10 Thoughts You Have When Following a Student Driver & 10 You Have as the Student Driver
10 Thoughts You Have When Following a Student Driver & 10 You Have as the Student Driver
Both Sides of the Same Coin
Few driving experiences are as nerve-wracking—or hilarious—as those that involve a student driver. When you're the car behind them, you’re torn between sympathy and frustration as you crawl down the road. But when you're the student, it’s a sweaty-palmed mix of fear, overthinking, and praying you don’t stall or roll back when the light turns green. The funny thing? We've all been on both sides. Whether you’re the cautious follower or the trembling rookie, here are 10 thoughts you’ve probably had in both situations.
1. Hurry Up, I'm Late for Work
When you're following behind a student driver, you know that they're technically driving the posted speed limit, but it always feels extra slow for some reason. Before you know it, your daily commute is taking thirty minutes more than it should, and you're running late for work.
2. It's Safe to Turn Now...
It gets even worse when you're waiting behind a student driver who's making a turn. No matter whether they're turning left or right, they always seem to somehow miss their opening—which only means more waiting for everyone stuck behind them.
3. Please Don't Stall
If you're following behind a student driver who frequently stalls? Yup, you're probably better off calling in sick; you're not going to make it there until the next morning, and that's if you're lucky. After all, students who stall usually take even longer to come out of it, which just takes up more precious time.
4. Why Are You Slowing Down on a Green?
It's a good thing for student drivers to practice defensive driving and scan both sides of an intersection before passing through, but this doesn't always translate well for the cars following behind. Why? Because some students like to slow down far too much—even when the light is green.
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5. Please Don't Merge in Front of Me
We all know the dreaded feeling of having a student driver merge into your lane. It's fine if they're behind you, but when they're in front? Yup—you'll need to slow down considerably to match their pace. Hey, at least you get to watch their progress from the front row seat.
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6. Please Don't Roll Back Into My Car
Speaking of students who frequently stall, it's even scarier when they don't yet have a proper grasp of how to control their vehicle and end up rolling back. Of course, it's also your responsibility to leave a good stopping distance between you and them, but that doesn't mean watching their car roll backwards can't still give you a mini heart attack.
7. Ooh, I Wouldn't Do That If I Were You
Sure, you get the front row seat to their lesson, but at what cost? Some students might be naturals, but others should probably stay away from the wheel. You've likely seen far too many close calls while following behind them.
8. Are You Sure You Can Make That Spot?
It's not just close calls on the roads, either. Watching student drivers try their hand at parking for the first time can be nerve-wracking, even if you're not one of the cars they're attempting to fit between. You might even be tempted to get out and offer them advice, just so they don't accidentally scratch something.
9. Patience Is a Virtue, But for Crying Out Loud...
Of course you know that patience is a virtue, but sometimes, student drivers really do wear your patience thin. It's one thing when they drive incredibly slow, but it's another thing when they try to make reckless maneuvers beside, in front of, or behind you. That's when you'd rather take a detour than be near them.
10. They Finally Left!
The best moment? When the student driver you've been following finally, finally moves out of your lane. That means you're finally free, and maybe you can still make it to work or your important meeting on time without angering your boss. Hurray!
But now let's flip the script: what thoughts do you remember having when you were the student driver? Here are 10 common thoughts we probably all had:
1. Why Is Everyone Going So Fast?
When you're a student driver, it can feel incredibly intimidating to drive on busy roads where everyone seems to be following a different speed limit. You might feel tempted to do so, too, but when you're being supervised, you know better than to succumb to peer pressure.
2. Please Let Me Merge
When it's obvious to everyone else that you're a student driver, it can also be incredibly frustrating to change lanes. Even when you have your blinker on for a while, it seems like nobody wants to let you in. And you know why: they don't want you slowing them down.
3. Is It Safe to Turn Yet?
Making turns, left or right, can also be hard to judge when you're still just starting out. You might think it's safe to turn—only for a pedestrian to show up or another car to come zooming past, and you're back at square one. You don't understand how others seem to do it so easily.
4. Please Stop Watching Me Park
If there's one thing that other drivers seem to enjoy watching you do, it's watching you try your best attempt at parallel or reverse parking, when they know you're an amateur. Having all these eyes on you can make it more likely for you to make dumb mistakes you wouldn't otherwise make.
5. Why Is the Car Behind Tailgating Me?
If it wasn't already obvious enough that everyone thinks you're driving too slow, whoever ends up behind you always seems to tailgate your car. Seeing this can spike your nerves further. You might even wonder why they can't just pass you.
6. Please Don't Honk at Me
As a newbie on the road, you'll inevitably make some mistakes. Everybody does when they're still inexperienced. But still, hearing others honk can dampen your confidence, even when you might understand why they did it.
7. What Does That Sign Mean?
It's one thing to remember all the simple rules of driving and manipulating a vehicle, but it's an entirely different thing to memorize the meanings of all the signs around you when you're on the road. You might even feel like everyone's silently judging you if you accidentally interpret and respond to them wrong.
8. Shoulder Check, Shoulder Check...
You're reminded again and again to shoulder check by your instructors, parents, and maybe even siblings, but sometimes that leads to you taking too long to shoulder check or doing one too many. What does this mean? It slows you down on the road. But hey—safety first, second, and third.
9. Am I Going Too Slow?
When you're the student driver, you're constantly reminded of how slow you might be going, despite following the posted limit. And while you know this, you might still question yourself repeatedly, wondering whether you're going too slow, or if everyone's going too fast.
10. This Is So Scary, I Never Want to Do This Again
At the end of the ordeal, you might sometimes be so stressed out that you never want to get behind the wheel again. But that feeling is often short-lived; the next time you hop into the car for a lesson or with a family member, you're back to feeling pumped up.
