Wifes first drive in a long time

[SeaCat]

So my wife want's to get back into driving. Not a problem.

I took her out driving today. The road we were on is not overly heavy with traffic, in fact it's fairly light for this area.

She pulls out of the parking lot and eases up to the traffic light. The light changes and she eases onto the gas as I had instructed. We're going just fine until a Nissan comes up beside us. I watch/feel and hear as our speed eases up as she paces this idiot.

I look at the speedometer and notice we're doing 80 in a 45 zone. I siggest we slow down and she asks why.

"Because we're not in a race and you're doing almost twice the speed limit."

Oops was her reply as she came off the gas and let the Nissan go.

A short time later she blew through a yellow while trying to pace a Toyota. When I commented on this she backed off the gas once again.

Just before we got home we were at an intersection. I was watching traffic as I normally do. On the other side of the intersection a car wa sitting in lane#2. That lane goes straight but they had their wheels cocked to their left. I knew what was going to happen and I didn't plan on being involved. I reached down and shifted the car into park just before the light changed. (This caused my wife to start cursing me out until she watched the car across the intersection sail through a left turn.) My wife almost shit herself.

When we finally got home she sat on the couch shaking for a bit. I sat with her and talked her through it. I explained that the reason I have gone more than 20 years without an accident is because I expect everyone around me to be stupid drivers and watch them constantly. I refuse to play their games with speed and I refuse to gauge my speed by them.

This evening we again went for a drive. Halfway through I pulled into a parking lot and changed places with her. This time she listened to what I said and watched the cars around us as well as her speed. By the time we got home her driving was much improved and she was even starting to relax.

Tomorrow morning she will be driving us to work as I ride in style and drink my coffee. (A nice easy drive with little traffic due to the weekend.)

I think my wife will become a good driver given time, as long as she doesn't listen to her friends.

Cat

 

[TheeGoatPig]

What made her stop driving? If I may ask.

 

[SeaCat]

What made her stop driving? If I may ask.

Too many years ago she was involved in an accident. Someone pulled out of a blind drive in front of her. Her parents made her feel responsible for it.

I got her over this and got her driving again. She was driving on Cape Cod during the summer giving one of her friends a ride. She came up on a yellow light and her friend screamed out to gun it, which she did. She almost got hit by a light jumper. She called me from her friends place and I had to drive down and pick her up. Up until now she has refused to drive.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Good for her and you, Cat.

 

[Lisa Denton]

Well Cat, glad that she is getting her confidence back.

One thing which will help alot is when you get your new motorcycle, let her get on and gun it a few times and feel the power between her legs. She will prolly tell you:

"get on the back and try not to fall off"

 

[SeaCat]

Well the wife drove into work today. I got to sit back and attempt to enjoy my coffee.

She did good and remembered what we talked about yesterday. She needs practice, which will allow her to learn the sounds of the car at different speeds as well as how to play with the throttle and brakes for a smoother drive. This will also allow her to relax. This morning she was wound up tighter than a drum head.

One comment she made this morning made me think though. She told me she had forgetten just how many things you have to keep track of and how active your eyes have to be when you're driving. I guess I'm so used to driving I don't think about it, I just do it.

Cat

 

[TheeGoatPig]

One comment she made this morning made me think though. She told me she had forgetten just how many things you have to keep track of and how active your eyes have to be when you're driving. I guess I'm so used to driving I don't think about it, I just do it.

Cat

I think about that every now and then. It's amazing what the human being is capable of. Our eyes are flashing back and forth so fast, taking in more information than most would consider feasible, and we do it every day, all day long, and intensify our demands when we drive, and yet we pull it off every time out. Well, almost every time. That's how accidents happen after all.

But it is still amazing.

 

[sutherngent985]

I explained that the reason I have gone more than 20 years without an accident is because I expect everyone around me to be stupid drivers and watch them constantly.

Cat

Years ago when my father was teaching me to drive, he gave me 1 piece of advice that I have lived by and have given every person I have taught to drive...drive like every other driver on the road is out to kill you and you will be right most of the time. You have to keep your eyes open and be vigilant.