Woes of a New Driver

I took driver’s ed in the summer, passed my driver’s test in October, and got the keys to the family car in February. My birthday was the week before my school shut down.

So yeah, guess you could say I got really lucky when it comes to driving during quarantine.

Most of my friends took driver’s ed this fall and never got the chance to take their road test. I was one of the few people who had the freedom to escape the ‘house arrest’. Did I use it?

No. From March to May, I barely touched the wheel. I don’t think I actually started driving around until after I finished my APs. And even then, I didn’t do much other than drive around the neighborhood.

Sure, I could blame it on Covid. Nothing was open. I couldn’t drive out to go get food or anything like that. The most I drove was to school and back, to pick up my yearbook and drop off my textbooks.

But mostly, I was nervous. Driving is really scary. I didn’t do it as much as I should have because I was paranoid about things that could happen. After your road test, you’re kind of just thrown onto the roads. You’ve been trusted with a complicated machine and it’s nerve wracking. For me, at least.

I avoided driving during quarantine. AP prep gave me a good excuse, but once that was over, it was over. My mother nagged at me to go driving and get used to the road. Even though I listened, it never really worked. I was still nervous every time I buckled up.

Then, we moved out east in June. I got my job set up and prepared for a great summer.

Last year, I’d either bike to work or have my mom drive me. Now, I have access to a car and have my license. There’s no excuse for me not to drive the five minute “commute” to and from work.

That was the key, though. The key to solving my problem with driving. These quick, basic drives to and from work changed driving for me. Driving was no longer a nerve wracking abnormality, but now a daily occurrence.

Soon, I’m making detours home to grab lunch. I’m driving out to meet friends in town (social distanced and safe, of course). I’m driving home from dinner, or dropping off my sister, or just running basic errands.

My advise to anyone who’s nervous about driving is to make it a norm. Make it as normal as brushing your teeth every morning and night. Change it from a new thing to a habit. And don’t go mindlessly driving. Drive with a purpose. Pick up food for your family. Run errands. Drive to school, or to work. Whatever it is, it’ll work. Consider your driving woes, gone.