That's a bit dangerous, don't you think?

SunnyDaysDontLie · January 2011

This is going to be everywhere. I didn't know when to start. I have started driving. Yay, right? Sure. If you don't get a teacher who is a complete and total ass face. I have never driven a car before. I have never driven anything similar to a car other than an ATV (4 wheeler), and someone was behind me showing me how to do it. My particular driving instructor, and I quote, "I raise my voice, I don't yell." Which is a lie. In a small Chevy, you do not raise your voice louder than how I talk normally, which is pretty loud. This Chevy is loud, also. My ears are ringing from it, which is odd, because it's not a diesel, and I only have one good ear. Both of them are ringing, though. o_O He yells. That is not raising your voice, that is yelling. It is hard to make me cry, and he has done it four times in two days. Part of it is because I hate being yelled at more than anything in the world. It hurts my ear, I can feel the vibrations, it fills me with guilt and negative thoughts, and I don't like that, considering I've been a very happy person lately. I am at a T intersection about to turn right. He proceeds to tell me to go, and then stop. I get my pedals confused, and step on the gas instead of the brakes, causing him to slam on his brakes and *scream* at me for five minutes. If you put me under pressure, I make mistakes, and he doesn't realize this. I am a good driver. I can maintain speed limit. I don't drift. I can lane change and make right turns and left turns and merge. I communicate with the people in front of me. I can handle parking garages, they aren't my favorite. Do. Not. Put. Me. Under. Pressure. So by yelling at me for not doing something fast enough (which, by the way, dumbass, I would have rear-ended the person in front of me had I went from 0 to 55mph in 3 seconds), or, lets say, jerking the wheel from Matt's hands because you can't tell Matthew [the guy I am driving with], how to lane change properly by the speedway, that's a bit dangerous. He grabbed the wheel from my hands and nearly caused me to run into a tree. The person riding my ass backed off, but you don't do that. I don't care how impatient or how much of an ass you feel like being, you just don't do that to someone who is about to piss their pants because of you. Intimidation doesn't work. I have issues with people I don't respect. And, he is one of those. So I keep conversation to a minimum of "stay straight? Turn right? Turn left? What do I do here? Lane change?" I am a very attentive driver. I can figure out what the hell I am doing. Like the purple car who pulled out of a side road right as I turned right? Yeah, well, he wasn't there, and I am right because I notice things that are purple. Purple is not a common car color. Purple tends to be shiny, like it has glitter in it. This car was one of those neon purple cars. Did I miss it? No. Because it wasn't there when I pulled out. Just like I know when to stop at a stop sign, or how to turn right. I know I can turn right on red. Let. Me. Drive. It's not you getting your license, you've had yours for thirty years. -_- You're supposed to be teaching me how to drive, not screaming at me to "STOP! GO! STOP! GO!" in the same three second period. Yeah, I'm reporting you after Monday. Anyhow. We're by the speedway, and we are heading to my house to drop me off. Matthew is more nervous than I am when it comes to driving, because this guy (his name is Barry) is harder on him than he is on me, because I happen to be female, and I am not afraid to be a smart ass. He is also one, so he finds it pretty funny. However, he has made me cry, his background is in counseling, so I don't know why he yells. He reminds me of that one Geico commercial with the military guy who didn't make a good psychologist. xD The "Mamby-Pamby Land" commercial. So Matt has to lane change. Barry is very vague with directions. He tells us "turn signal left", but does not tell us if we are turning or lane changing. He just tells us to put on our left turn signal. Matt does so. Let me describe the setting for you. Imagine the busiest road by your house, a big road, like one that leads to a mall, or to Wal Mart or to Lowe's Home Improvement. It is going on 5:00pm. It's heading into rush hour. Everyone is on this particular road. Barry tells Matt to "mirror, mirror, slide." Matt attempts to do it, and fails, partially because Barry screams "STOP STOP STOP!" and jerks the wheel from Matt's hands. This causes me to nearly slam my head into the window. This is, I believe, an 8 lane road, and we need to be in the second to farthest left lane to pull around the mall and get to my house. We are in the second to farthest right lane. Barry repeats the mirror-mirror-slide command, and throws the steering wheel to the left, causing Matt to dive into the other lane of traffic, cutting off about five cars, who slam on their brakes and lay on their horns. Matt then has to go into another lane, which the same events happen, minus the steering-wheel throw part. The next few are perfect, but hesitant, because, hey, who wouldn't be scared with some ass screaming in your ear? Matt proceeds to be scared, because if you don't do something fast enough for Barry, he "raises his voice" to a yell. We are on the interstate on Monday, and I fear my life. I will be going probably 70mph, and if he throws the wheel, I'll probably spin out of control. Once again, I am a decent driver for someone who has never driven before in her life. Driving is supposed to be fun. It's not when you get an ass. Three people have already reported him for unnecessary roughness. I will be doing so after Monday. It was all I could do to not tell Matt to pop the trunk so I could get my stuff out of it, walk across 5 lanes of busy traffic, and call my mom. I don't live far from the speedway. I honestly want to wait a bit longer before driving again. I'm about to call the teacher from the teaching part of the exam and ask her if there is another driving class going out that he is not teaching, and if I can join it, that would be wonderful. -_- And that is bad, because I am usually tolerant of people like that, but it's... unnecessary roughness, and he said himself "I want the good driver back from yesterday." I was only a good driver once I relaxed and was able to focus on the road instead of him screaming in my only good ear I have left. -_- Needless to say, I just about went off on him. I actually didn't say anything to him after an hour of me driving other than to ask about directions. Any question, unless it was a test question, was ignored or given a short response to. I can't respect you until you respect me. Sorry. I know I should respect my elders. But you don't scream at me. No. That is a hell no. Unless I nearly cause a five car pile up on the middle of the freeking freeway, or I nearly hit someone head on, you do not scream at me. Same thing with Matt. It is unnerving. We, as students, cannot be tense and scared while doing something that has never been done, or we will injure ourselves and others. I'm about to cry just thinking about it. I was white knuckled all day today, because I hate people riding my ass when I'm trying to process everything around me. I cannot listen to you scream at me and watch the road at the same time. Jesus. Sorry I'm such a damn failure. Why don't I pull your little white Chevy over to the curb, park, and put the emergency brake, grab my crap, and walk the 30 miles home? Yeah. I will do it, no hesitations.

RoyalRaccoon · January 2011

I understand that kind of pressure, and not being able to handle yelling. My mother had a serious problem with yelling at me when I first tried to learn, and there were a few times where I had to pull over and switch seats with her, because I was so upset. I think yelling at a learning driver is one of the worst things you can do to them. If you are uncomfortable with this instructor, then definitely talk to someone about it! What he is doing is NOT okay! If you're that afraid, and upset, then you aren't going to be able to focus or pay attention, which could lead to an accident.

SunnyDaysDontLie · January 2011

PrinceSushi wrote:

I understand that kind of pressure, and not being able to handle yelling. My mother had a serious problem with yelling at me when I first tried to learn, and there were a few times where I had to pull over and switch seats with her, because I was so upset. I think yelling at a learning driver is one of the worst things you can do to them. If you are uncomfortable with this instructor, then definitely talk to someone about it! What he is doing is NOT okay! If you're that afraid, and upset, then you aren't going to be able to focus or pay attention, which could lead to an accident.

It nearly has twice. I'm trying to focus on him and the road at the same time. I know somewhat what I am doing. Driving isn't as hard as it may seem, and I'm not going to change drivers when there is only one day left. However, I will explain to him that if he would speak louder, I would hear him, and to not "raise his voice", i.e., yell, because it takes away my focus.

RoyalRaccoon · January 2011

Yeah, I agree. If you've only got one day left, then it probably would be best to just get through it. You should try to talk to someone about his behavior though, so that they can make sure he doesn't traumatize as future learners. I'd probably have a full blown panic attack if I had to drive with him.

tarnish · January 2011

I don't like driving instructors at all. I hear a lot of bad stories about them and have yet to hear a good one. My instructor 3yrs ago made me so upset that I was in tears and couldn't wait to get home. He made me feel like an idiot. The only good thing was that he left the radio on and let me put on m channel. When we were practicing the maneuverability part he gave confusing directions and freaked out at me if I started to do the wrong thing. I didn't -once- get maneuverability down on my own when I was with him. When I went to take my test, I pulled it off for the first time because I had less pressure taking my test than being with him. I dont know about the whole "I can't respect you until you respect me" thing. I can only imagine the world! There's a difference between 'liking' someone and respecting them. You don't have to like him at all. Believe me, once you take a drive on your own, it's soooo much better. I hate driving as it is but it's less pressure on my own. When I'm with someone else, I feel like they are noticing all my mistakes. So least you'll be done soon and get a breather! Just try to keep your cool because it's not really worth it.

Alabama · January 2011

tarnish wrote:

... When I went to take my test, I pulled it off for the first time because I had less pressure taking my test than being with him....Believe me, once you take a drive on your own, it's soooo much better.

Not picking on you tarnish, I was trying to figure out how to word this and you kinda took the words out of my head. If the training is stressful and makes you think, even if you know you're doing right, it makes it easier when there is far less pressure. I guess because my daughter just went through basic training and is in tech school this reminds me of that. The constant, in your face, pressure where you have to try to think clearly anyway better prepares you than a "hold your hand, pet your arm" training. You are about to get behind the wheel of a thousand pound vehicle that can kill someone with an instant of indecision of what you should do in a dangerous situation. That you are thinking "Driving isn't as hard as you think" then you need some pressure because driving isn't about being hard or easy, it's about being prepared for dangerous situations. There is no greater pressure than that and if your driving instructor can somewhat get that amount of pressure on you when he is there to take control should you not handle it and make the decisions quickly enough to avoid danger, then he is preparing you and next time, you will know exactly how to handle it. Sunny's instructor may have had a lot of complaints about the way he instructs, but if he's still teaching, I would hazard a guess that it's because his students have a higher percentage of passing their test than other instructors.

SunnyDaysDontLie · January 2011

I was in the middle of replying to Bama when I had to go somewhere and it logged me out. x: I know I'm behind a heavy vehicle that could kill others and myself in an instant. I'm talking about the other things, like maintaining speed limit and getting on the highway [which is really really fun..], and turns, parking, etc. I got cut off by some ass in a Jimmy John's van, who wasn't paying any attention and was on his cellphone, by the area where the instructor nearly caused an accident, which caused both me and my instructor to slam on the brakes at the exact same time. Scared the crap out of me, honestly. I'm not afraid to be on the road, because it's my ticket to freedom. I can't get a job until I get my license, and I can't get my license for another year. So, another year from now, I will have my 5-9's unsupervised and be able to drive unsupervised. That is, if I pass the 3-point-turn. Barry said that the DMV tries to trick you on that one. Anyhow. I know the risks of being behind the wheel. I understand that one wrong or stupid move could cause a severe accident and end my life or someone else's life, which is why I am cautious when I am on a busy road. On a country road, I maintain 55 unless otherwise posted. I finally got my certificate today, I hung out for one more day without getting yelled at and actually relaxing, which caused me to be a better and more alert driver than I am when I am trying to drive and listen to what is being shouted at me [into my good ear, mind you]. I'm rather proud of myself, and rather happy it's over and I can come home and sleep.

tarnish · January 2011

You think getting on the freeway is fun? That causes anxiety for me because I'm afraid I'll have issues getting on. I don't need incidents when trying to merge on xD. Crazy xP People are horrible drivers here. Someone was going 40 in a 65 zone and on the freeway you dont know how slow someone is going until you're right up behind them. It freaked me out. I couldn't move lanes either because my exit was soon D;

SunnyDaysDontLie · January 2011

tarnish wrote:

You think getting on the freeway is fun? That causes anxiety for me because I'm afraid I'll have issues getting on. I don't need incidents when trying to merge on xD. Crazy xP People are horrible drivers here. Someone was going 40 in a 65 zone and on the freeway you dont know how slow someone is going until you're right up behind them. It freaked me out. I couldn't move lanes either because my exit was soon D;

It is! I can't hit 65-70 on any other place except the freeway >D And trust me, I liked that. I know that sounds dangerous, and it is, but I think it's fun. I had a bunch of anxiety about it the night before. It sent me into a near panic attack. I couldn't sleep. xD And Matt drove first [because I made him xD], so I noticed it wasn't that hard. Then I got on and it was like WEEE! until the merge lane. I'm definitely my mother's child. xD The off ramps are fun, too, because you just cruise through them. I like the freeway better than the roads. No turns, the speed limit doesn't change often. It was enjoyable, today. And I have practice and I can get all the stress out, because exams are over, drivers ED is over, and I can swim it all off and stop having nightmares and other weird dreams about both driving and exams and the driving exam. x.x I wasn't on the freeway during rush hour, though. xD We got off before then. The particular freeway I was on is bumper to bumper from about 5-8 except on weekends. However, the one road by the mall is horrible. I'm about to call Jimmy John's and tell them that a guy in his 20's in a blue-ish SUV cut me off and just about caused an accident, considering both Barry and I slammed on the brakes about 6 meters from him. x.x Crazy people here can't drive very well either. You get your good ones, though. xD

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That's a bit dangerous, don't you think?

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