Getting Your Learners License.

[Astrid]

What is the most worrying aspect of driving?

This is pathetic, but for me it is parking and merges. I am just not good at parking, will make sure the next car has parking sensors. I will often go to the furthest place in a car park and drive past other spots to find one easier to pull into. Often it is not the drive somewhere that will freak me, but what to do with parking when I arrive
Merging, well that one is so dependent on other road users, short distance to try and match the speed of the traffic, often the first car will be doing 80 and the next car will be doing 90 and closing the only gap you have to merge.

Did you have any dramas getting your license?
Did not get mine till I was just about to turn 23. I got a good instructor, he was hard and would not tolerate me crying. Helped me to toughen up. Even once I got my licence I really only drove on weekends, I enjoyed the walk to and from work, also I did not want to pay for parking.

Have you had an accident?
Only minor parking related ones, scrapped my first car and have bumped our bumper on the current car a few times. Was reversed into whilst reversing (not my fault as I was out first), I was pregnant at the time as well. Thankfully I was not hurt and there was only minor damage on the car.

If you accidentally killed a pedestrian (say a child suddenly stepped out infront of you) would you give up driving? (<--- that is my worst fear)
I would have to continue due to where we live, otherwise we would have to move. Even moving into town here would not do, we would have to go back to Melbourne or somewhere where the public transport runs more than once an hour.

Don't be afraid to just drive where know. Often I will drive a different route to DH, he is more confident under any condition, whereas I will avoid certain intersections. Sometimes it means adding a few minutes to the trip, but I feel it is safer for me.

I did stop driving for 10 years when we moved to Melbourne as it did scare me. Also often it was just as easy to use trains and not have to pay parking. So it was almost like I was a learner in when I drove again in my 30's.

As for car distractions, the kids are not too bad. If anything it is constant questions that drive me nuts and take my mind off the road, so often I have to be hard and just tell her to be quiet, mummy is driving.