Driving Alone For the First Time Is Low-Key Terrifying
It's finally time: you're attempting your first solo drive. On one hand, you're so excited you can't contain it; after all, there will be no one telling you what to do! But on the other hand, you're terrified, because what if you don't know what to do? It just goes to show how rewarding and scary that first drive can be, and here are 20 thoughts you've probably had when you first attempted it. How many of these can you relate to?
1. Finally... No One to Tell Me What to Do
Ah, the freedom of driving solo for the first time. There's no parent, sibling, grandparent, or relative to tell you what to do and make you more anxious than you already are. Just you, your favorite playlist, the car, and the world ahead.
2. Wait, Am I Doing This Right?
But wait—without someone beside you, how would you know if you're doing something wrong? What if you're not actually supposed to change lanes here? What if there are rules and signs you missed? What if you suddenly panic and forget everything you were ever taught?
3. Where Am I Going Again?
Okay, you had a plan before you buckled yourself in. But now you're blanking; where are you going, anyway? The supermarket? The mall? Your friend's house? Or maybe you should just do a loop around the block and head home.
..
4. Can I Turn Here?
Is that a "no left turn" sign? Or is that only enforced on certain days and times? Oh God, how should you know? But wait, maybe it's okay. You can just follow what everyone else is doing, after all. If they're doing it, you must be doing the right thing, too. Right?
5. Is My Car Supposed to Sound Like That?
Cars make weird noises, sure, but was that sound normal? You're not sure now, and maybe it's actually better if you get on the line with your mom or dad so they can diagnose it through the speaker. Or maybe you should just wait until you get home and pray the car doesn't break down before then.
6. Please Don't Stall
If you're driving a manual transmission car, you're probably freaking out twice as badly every time you have to stop and start again. You can only hope that you don't accidentally stall and block everyone else behind you, or it would be so incredibly embarrassing.
7. What Do I Do If I Get Lost?
Sure, maybe you got to the supermarket in one piece, but what if you accidentally take a wrong turn and head out of state? What if you're suddenly on the highway, speeding out of town? You can't afford to get lost—not on your first-ever solo drive. You'd never hear the end of it from your family and friends.
8. Sorry, I Didn't Mean to Do That
Oh, oops—you didn't mean to turn there, or leave your signal on after you finished merging, or take 10 minutes to parallel park while holding up traffic. Look, it's your first time, okay. Can everyone just chill out and stop judging you?
9. Oh God, I Hope No One Saw That Botched Parking Attempt
Okay, fine. Maybe your parking attempt was a little embarrassing, and maybe it did take, like, 12 minutes to finally get into the spot. But again, it's your first time driving and parking alone, so you should be given credit for that.
10. This Is Fun
Now that you've gotten a little more used to it and your nerves have eased, you're actually having fun. Again, that sense of freedom and being completely in control makes you feel powerful, and you can definitely see why people love driving alone.
11. Okay, Never Mind, I'm Scared
Okay—you jinxed yourself. Maybe there's an emergency vehicle speeding your way with the sirens blasting, or maybe there's a stream of cyclists blocking your path. You're quickly reminded of your inexperience, and now the fear and uncertainty creep up again.
12. Am I Going to Make It Back Home in One Piece?
Driving is hard. It's basically a miracle that you and everyone else combine efforts to make sure the roads are safe. Heck, with your anxious mind still spinning panicked thoughts and your heart still racing, you start to wonder if you can even survive doing this again.
13. Shoulder Check, Shoulder Check, Shoulder Check
Your instructors told you to exaggerate your shoulder checks—and for good reason. Now you're always looking over your shoulder to check for cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and anything else that might suddenly pop up and be in your way. Safety first.
14. Can Everyone Just Pass Me, Please
Yup, it's still embarrassing to be the first in line at the intersection. It feels like you're leading the way, and if you make one wrong move, everyone else behind you will see. At this point, it's better that they all just pass you so you can stop worrying about them potentially judging your driving skills.
15. Are They Honking at Me?
Every honk you hear feels like it's directed at you, even if it sounds far away and definitely not in your direction or lane. You can't help it; you feel like you're under the spotlight. You're trying your best, and you know you're not perfect, but could people stop blasting their horns, please?
16. Am I Supposed to Stop Here?
You know how two-, three-, and four-way stops work, but again, when you're under pressure, that knowledge just goes poof. Never mind that, but what if you're supposed to stop even when there's no stop sign? Are you overthinking this? Maybe. But also: should you brake just to be on the safe side?
17. Did I Lock the Car?
Yes, you distinctly remember jabbing the 'lock' button on your car keys about a dozen times, but what if you actually undid it somehow, and now the car is somehow unlocked? You're paranoid, and you might just drop all your groceries to go check.
18. What If I Forget Which Pedal Is Which?
Of course you know which pedal is which, but what if you panic? What if you think you're pressing on the brake, but you're actually slamming your foot on the gas? What if you accidentally do that while parking and end up ramming into another car? It's a valid reason to be anxious about.
19. Am I Driving Too Slow or Fast?
You try your best to match traffic, but you're also not sure if that's technically the right thing to do. It's bad if you drive far too slow, because that might cause others to pass you unsafely, but it's also bad if you speed. So what should you do? Are you driving too fast or too slow?
20. Holy Cow, I Did It!
Despite all your inner struggles and thoughts, you did it! You made it to your destination, parked, and drove back home in one piece. All by yourself, too! That's an incredible feat, and if you're now thinking of celebrating the success of your first-ever solo drive, by all means, go ahead and treat yourself to something special.
