Tips on Driving

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  • #591865
    blinky
    Participant

    I finally worked up my courage to take driving lessons and actually my test is this week, and i’m extremely nervous! Does anyone have any driving tips for the road test, and for just driving in general? Thank you.

    #745991
    blinky
    Participant

    Just to add on- also things that i should look out for by the actual test-thanx

    #745992
    fulltimenews
    Member

    One important thing to know is, that the dmv inspector usually focuses on your confidence at your road test, so make sure not to be nervous while having the test & not to look around more than supposed to.

    #745993
    the.nurse
    Member

    Much better to look nervous than to look over-confident. Don’t try to be ‘cool’ -like driving with one hand on the wheel or anything like that. Most instructors will fail you if they think you are way too confident.

    #745994
    blinky
    Participant

    Are you trying to confuse me? lol. the.nurse-don’t worry somehow i don’t think i’ll be over confident.

    #745995
    the.nurse
    Member

    Lol, sorry, blinky, i know it sounds very confusing! Either way, good luck!!

    #745996
    dunno
    Member

    1. Make sure to signal when pulling in and out of the starting point.

    2. Don’t hit the curb when parking!

    3. When switching lanes, make sure to glance behind you – don’t just rely on mirrors.

    #745997
    blinky
    Participant

    dunno (and others)…thanx-especially #3, i didn’t know that.

    #745998
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    I know it’s going to sound trite — but try to calm down and relax. The calmer you seem, the more confident the DMV inspector will be. If he sees you’re highly agitated and/or nervous, then he’s may prejudge that you aren’t ready for the test.

    The Wolf

    #745999
    blinky
    Participant

    Okay ill try. Anything else?

    #746000
    Hello Kitty
    Member

    If you fail your test try again. Most people dont make it the first time!!!

    #746001
    blinky
    Participant

    Can s/o briefly tell me the rules of right of way by stops and turns? The book is a little confusing.

    #746002
    yeshivaguy1
    Participant

    always look both ways by a stop sign. I’m not sure what state you’re from but in some states the test is giving in a parking lot. It’s not very easy to notice the stop signs so keep an eye out for them

    #746003
    philosopher
    Member

    Much better to look nervous than to look over-confident. Don’t try to be ‘cool’ -like driving with one hand on the wheel or anything like that. Most instructors will fail you if they think you are way too confident.

    That helped me get my license the first time I took the test. I was SURE I was going to fail and very nervous about that.

    At the end of the driving test, as I suspected, the DMV inspector told me that I failed. I said “I knew it! But please tell me why I failed.”

    He said because I forgot to lock the doors. I looked at him dumbfounded because nobody ever mentioned that you need to do that. Then I realized that he was joking and I did indeed pass the test.

    Confident or not, I wish you a huge dose of siyatta dishmaya!

    #746004
    chesedname
    Participant

    here is the best advice you’ll get.

    postpone the test, and take more lessons.

    just from the few posts you have here, i gathered you have no idea how to switch lanes, and not sure about stopping and turning.

    hmmm that’s almost everything there is to know about driving.

    #746005
    blinky
    Participant

    philosopher-i hope i get your guy:)

    Chesedname-my instructor said i don’t need more lessons-there is just so many rules, i just want to hear advice from more “experienced” drivers who have already been there done that.

    #746006
    blinky
    Participant

    Also about the changing lanes-I really meant that i know it -its just its a stupid thing to forget during the test. My instructor said that no matter if your a great driver, most ppl get a little nervous, and can do s/t really stupid. Thanx anyway

    #746007
    simcha man
    Member

    Be menchlach! No matter who the inspector is, greet him/her with a “Good morning” and “How are you today?” Not only will the inspector look at you as person and not just “another test” but you’ll also feel calmer having spoken to him/her.

    #746008
    sms007
    Member

    Make sure to turn your cell phone ringer OFF if you bring it. Also, make sure to look around you alot when parking… if there are no lines down the middle of the road on a two way street, make sure you don’t drive in the middle of the road (sounds silly, but if your used to driving with the lines, you may veer off without realizing. Make sure you know how to turn on or off the windsheild wipers in case it starts raining, which has happened in the past. Keep both- that’s right BOTH hands on the wheel the whole time. If you take one hand off, they might just fail you-at least that’s what its like where I live. and don’t forget to signal when you pull away from the curb at the beginning and back to the curb at the end. GOOD LUCK!!!!

    #746009
    sms007
    Member

    and about stop signs- i was taught to stop by the stop line, count to three in my head and then inch up…. By an all way, whoever gets there first has right of way and then you take turns. BUT if th eother persons decide to be rude and go first anyway, don’t fight him and try to go first cuz your supposed to -defensive driving. Turns-whenever it’s clear, you can turn into the closest lane (i think the closest lane…)

    #746010
    blinky
    Participant

    Wow guys thanx a lot!

    #746011
    SJSinNYC
    Member

    Here are some tips I picked up via experience :-/ (and some from others experiences)

    1) Make sure to calm down.

    2) When stopping at a stop sign, make sure to fully stop, not just a rolling stop. You should feel the car jerk back slightly to a complete stop.

    3) On a street with no yellow lines, look at the directions of the cars parked to double check that its not a one way. Then make sure to slightly hug the correct side of the road.

    4) Make sure your driving instructor is wearing his/her seatbelt before driving, but be careful how you ask them to put it on. They can be testy.

    5) Don’t drive too slow or they will ask you to speed up LOL.

    I took the test at Redhook if thats of any use to you.

    #746012
    njgirl
    Member

    The following is for out of NY driving tests: (hence my username lol)

    -everything about trying not to look cool is totally true, as my dad says, drive like a gramma!- seriously, dont drive with one hand, stop completely at a stop sign, go under 25 mph (or, wtvr the speed limit is obviously), and if they ask you to do a K turn make sure to signal, oh, and tears wont help unfortunatly

    so- i did all of the above wrong and failed the first time, but the 2nd time thru i drove the complete opposite and the tester (same guy i had before) told me i drove beautifully!! (not to brag or anything… just proving my point)

    good luck!

    #746013
    newbie
    Member

    For switching lanes, here’s something I learned in driving lessons: SMOG= Signal, Mirror, Over the Shoulder (check your blind spot), Go. They want to see you looking over your shoulder. And use your mirrors a lot- all of them. They look out for that, too. (At least here they do.) And one more thing that really helped me- someone once told me that it’s where you look, that’s where you’ll go. Look to the center of the road and that’s where you’ll end up. Don’t keep worrying that you’re too much to one side or the other.

    Hope that helps. Good luck!

    #746014
    Hello Kitty
    Member

    We are all very concerned about your test so let us know if you passed it!! We hope to hear good news.

    #746015
    agent
    Participant

    I happen to know Blinky very well. She is taking her driving test today and wanted me to tell you that she appreciates all the tips and good wishes that everyone wrote in. Hope to hear good news soon!

    #746016
    blinky
    Participant

    Hello everybody! Baruch Hashem I passed!!! Thank you so much for all your tips it helped so much!!!

    #746017
    Hello Kitty
    Member

    Congrats!!!

    #746018
    philosopher
    Member

    Great blinky! I’m so happy for you.

    So were you confident or played nervous?

    #746019
    blinky
    Participant

    Just the opposite! I was nervous but i played confident! Its amazing but it felt good to have ppl rooting for me. And simcha man-i gave my tester a nice smile(he was a big grouch!) I think it helped!

    #746020
    dunno
    Member

    Congrats! How many times did you hear “I’ll have to stay off the roads” so far?

    #746021
    blinky
    Participant

    Lol! I heard it once-and I also heard “i’ll be staying off the sidewalks too!!!”:)

    #746022
    boredstiff
    Participant

    Way to go blinky!! Impressed you passed on your first try!

    #746023
    bklynmom
    Participant

    The best way to learn to drive is to register for a DRIVERS EDUCATION course when in high school. I found the lectures interesting, informative and very useful for ‘real live driving’. The videos were terrific and covered material that is helpful till today. The lecture spoke all about the road test and what the point system is. DO you know that most teens fail for lack of observation? Remember 3 mirrors and the BLIND SPOT.

    #746024
    ronrsr
    Member

    good driving tip from my Uncle Morty, of blessed memory:

    1. Never rely on someone else to tell you that the way is clear, when changing lanes, driving in reverse, or any other time. If someone says, “you’re clear!” ignore that person, and always check yourself.

    I’ve never heard this tip from anyone else, but I have followed it, and it has indeed saved several cars, and perhaps a life or two.

    #746025
    blinky
    Participant

    ^BUMP

    Ofcourse- this is for you, hope it helps

    #746026
    Ofcourse
    Member

    blinky, Thanks! Looks like despite being nervous, you did NOT freeze and feel like a deer looking at approaching headlights, when the examiner got into the car.

    People tell me men examiners are easier. I know someone who failed a few times with women and passed with a man.

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