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Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

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Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#41

Post by joshu »

it helps to just practice. at first you'll be overwhelmed by just operating the car. then you will start to have some spare attention span for other drivers. then over time that awareness circle will widen.

understand that other people are only paying 1/4 or 1/2 their attention to what's going on around them. you need to make up for it. that means giving the car in front of you a bunch of room (more time to react for you) and other defensive driving, etc.

(i learned to drive at like 36. then started doing track days. got my racing license. now i do club and vintage racing. i still find highway driving a bit stressful, as other drivers do the strangest stuff)

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#42

Post by Projectiboga »

Projectiboga wrote: post #8

If you can get a pal w a car to get you to a suburb that might help. There will be a learning curve before and after you pass your test. Driving here in NYC is a big challenge, navigating narrow spaces, double parked car and trucks. One thing I learned belatedly on a reddit thread, we always merge at close to the end as we can, at bridges & tunnels. Parallel parking practice will be a big hurdle, try and find a quiet…

Another tip, really get a feel for how an entire car can be in your blind spot, roughly just behind you on the left and right. That is part of the reason for watching your mirrors ~15-20% of the time.

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#43

Post by oopsthrowpass »

I had a license at 16, but did not renew it for 24 years, so I managed to get my license again at age 39. It's not too hard, takes a while to get used to rush hour traffic situations, driving on a highway is more relaxed and easier. Maybe the first couple of months I suggest driving extra carefully at intersections/left turns until more familiar with possible dangerous situations.

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#44

Post by timnetworks »

Ease off the brake pedal, the car rolls on its own, you don't always need to hit the gas to get where you're going, esp on slight inclines.

Today, the gas pedal is the only game in eTown, an ignition may be life threatening, and your car may not be allowed into Zone 4.

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#45

Post by jgwil2 »

Lots of good advice here. I just want to mention that on the highway, the left lane is for passing only. If you're not actively passing, you shouldn't be in the left lane. This seems not to be taught very well in the United States but since you're starting from scratch you can be part of the solution. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#46

Post by timnetworks »

user3939382 wrote: post #33

In general people are horrible drivers. They tailgate, roll through stop signs, signal after they start changing lanes, don’t signal at all, are oncoming and have their tire in your lane. In NYC they play a game of not letting you merge into a lane unless you basically threaten to crash into them. I lived a life insulated from the morons of the general public until I started driving.

don't take this the wrong way but you may be impeding traffic, and other may be fuming while going around you. there's a flow to the traffic, doubly so in NYC, cars can be going through, another making a turn, two peds crossing diagonally, but it all comes to a standstill around virginia and ohio plates for some reason

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#47

Post by aodonnell2536 »

ryukoposting wrote: post #21

I have a friend from southeast Asia who learned to drive as an adult in the US. He learned on a friend's car, receiving instruction from that friend. Here's some notes: Having an instructor is nice, but a patient friend who you trust will also work. The throttle is more sensitive than you'll expect at first. Automatic cars roll forward slowly unless you hold the brake. Old cars have less sensitive brake pedals - that…

> Take turns in counterclockwise order at stop signs.

When I learned how to drive, we were taught right-of-way at a four way intersection goes to whoever pulled up first. I think it’s like this everywhere in the United States. Could be a regional thing, though, I suppose.

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#49

Post by k0stas »

jedberg wrote: post #18

I've been driving for 30+ years, so I can't help you with the experience of learning at 40. But I can tell you what my dad told me when I started driving and what I will tell my children when they learn: 1. 90% of driving is predicting what the other drivers will do. Luckily most of them will follow the rules of the road, so you don't have to worry about those. You need to worry about the outliers. The driving part w…

Excellent tips. As a corollary to #1, strive to make your own driving predictable to other drivers, e.g., turn signal on before changing lanes or braking to make a turn.

Re: Ask HN: 40yo adult learning to drive what is different vs. learning young?

#50

Post by seanmcdirmid »

aodonnell2536 wrote: post #47
ryukoposting wrote: post #21

I have a friend from southeast Asia who learned to drive as an adult in the US. He learned on a friend's car, receiving instruction from that friend. Here's some notes: Having an instructor is nice, but a patient friend who you trust will also work. The throttle is more sensitive than you'll expect at first. Automatic cars roll forward slowly unless you hold the brake. Old cars have less sensitive brake pedals - that…

> Take turns in counterclockwise order at stop signs. When I learned how to drive, we were taught right-of-way at a four way intersection goes to whoever pulled up first. I think it’s like this everywhere in the United States. Could be a regional thing, though, I suppose.

It is rarely an issue, since you should always go in order of who arrived at the stop sign first, except if two people arrive at the same time...the one to the right should go first, if they are opposing each other, the one turning left should yield (if both left, or both non-left, go at the same time). Here are the rules for my state:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.180

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