Learning How to Drive a Car
Everyone remembers their first experience driving a car. It is something that you almost never forget (despite how incredibly awful it may have been for both you and the instructor). In my case, not only did I attend driver's education classes at my high school, early on Saturday mornings, but I also had the advantage of having both of my parents allow me to practice my driving skills (or lack there of) with them behind the wheel of their beloved vehicles.
With my mother, I remember that when she first turned her vehicle over to me to learn how to drive, we had been on our way to the local mall. All of a sudden she pulled into one of the parking lots that was almost completely abandoned of vehicles, save for one car. Before I could even ask her what she was doing, she parked the car and got out of the driver's seat. I knew then that it was my very first opportunity to try to prove to both her and myself that I was capable of learning how to drive a vehicle both safely and efficiently. At the time, I would marvel at my parents and the ease with which they seemed to be able to control these heavy pieces of machinery. Both of my parents were right-handed, but I would pay attention as they would drive their cars on occasion, using only their left hand on the steering wheel. How in the world were they able to do that? And more importantly, would I ever be able to reach such a height in my own feeling of self worth and ability to do the same?
I have since found out that the skills you learn during driver's education and the skills that you actually apply to your own driving are both one and the same yet different. As it turns out, the skills that you learn sort of melt into good habits (or bad habits) as you continue forth with your driving career. And for some of us who spend a little too much time watching television and/or our own parents and other adult figures driving badly, we tend to pick up their 'skills? as well, making them our own. For example, I don't think I have ever once seen my father drive with both hands on the steering wheel even though we were taught in driver's education that you are always supposed to have both hands on the steering wheel. Additionally, I cannot even begin to tell you how many people I see on a daily basis who fail to use their turn signals before switching lanes, or who follow other people WAY too closely...All of these things were in our handbooks and were taught to us as well during driver's education. So, what gives?
Learning how to drive is an extremely fun and exciting time during the course of anyone's life. And though it may, at first, seem mildly terrifying, it is a rite of passage that if taken seriously, can help you develop into a better driver over time.
