Posted by Ami Weaver
I’ve got four kids. And one of them is a teenager with a driver’s license. <shudders>
This happens in many households. And while he turned 16 in June, I’m still holding my breath when he backs out of the driveway for a trip to McDonald’s or his girlfriend’s. (Incidentally, he’s a far better backer-upper than I am. I can’t back INTO my driveway with out running through my garden. Which is why I planted lavender there–at least it smells good while being crushed! But I digress.)
He’s a fine driver. But I want to share a little story with you about beginning drivers.
Last summer, a few weeks post-permit, he’d driven me and a friend to McDonald’s, then they were heading to the friend’s house (known from here on as B). DS took a turn onto B’s street and the large Cokes in the holder thing on my lap dumped over. I squealed and DS inexplicably let got of the steering wheel to lean over and attempt to grab napkins. In the process he hooks the steering wheel with his something-or-other (a knee?) and we take a sharp right over the curb into someone’s side yard. He sits back up and I have NO IDEA what he’s doing but there’s a street sign coming up fast and I’m wondering, if he mows it down, do I have to pay to replace it? If he hits it smack on, maybe I can just stand it back up?
We sail by it with a hair to spare and luckily before the approaching telephone pole became an issue, he got the van back on the road. From B in the backseat: “Holy crap. I think I need a moment.”
DS slammed it into Park, right there in the middle of the (thankfully non-busy) street and we all took a moment. Then he put it back in Drive and we drove the last block or so to B’s house, where we had a quick and dirty little chat about hands on the wheel and all that.
When I drove back past the spot, you could see our tracks in the grass. Really, the whole thing covered fifteen or twenty feet and had only lasted a few seconds. But it sure seemed to take forever in the moment.
He wouldn’t drive for several weeks. Too freaked. But he did get over it and he truly is a good driver. Still, I hold my breath every time he leaves and don’t truly exhale til he’s home. Then I remember: I have three more drivers-to-be after him.
I’d better find out if I have to pay to replace street signs.
i wasnt able to get my lisence until i was 19. but even now at 36 when my mom is in the car with me she is always slamming on her imaginary brakes lol
LOL, Amy! My mom does the same thing. Tho I’m not sure she’d admit it.
~Ami
My daughter still does not have her drivers license because she refuses to drive my van. She did have a permit when she was 16 and we went out driving a few times but I think I made her too nervous. We will have to see about lessons for her.
I work very hard to stay calm. He responds way better to me calmly pointing something out then if I get agitated–he does too and it devolves from there. However. This doesn’t mean I’m not a wreck inside sometimes.
~Ami
Ugh, how scary! But thank goodness everyone was okay (including the stop sign)!
My first driving experience was backing out of the garage in my truck–and running right into my parents’ car! Fortunately, I was pretty much just rolling back. The bumpers got hooked momentarily but no harm done!
That truck was a stick shift and I remember being SOO frustrated trying to learn the first few times out, but now I love driving stick. All my cars have been manual and it’s getting harder and harder to find!
I love stick shifts, too. So much fun! My son wants to learn but we don’t have one currently. I had to LOL at the accident in the driveway! We haven’t had one of those yet but once we add his car to our narrow driveway I’m thinking it’s inevitable….
~Ami
Ami, I so relate. When younger son got his car, the first day, he took it to the local golf course and ran a fence down. Kids. Cars. Help!
Oh, funny, Christine! I can see that happening here as well….
~Ami
Oh, Ami, I’m the bad backer-upper in my family. When I first started driving, I backed over THREE mailboxes! I look forward to getting a car that tells you when you’re getting too close. My kids were actually very good, but we made them sign a contract. First six months, no radio, no extra passengers, no food in car. We talked to a highway accident specialist and he told us that kids tend to overcompensate and are easily distracted while driving. Good for you that yours is good at reversing!:)
Hee, glad I’m not the only one, Leanne! Yeah, my next vehicle will have a back up camera and whatever bell and whistles I can find to help.
Love the contract idea. He can’t drive with anyone in the car right now but his gf and she’s very calm so I was okay with that.
~Ami
Yikes, Ami!! My daughter has been driving for five years and is a great driver, but her first scary experience (aka – accident!) was getting cut off by a driver who was determined to get on the highway at the same time she was trying to exit and yielding wasn’t something he learned I guess. (I say he but we have no idea who was driving as they never stopped!)
Well, she ended up going off the off ramp and into a snowbank, just missing the huge exit sign that would’ve come right through the windshield if she’d hit it. Can’t tell you what a scary phone call that was (she called me herself) and thankfully I was at work only one exit up from the accident. I even beat the EMTs and other than a bump on the head, she was fine (the car was totalled — which is why all first cars should be junkers. It seems every teen I know ends up crashing their first car!) We made sure she got back behind the wheel soon afterwards but oh, the worrying never stops!
Oh my gosh, Christyne! That’s so scary. I can’t believe the other driver didn’t stop! So glad she was okay–those what-ifs can be nerve wracking. And yes, when he gets his car it will be a junker.
~Ami
Ami,
About four years ago I pulled out on a divided highway not far from where I live (and the site of many fatal accidents), misjudged the approaching vehicle and was hit. (my fault) I had a mild concussion and some neck strain but I fully recovered. But I learned a valuable lession….take my time at that very busy intersection. I like to think that the accident I had there perhaps saved me from a more serious one later (since I’m now ultra cautious)
I’d look at your son’s incident the same way…
Wow, Cindy, so glad you were okay! That’s very true that he may have learned a lesson–I hope so. We’ve had little things happen in the car since then and he makes a point of not helping. I told him his job is to drive and if he needs to deal with something to pull over somewhere safe. Here’s hoping it sticks.
~Ami