysed the situation its too late to respond. My instructor says that sometimes he looks over at my face and i'm looking ahead with a blank expression as if i'm miles away. I think SJ are better at this, i'm trying to surpress my thinking when i'm in the car (not always easy but have noticed that when i'm involved in sports i'm not thinking as much as usual, maybe this is the key?).

I don't believe that supressing your thinking will help; on the contrary I believe that is the problem with most drivers - they aren't thinking about driving! It's all practice, practice, especially with INTP's - it's a matter of your mind knowing how to respond quickly - which of course takes us analytical types a lot of time and experience to get confident in doing.

[Edmond Zedo]

I've read (Keirsey again, I'm guessing) that SPs tend to achieve mechanical virtuosity because they have the capacity to practice endlessly. With driving though, NTs can get plenty.

[ohnoaninfp]

Driving was a little scary at first but it has become easier. I did have a lot of trouble manuevering my van in reverse. I failed the manueveraiblity test 4 times before I passed.

[Clara]

I don't believe that supressing your thinking will help; on the contrary I believe that is the problem with most drivers - they aren't thinking about driving!
Yup - it's not just being able to cogitate that counts...

Practising is also a matter of the total volume of repeating the various motions (mental ones too, like rember this, check that)

Do you enjoy Mr Bean (what not to do) humour?

[Warrior413]

This may be a bit off topic, but sharing is good. I happen to be the only person I know around my age (16) who has no real interest in learning to drive. Is anyone else like that, or was like that, or is it just me...

[file cabinet]

This may be a bit off topic, but sharing is good. I happen to be the only person I know around my age (16) who has no real interest in learning to drive. Is anyone else like that, or was like that, or is it just me...

I got my license at 18. I regretted that I didn't get it sooner.. it is worth it... I was never really motivated to get it but when I actually got it, I thought it was worth it.

[Edmond Zedo]

This may be a bit off topic, but sharing is good. I happen to be the only person I know around my age (16) who has no real interest in learning to drive. Is anyone else like that, or was like that, or is it just me...
I can identify. I've been hesitant to get electricity and running water too. It's just such a pain in the ass to walk five miles to the library to get online, smelling like a dog.

Actually, you'll regret it. I didn't have a car for about two years in my early twenties (money), and it's good for character and legs (bike). It was always going to be temporary, and I'm glad I did it. But it suuucks.

[Boneca]

This may be a bit off topic, but sharing is good. I happen to be the only person I know around my age (16) who has no real interest in learning to drive. Is anyone else like that, or was like that, or is it just me...Absolutely not. The only reason I'm trying to get my licence now (at 25) is peer pressure.
Cars are expensive, noisy, dangerous and bad for the environment. Besides, I like walking.

[SheepDog]

I find the idea of walking places very fascinating, but it just doesn't work here. This place is so spread out, and the public transportation is not suited to not having a vehicle. I've been to places like Boston, where you could live just fine without a car, and I didn't mind at all. Kinda strange how different it can be from place to place.

I still do like driving, but driving in traffic is not what I'd call fun.

[Sam172]

This may be a bit off topic, but sharing is good. I happen to be the only person I know around my age (16) who has no real interest in learning to drive. Is anyone else like that, or was like that, or is it just me... 17 here and I have no interest to drive whatsoever. It's expensive, I don't like cars, I prefer being environmentally friendly and it does me good to have some exercise every day :).
The only places I need to go I can get to be biking or walking. The public transport around here - although relatively good....is expensive. I've been known to walk for 2 1/2 hours back from the cinema (at 11pm) because i'm too tight to pay for the bus fare.

[mgb]

Learning how to drive is interesting. You actually do the problem solving before there is a problem. Its kind of like math or physics that way, you do a few practise problems before the test and breeze through it. The problems that you will have driving usually involve other drivers. So its just a matter of learning what they are going to do in a given situation and what you are going to do to avoid them. You just have to learn to look for the openings and when things are going to close. On a narrow road that might mean when to slow down and let someone by and when to speed up and go. As you get better it becomes very special as you start making the angles closer and closer and the speeds get faster. Think of it like math.

I think its worth getting your license even if you don't like cars or driving. I think if you want to travel it can be a definite advantage or if you live anywhere with suburbs you pretty much have to.

[Warrior413]

The public transport around here - although relatively good....is expensive. I've been known to walk for 2 1/2 hours back from the cinema (at 11pm) because i'm too tight to pay for the bus fare.
Heh, I walk all the way home from school, which takes about an hour, because I don't want to pay the bus fare. My tightfisted nature is legendary. It's interesting to be pondering the existential and suddenly realize you're home. And it's always good to get some exercise.

[officebum1978]

to be honest if i lived in a city with better public transport system wouldn't be bothering with it. I suppose its also handy when you take a girl out

[Clara]

I suppose its also handy when you take a girl out
It is, and it also depends on where you're taking her (does she like to walk/ does she own good walking shoes; what you're planning on doing together - I've been rock climbing, long ago, even though I was only a bit interested in doing it: it was fun, and interesting to do something the guys were so much more enthusiastic about).

Fortunately, the accumulation of number of hours of practice continues... as long as you don't let too many weeks go on between sessions. So slogging away will eventually lead to being able to do this well.

[Boneca]

I just need somewhere to rant, so I decided to dig up this old thread.

So, today was my second last driving lesson before my final test. Great, huh?
In those 80 minutes my driving teacher (bloody ISTJ) managed to say that I don't concentrate enough, I have extremely bad coordination, I don't pay attention, I have some brain damage making me unable to perceive distances, my eye-sight is bad, I'm not listening to him (I concentrated on the driving), I am daydreaming (I was listening to him...), I am too anxious, I have no sense of directions, I have bad short-time memory and I am generally confused!
And the sarcasm in his voice when he told me "turn right...I mean, towards me, dear" just made me want to drive straight into a wall to make sure I kill him too.

I was more upset after this than I have been for years. I felt I could just as well cut off my body and continue my life as a brain in a vat. (Which still doesn't sound as bad, actually.)

I've calmed down a bit now, but I am a bit amused that this is actually the most extensive list of insults I have received since I was a child.

If I get my driving licence, it will not be thanks to this teacher. How are you supposed to be able to drive when you have a constantly ranting SJ next to you?

[melancholeric]

:rofl: :rofl:
Sorry. I can just picture that....
And myself in that same situation. Without having been there.

[athman]

Learning how to drive is interesting. ... The problems that you will have driving usually involve other drivers. So its just a matter of learning what they are going to do in a given situation and what you are going to do to avoid them. You just have to learn to look for the openings and when things are going to close. On a narrow road that might mean when to slow down and let someone by and when to speed up and go. As you get better it becomes very special as you start making the angles closer and closer and the speeds get faster. Think of it like math.
.
I was reading an article on advanced driving and defensive driving on the weekend. The key thing that many instructors talked about was the ability to see far ahead (both pyhsically and mentally), which is something INTP's may be suited to.

[codeman38]

Hm, interesting... I stumbled across this thread while Googling for mentions of sensory overload and driving, and I can associate with the comments about difficulties learning to drive. I had to join the forum just to post this, though I'll probably be coming back for other threads too. :)

I'm an INTP who has been trying to figure this whole driving thing out since I was a teenager, but I just cannot seem to get the hang of it. Admittedly, my spatial perception skills are *somewhat* better than they were when I first started learning-- but even still, they're well below par, and I often end up waiting for minutes at a stop sign when I have to cross a busy road because I can't easily judge how quickly traffic will pass. But the biggest issue is simply one of sensory overload and generally 'spacing out'. There's just too much to visually keep track of for this Intuitive mind... and simply put, I have a habit of sort of losing track of what's going on.

It's a shame, because public transportation is not exactly the greatest here in Georgia, particularly outside of metro Atlanta (and Atlanta has its fair share of problems, too!). I'd really like to be able to drive a car, but I simply don't trust myself-- given that even during my driving instruction, there were numerous times when I did things like running through stop signs because I literally did not notice them. <_<

But I'm not the only INTP with this issue. Not by a longshot. I blogged about my difficulties (http://www.zone38.net/blog/2001/06/24/28/) back in 2001, fresh out of high school, back before I had enabled comments on my blog; subsequently, I posted about a Google search for "INTP bad drivers" (http://www.zone38.net/blog/2002/11/26/324/), and got a surprising amount of like-minded comments!

[Architectonic]

Did you see the recent driving thread?

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=11749

Most INTPs do not find driving that difficult.

Unless you have learning difficulties, its basically a function of experience - once you have had at 500+ hours driving, you should find it becomes second nature....

[hardkar]

I had problems learning driving too. It was the start and stop thing, you know when the clutch bites and you need to push the throttle just enough. The theoretical test was easy. But the 40 minutes practical driving test was my achilles heel. The fourth time I took it, I passed.
When I was driving I felt disturbed by the person sitting next to me. So when my parents where away I took the car for a ride. Illegal yes, but i could do it my own way just relaxing and figure out driving.
So now I have introduced my INTP pal to driving. He has the same problems as I had. So hopefully I we can solve this.
So a tip for those who wanna learn driving:
1. Find a huge deserted parking space.
2. Explain how the vital parts work.
3. Let the virgindriver sit in the driver seat and feel and touch things, how they work.
4. Let the student take a deep breath, let all the worries just flow out, say that it's ok to vandalize the vehicle, feel free to try/figure out.
5. Press down the clutch, turn the key, select first gear and fly.

One questions for all RHD outthere. Is it hard to shift with the left hand when you are right-handed? It must feel odd.

[Ka.avik]

One questions for all RHD outthere. Is it hard to shift with the left hand when you are right-handed? It must feel odd.having shifted with the left hand in a drive-on-the-right car/country, I can say that you could always shift with the right hand when you are right handed. That feels odd too, but there's no reason to be confined by the engineers who've never met you. I have far more problems with strangely shaped seats built for giant texans with what must be four-foot inseams. I feel like tying a block to my shoes so I can reach the petals, like "short stuff" in that indian jones movie

EDIT: I'm right handed, but I was holding a coffee cup & the steering wheel w/the right hand, and I needed to upshift quickly.

[Architectonic]

One questions for all RHD outthere. Is it hard to shift with the left hand when you are right-handed? It must feel odd.

Not at all. I'm sure shifting with the right hand* will feel a bit odd since I've never driven a LHD vehicle.


*Actually, I have shifted with the right hand (in a RHD vehicle) a few times before, driven a manual one handed (eating at the same time you see), its a bit awkward, but not hard on a straight road.

[Ringoyam]

Take your time. Their is no need to worry. I'm getting mine next month and I'm not worried about it. probably cause I've driven before without a liscense but its real easy after a little while.

[hardkar]

I have shifted with my left hand in a LHD car too. When talking on the cell phone for instance. I have also done it with my elbow, even the passanger has shifted for me. I have never driven an automatic, I guess they have their advantage sometimes.