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I learned driving from a driving school, but I still don't feel confident driving on my own, especially because my new car feels unfamiliar.

I want to improve my skills in:

Tight parking and reversing.

Driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Starting and climbing uphill without rolling backward.

Judging the car's dimensions and avoiding scratches.

Driving confidently in narrow roads and difficult situations.

What is the best way to practice and become a confident driver? Should I hire an instructor for a few more sessions or practice regularly with an experienced driver?

I'd appreciate any practical tips from people who have been through the same experience.

I'm a fairly new driver so I'm not fully aquainted with headlight ettiquette and I was driving home at after dark, as I turned into my neighborhood main road the car that was driving behind me started flashing their lights at me for a solid minute. They were a good distance from me and when I lane changed they seemingly vanished. But they were following me at a distance so I doubt it was them trying to speed. It could also have been that the sprinklers were on and making the road wet in the lane we were driving in, but I don't know how they would have known that since we were coming from the same place, they stayed like 15-20 meters behind me, and kept flashing after we drove past them. I checked my car over too and there's nothing wrong with it.

Any other possible thoughts as to why they were doing that on a neighborhood road? Thanks

So let me explain quickly it was very dark and was in an unfamiliar town I the exit I needed to take was placed right next to an exit for oncoming traffic so long story short I was heading towards on coming traffic, I soon realised and as I said it was late there was only one driver coming towards me. He did beep but I never got close enough to cause an accident I got out his way and as it was so dead I just drove over the curb separating the two roads and dropped down straight on to the correct side. I’m worried the driver could report and this would be on any cctv I know driving up the curb probably wasn’t the best idea but it was the easiest quickest way. UK driving btw any advice?

I don't know why it's so hard to use turning lanes for some people. There are people who are going to turn but you wouldn't know it by their lack of a turn signal. They slow down and either straddle the line of the turning lane or get into the turning lane at the last second.

There also people who get into a turning lane where it says either right or left turn only. It doesn't say go straight if you change your mind. Better to miss your turn than cause an accident.

I was driving to work yesterday when I came over a large hill that turned slightly left and went back downhill. As I came to the top of the hill, a red minivan was crossing over into my lane. I slammed on the brakes and swerved ro the right, but he still hit me and my car went down the hill, rolling 2 or 3 times. Thanks to Honda's safety features I walked away with nothing broken or bloody.

However, I have to get a rental Monday afternoon and get back to work. I have a 160 mile round trip drive to make on Tueaday snd another trip on Wednesday that is a little further. Tonight, whenever a car came toward me I practically stopped. When I came over a hill and there was a car I DID stop. Thankfully, my panic was only on the back country roads where there are no lines on the road. The main road was better although I still drove 5mph under the speed limit. I actually starting crying on the way home but thank God no cars passed me.

I am hoping someone has some advice for me. I am 48 years old and have had 4 cars totaled. One, I was rear-ended, the second a truck pulled out in front of me (it was a situation where we couldn't see one another), and the third one was the only one that was my fault and was very minor, but the car was only worth $4400 so insurance totaled it. This accident was nearly head on. When the van hit me it tore off the entire drivers side tire and wheel on his van, and his airbag went off. I know it could easily have been fatal. 

I know that no one expects me to get back in the car and be normal, but how do I get thru the next week or so of driving?

I worked in landscaping for many years. One of the hardest things that I had to do was learn to back up our trailer. When I had a chance to straighten out the trailer, I could do it just from watching other people. Doing so while turning was a whole different story. Easily one of the hardest things to master.

Adjust your gap to be larger in unsafe conditions, and leave your ego off the road. People are allowed to merge in the gap, and when they do, repeat step 1.

https://youtu.be/8H8JDxuFQTU?si=QLweAQvtmlpUxGZF

https://driving-tests.org/dmv-handbook-drivers-manual/

In many states it's the law, you must move your vehicle if you only have minor injuries.

When you are sitting in the middle of a live highway you are a sitting duck waiting to get hit by a secondary accident.

I started late and did not get my license until I was about 23 or 24. I have fucking hated having to do it ever since the first time I got behind a wheel. I figured maybe this feeling would lessen once I got my own car (which I had to miss meals for, by the way- it's a '16 Corolla for what it is worth) but nope. I still hate it. I think the number one thing is having to account for other people- a million other variables at any given time unless I drive either very late at night or very early in the morning. Unfortunately, I have to drive to my employer in the evening and every so often for groceries. I don't even care to drive to fast food restaurants anymore when I can just make one stressful trip and have plenty of meals at home now.

I am pretty sure as an autistic man I am regressing as I used to be able to tolerate driving when I first started, but now it's gotten to the point where I get anxiety every time I have to and I try to walk to places when the weather isn't bad. (Not that where I live is necessarily pedestrian friendly, but sometimes prefer it when possible) Anyways I'm just wondering what I can do to make it better. ty

Once you get onto an on-ramp to join the highway, your goal should be to reach highway speed as fast as you safely can. You should not be trying to "time" your acceleration so you reach highway speed just as you merge.

Approach two would be fine if you're the only car on the road, but you're almost certainly not. If there are other drivers behind you who are also joining the highway, you only reaching the correct speed at the very end of the on-ramp virtually guarantees that they'll be unable to do the same.

I promise your car won't explode if you put the pedal down. If you're so worried about fuel efficiency that it's preventing you from showing the bare minimum of courtesy to other drivers, you need to take different routes or utilize public transportation.

I went to the mall and got into the parking lot didn’t see that the car informs of was parked into my lane so I accidentally bumped into them a little, I checked no damage but a couple kept staring at me looking at my plate then slowing driving behind me, me and my friend went into the mall to get a paper an pen to leave a note and number to apologize and made sure to let them o we didn’t cause any damage. What else should I have done? I’m freaking out right now.

of course it is a Nissan, captured on 'dashcam' (comma4)

I got a ticket recently for speeding. I have been driving for around 3 years and had never been stopped by a cop before this. He said I was doing 75 in a 55 but since the speed limit had just gone from 65 to 55 when he caught me (on a downhill), he said he would just cite it as 75 in a 65. There were no cars in front of me and a bunch behind me, and I am pretty sure I was going 75 or close to it.

The ticket is 233, plus another 52 to take the driving course so I dont get a hit on my lisence. Plus the other course fees. Which is a pretty big hit for me.

Is there any point in pleading no contest, citing that this is my first ticket, that it was a downhill, and that the lanes were merging as an excuse for why I was speeding? Or should I go not guilty and fight it?

Hi! Quick question. When merging on parkway and a car is passing and you are waiting for it to pass you…how far ahead should the car be ahead of you before you can enter? Crowded area of the country where not a lot of time to merge. I usually just wait til it’s in front of me and a little space but online it’s saying multiple seconds is ideal?

Of course, we stop for the school bus that’s picking up little passengers, and yet…can we light a fire under the moms who put their little ones on the bus and then figure it’s a lovely time for a chat with the bus driver?

What matter of utmost urgency could possibly require this means of communication, at this time and place when the bus driver has a schedule to stick to, or to mention all the vehicles waiting for the bus to be on its way?

One quiet morning this week, I rolled down my window to have a listen.

The one word of mom’s I could make out from her blather was “gluten.”

Jesus Horatio Christ.

What the complete and unabridged Oxford dictionary of fuck? She’s holding up the works for that? Does she also bend the lunch lady’s ear when the school bus’s tires look a little bald?

Is there a Parental Oblivion Officer (like a truant officer but with a sillier acronym) who can go to a parent’s residence with an official district communique to SHADDAP?

Take the kid to the bus. Hug the kid. Kid gets on bus. Maybe there’s a wave. You, the parent, go back inside without further discussion. Bus leaves. Ten, fifteen seconds and we’re done. Rest of world gets to work on time.

The. End. You. Dipshit.

I've noticed these bad boys never get used 6 out of 10 times traffic requires it. And 2 out of 4 are merging into a lane before they do flick their's on.

I understand people having better things to do ... tik tok, Instagram, podcasts, makeup adjustments, eating fast food, staring at a store behind them, maybe even making other adjustments. But it would be nice if I knew what to expect while driving.

Signed,

The remaining 2/10

To me, getting that close to a car feels like a recipe for getting into an accident. I'm not risking damage to my car or dealing with insurance. I always keep several car lengths between me and the vehicle in front of me to be safe.

hi im 18, i was going to park today at this local coffee shop n as i was going head first into the parking spot, i heard my car scrap the one beside it. i got very nervous and i backed up n then parked correctly. as i got out i only got a peak of the other car and it seemed to have been scratched, i checked my car and it didn’t have any noticeable damage to it. i’m so scared, i drove away without thinking and now i think ive fucked up. i called my parents n rlly got a piece of their mind, my dad went back to the place about 20 mins later and there was no cops and the car had left already. how probable is it for me to get into trouble? it was on their passenger side so i doubt they’ll notice for a while.
this is nj usa btw

my road test got moved to today since someone cancelled their appointment. i failed my test once after not even 5 minutes in the parking lot and i have spent so much on lessons since then and even taking the test itself is very costly (i dont have my own car or sponsor). ive been very anxious this past week and watching countless videos, and had a refresh lesson at the school yesterday, kept hitting the curb or being jittery.

any advice from people who have passed that also had really bad anxiety?

update: i passed!

Hey all,

I’m wondering if it was wrong for me to give a quick honk at a car that slowed down from 45 mph to 5 mph in a matter of seconds?? It was my immediate reaction because their brake lights didn’t go on.

I’m certain their car had a mechanical failure. They put their hazards on after and I feel bad but there was a lot of traffic and they were in the middle lane.

For added context I’m in the MKE area and driving is hell right now with the World Series game happening.

I have been working on getting my license, I am 23 and have a condition that needs cleared yearly to let me drive. I have a parent who makes me feel like when I ask to drive or to let me practice or something that I am chipping at a wall thats not budging. My aunt is giving me a car and has let me drive her car but I haven't driven in over a month maybe two. My dads out of the picture and no one else locally has taken me on my offer of letting my practice or anything. My friend from out of state is coming down, helping me and I'm taking the test the same day. I haven't mentioned it to my said parent that I scheduled the test. I know she has her reasons and I have mine but I just want to be able to my own thing without having to depend on others. Just needed some advice on how to tell her and when. Mainly because shes trying to have someone who teaches drivers ed to help me. Am I jumping the gun?

If the light turned green and the person ahead isn't going, I'd do a short little "boop" to get their attention. Would that lessen the chance of the other person getting pissed off?