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| Driving and Dying? in forum [Blog]
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Naomi
Posts: 12
Incept: 2017-05-27
Dallas Texas
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Driving,
For all of us in the world it is a bit synonymous with freedom. So as soon as I turned 18 I immediately registered to take my licence exam. Because there was usually such a long waiting list in my city at the time (months), I thought it was OK to go ahead before even taking a single lesson. So the lessons start (driving school, dual command cars), small Fiat (=death trap), manual transmission. My father won't let me close to his car, don't even ask. But it seems to go well, and I assume I'll do OK after 8 hours or so (finances are tight). But for whatever reason, slow summer perhaps, I am asked to come and take the exam after only 6 hours behind the wheel. Big city, plenty of cars, narrow streets, and a request to parallel park nose down on a hill. I am extremely nervous, my knee is "almost" shaking on the clutch and the accelerator, I drive too fast. We do not hit anything, I do not stall, but I am given a big fail by the instructor (who is sweating - may be summer?) for "dangerous driving". I was in medical school at the time, and so he felt appropriate to comment that he could see my point of view since I would get the casualties back as business... Frankly, that had to be fair, I cannot even imagine how he felt during that "drive".
In the end I did get that license after another 2 hours driving (on budget). Nobody wanted to ride with me for the first few months. But I did not drive much until coming to the US, and retaking a licence exam. The car: another Fiat (so nobody could say I did not have "skin in the game") fun but as safe as riding a bike with a cardboard box on your head. Did a lot of practice by myself in empty parking lots and deserted streets on Sunday mornings. Also learned all I could about the car so could avoid ever being stranded, and I would know exactly what is wrong with it even if I have no intention to fix it myself.
Still having fun driving, but you are right Sarah there are some long stretches in Texas(such as from and around Dallas) where driving is dreadful. My favorite state to drive: Washington State.
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Kellywood
Posts: 20
Incept: 2017-06-19
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Ha Ha Sarah! I had a similar experience learning to drive a 4 speed!!! That's so funny! 1980 something Audi. Once I got in the groove I loved that car! Miss it today! Then another super cool reliable beater! Honda Accord manual! With a sun roof and all electrical worked! Ha Ha Just pass the semis real fast! That's what I do:)
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Naomi
Posts: 12
Incept: 2017-05-27
Dallas Texas
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Sarah, if anything "abnormal" happens to your car as you are driving on the freeway, turning on your emergency flashing lights will clear the space around you almost instantly. They do not know what is going on but they get ready for the possibility that you blew a tire or such.
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Naomi
Posts: 12
Incept: 2017-05-27
Dallas Texas
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Sarah, reading what you say about how you are not so confident going from 4th to 5th gear it may be worth clarifying a few things if I may. It seems the gear positions in your car is the same as a car I used to drive - German too. 4 is on the lower right and 5 is on the upper right, on the outside, is that it?
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going to 5 from 4, if you hesitate around neutral with the foot pressed on the clutch, you are wearing the clutch ($$) and it is not a safe position to be in because you are not in gear, ie you are coasting and have no control over the speed but it is no big deal if you do not loose too much speed. If you loose too much speed when you pass 5th you will lug the engine (BAD). I am not sure at what low speed you would have to pass 5 in order to stall but it has to be below 40 mph I am going to assume you would NEVER pass 5 while at that speed. So make sure you are at least at 2500 rpm and over 60+mph to pass 5, to leave room for "fishing" for 5 for a fraction of a second. I would say do not pass 5 going uphill...
Personally I never pass 5 while entering the freeway. You should be able to go to 65+ without exceeding 3000 rpm which is not bad for the engine if hot and you should never go at freeway speeds with a cold engine. My reasons for staying in 4 are: I have more room for reaction while in 4, I may have to slow down for another car, I may have to accelerate quickly and 4 has more torque (although you go faster in 5 so that may be even). Mostly in four I can go from 45 to 65+ without changing gears in order to adapt to traffic surprises.
Especially, changing gear to slow from 5 means going to 4 and the dread of going for Reverse by mistake, although I understand it should never happen.
Let us face it, it you have not burnt a clutch by now you are doing great.
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Sarah
Posts: 1288
Incept: 2017-05-08
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Well just so everyone knows here as it seems that its kind of unclear, Im twenty now and when this little driving lesson happened I was sixteen/seventeen. Its not a worry now as I travel all the time and I have plenty of experience. It also helps that Ive been driving the same car since I was sixteen. NO worries ya'll I know what Im doing now, just at the time it was terrifying.
I do appreciate everyone with their advice and them putting out there what they think but I got this. Promise. :)
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Karefree
Posts: 5
Incept: 2017-06-16
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