my friend is a terrible driver

[-]

2braincellsarguing@reddit

Did she get her drivers license out of the cereal package? Lol

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

This is the United States, so yes. Yes she did.

Reply

[-]

I guess it depends on which state, county etc? Never been to the US but i’ve seen it can vary quite a bit. Like from what i’ve heard in söme states they take their drivers in an rnclosed court, lol. That’s honestly terrifying. Maybe she’s one of those?

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

Tell you what, just pick a state, any state, and order the “Driver’s manual”. Better yet, do a search on your favorite search engine and do some practice tests. The CDL tests are the only ones that have any sense of difficulty to them.

Reply

[-]

2braincellsarguing@reddit

I’ll try practice test, wish me luck boys, lol

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

You won’t need it, but sure… Good Luck!

Reply

[-]

2braincellsarguing@reddit

Did a 30 question test… got 23/30. 5 of the failed questions were US specific stuff (like why would a sign say ”No Standing” when you can apparently park/stand there😅) and one blunder on my part which i should have known. The last failed one was about alcohol and how long after a drink you can drive which i failed. [this was the test i took](https://usdriving.net/question_list.php?test_id=98033327e6d4c930) This is a practice test here in [Sweden](https://korkortonline.se/en/facts/theory-test/) which is quite similar to the real test. Alot of similarities and differences for sure.

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

Look at it this way: by the time your average person has gotten a legal license to drive in the USA, they possibly spent $50 or less. And that’s mostly in fuel. By the time your average German (the only country I really remember about) has gotten a legal license, they’ve probably spent €1,500.

Reply

[-]

rnvs18@reddit

not really. anyone with a pulse can get a DL

Reply

[-]

GoHuskies1984@reddit

Took me 3 times in Connecticut. First time I failed because I took one hand off the wheel to accept a piece of gum from the test instructor. Second failure was turning into a 2 lane road immediately merged into another lane without signaling. At least in my experience the DL test was strict. Parallel parking was what worried me the most at the time.

Reply

[-]

2braincellsarguing@reddit

Wait what the istructor gave you a piece gum and then failed you for it? What a douche

Reply

[-]

Toads_Mania@reddit

That’s super weird. There’s no law that says you have to have both hands on the wheel at all times - I mean you literally cannot do this if you drive a manual car, have a headlight switch you can reach from the wheel, etc. There’s nothing wrong with accepting a stick of gum while driving, it would just be an instructor being a jerk and on a power trip. I’d have been getting that one over turned purely on principle.

Reply

[-]

GoHuskies1984@reddit

I should have said it was during a turn which if I remember was an instant fail on the CT test.

Reply

[-]

Tuxedo_Muffin@reddit

Evil instructor! Offers you gum, you accept, failed test.

Reply

[-]

BigPK66@reddit

100%

Reply

[-]

opeth10657@reddit

Earning your DL and then applying what you learned to real life driving are two very different things.

Reply

[-]

Virtual-Guarantee279@reddit

How do you know poster is American? They used the term "uni" when most Americans would just say college. I think they probably aren't.

Reply

[-]

sh1boleth@reddit

If they go to a uni why wouldn’t they say uni? I’ve heard uni a lot being in the us

Reply

[-]

Virtual-Guarantee279@reddit

I've never heard the term used in the US. Maybe it's a regionalism? I'd always say college or maybe [full name] university, but I'd never say that I was "at uni" despite attending a university.

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

Valid point. Good catch. I’m not sure how strict England’s drivers testing is. I do know the EU’s test are difficult as hell, and I barely passed for my Int’l driver’s license when I was stationed in FRG back in the late eighties.

Reply

[-]

frunklord420@reddit

The UK doesn't have a last gen Camry. This current generation is the first one they've had over here in a long long time. Also OP has an Acura in their signature which isn't available in the UK either. My guess is US/Canada, I can't imagine they're from the UK. The British driving test is pretty comprehensive. Not as hard as some of the Scandinavian ones, but one of the more difficult ones because of how unnecessary a car is over here.

Reply

[-]

6Grumpymonkeys@reddit

Yeah, Canada was my second guess… but I couldn’t remember if they used the term “uni”.

Reply

[-]

XCCO@reddit

Cracker Jack box, actually.

Reply

[-]

Human_Contribution56@reddit

I go old school are look back when I'm reverse. I will check the camera but It's treated like a side mirror. Sensors are electronics and they can fail.

Reply

[-]

Facts_pls@reddit

Your steering wheel and brakes can fail. Does that mean you shouldn't use them or rely on them? When you are reversing, you can see the screen right? You know at that moment that it is working fine. Why not use it? Now, If it failed and you see a black screen, sure, do whatever you need to. But this arbitrary argument that I don't use it in case it could fail is stupid and reveals you as a luddite. Imagine commercial pilots not using instruments while landing because instruments could fail - so they must rely only on their own vision. That's how crashes happen. I think you are one of those people who credit their skills too much and trust technology less than you should.

Reply

[-]

Human_Contribution56@reddit

You're so right

Reply

[-]

Smart_History4444@reddit

Most drivers who drive modern cars are like this. Some don’t even know you are supposed to not rely on them and actually check yourself. Most drivers can’t even reverse park a car without a backup cam or sensors. Those are the type of people we share the roads with If she gets into an accident because the system goes down or is faulty she’s going to get into alot of trouble. At the end of the day the responsibility is on the driver. The tech is meant to be a guide you don’t rely on it.

Reply

[-]

Ketchup1211@reddit

Man, I can’t use the back up camera to reverse into a parking spot. The depth perception is all weird the further you get from center. I always use my mirrors still and only glance at the camera to see how close I am to the back of the spot. It’s crazy to me how people rely on the camera and sensors to back up.

Reply

[-]

Facts_pls@reddit

I think you lack the skill of judging distances on camera/screen. Why is looking into a mirror superior to looking at a screen according to you? I'm sure an older person will complain about you using mirrors by saying "back in my day, we turned our heads..."

Reply

[-]

Ketchup1211@reddit

Just my perspective is all. Never said one was more superior. Only thing that really matters is be able to drive safely.

Reply

[-]

w3stvirginia@reddit

I use the backup camera all the time in my car. It’s a great tool. It has guidance lines that help with the depth perception. It’s not a substitute for mirrors, but at the same time, mirrors won’t help to see pedestrians when backing out of a parking space with large vehicles beside you.

Reply

[-]

Phazushift@reddit

Some people cant even reverse park a car with backup cam and sensors.

Reply

[-]

prairiedawg1912@reddit

FWIW, I bought a new suv a few months ago mainly for the new tech. Top trim, fully loaded with everything on it. I check with my insurance guy before the purchase and was amazed to find that the policy would be cheaper than what my 12 yqer old car was. He said the tech, while expensive to repair, pays for itself in preventing accidents. Although you still have to do your part in paying attention.

Reply

[-]

AnonymousEngineer_@reddit

Tech dependence is a very real thing, and it's not limited to driving. How many people actually remember the phone numbers of people important to them? How many people use a map and learn their way around their home city, rather than leaning on GPS navigation all the time? I'd wager that a significant number of younger contributors to r/cars are unable to parallel park a car in a tight space in a car without rear parking sensors or a rear facing reverse camera.

Reply

[-]

RandomGenName1234@reddit

> I'd wager that a significant number of younger contributors to r/cars are unable to parallel park a car in a tight space in a car without rear parking sensors or a rear facing reverse camera. Most drivers can't. I'm not sure I'd even do a good job of it, it's been so long since last time I had to do it, probably like 15 years.

Reply

[-]

3PercentMoreInfinite@reddit

Yeah just go ahead and remove “younger” from your comment and I’ll agree.

Reply

[-]

AltruisticMobile4606@reddit

Lmao for real, I was with him until he couldn’t fight the urge to throw a “kids these days” bit in there

Reply

[-]

AnonymousEngineer_@reddit

It's not a 'kids these days' comment, but rather acknowledging the reality that older folks learned to park without cameras and sensors, while younger people have grown up around the systems. I wouldn't expect younger folks to be able to configure a serial port on a computer to communicate with a printer now either, because they've grown up in the age where USB peripherals have always been a thing.

Reply

[-]

burrgerwolf@reddit

Oh no the youth can’t parallel park without a camera!!! Believe me we live in a better world where people aren’t bouncing off your bumpers trying to park into a space.

Reply

[-]

FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit

I can parallel park just fine, but you'd better believe a rear camera makes it easier and I'm going to use it. Used to have a neighbor that would move their car to try and "save" 2 spaces on the street, and I can tell you nothing brought me more joy than being able to squeeze my little hatchback into what they thought was safe. I got pretty fucking good at it.

Reply

[-]

Timelordwhotardis@reddit

I have a few beers and it’s bumper city without a backup camera!!!!

Reply

[-]

Toads_Mania@reddit

I don’t know the stats on parallel parking but I’ve seen absolute garbage parallel parkers of every age. It’s like why don’t people just learn how to do it? It’s two turns of the wheel.

Reply

[-]

GTE_Engineering@reddit

I’ve had a driver’s license for almost 20 years and my last 3 cars have had backup cameras. When I bought my RX7, I kept finding myself 3 feet away from the curb when I backed into parking spots (partly because it’s so short) but also because I’m so used to having a backup camera to see exactly where my back bumper is.

Reply

[-]

juwyro@reddit

I still remember the numbers I would have to dial like home, work, and family cell phones. But anything since high school 20 years ago when I got my first cell phone is blank.

Reply

[-]

ReallySmallWeenus@reddit

Outside of bigger cities, most adults can’t parallel park a car in a tight space.

Reply

[-]

BreedableToast@reddit

These car safety features are making people significantly worse at driving. I will die on this hill.

Reply

[-]

Kaprilicious994@reddit

[really dude? don’t be such a trash](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/s/u6Jzzw62Ej)

Reply

[-]

ChuckHale@reddit

I knew I had already read this just couldn't find the thread

Reply

[-]

Tuxedo_Muffin@reddit

LOL girlfriend was demoted to "friend at uni" Wonder how "girlfriend" feels about that?

Reply

[-]

Huge-Chapter-4925@reddit

Sounds like an melbourne driver 🥀🥀🥀

Reply

[-]

Facts_pls@reddit

You have clearly not driven across the world much. You can always spot a less traveled person by their comments indicating that their 1st world city has the worst driving.

Reply

[-]

Huge-Chapter-4925@reddit

No i have but based off their mannerism either from here or canada and i just shoot a pick

Reply

[-]

AltruisticMobile4606@reddit

ITT: boomers/gen X’s can’t resist hijacking things to crap on the younger generation for using a backup camera

Reply

[-]

nate390@reddit

Remind her that *when* something goes wrong, the liability will be on her, not the car. It'll be her insurance premiums that go up and her that could be found for negligent driving or wreckless endangerment.

Reply

[-]

I_dont_exist_yet@reddit

Conceptual harm is hard for young people to grasp. Unfortunately, I don't see that line of reasoning convincing her. All OP can do is wear his seatbelt and take a prozac. Until real consequences happen to her, she won't change her behavior because there's no reason to - she's being proven "correct" every time she drives and doesn't get in an accident.

Reply

[-]

Tuxedo_Muffin@reddit

>All OP can do is wear his seatbelt and take a prozac Nope, OP can refuse to ride with them. I don't value my life so highly, so I probably still would, but that's my decision to leave my life in their hands.

Reply

[-]

Toads_Mania@reddit

This may sound weird but being a conscientious driver is part of my friend criteria. If you can’t be bothered to pay attention while driving and potentially endangering yourself, your passengers, and other motorists/pedestrians - well that leads me to question your judgment in other areas. I’ve also found people who drive like this usually have other areas of this type of behavior. I don’t think you’ll be able to change their driving style. Maybe I’m being pessimistic but if she’s getting that defensive and shows that little regard for things she’s probably set in her ways. I’d just avoid getting in the car with her at a minimum. And maybe find some friends who can drive.

Reply

[-]

Virtual-Guarantee279@reddit

I'm *very* ADHD and not a safe driver. I really try, but it's just impossible for me to stay focused without getting distracted. I've structured my life in such a way that I can take public transportation and walk so that I can avoid driving.

Reply

[-]

Toads_Mania@reddit

That sounds like an extremely responsible approach. I respect that a lot.

Reply

[-]

Extesht@reddit

My brother is almost 40 and he doesn't drive for similar reasons. It's about the only responsible decision he's made.

Reply

[-]

1968RR@reddit

Bingo. I think such driving behaviour says something about a person’s likely attitude about other things as well.

Reply

[-]

Hedhunta@reddit

Drivers like her are why cars are so expensive. They have to contain a million sensors and electronics assistance packages because people cant be bothered to learn to drive safely. So in the name of "safety" every car is now required to have all of these systems, which are all computer controlled and expensive as hell, by law. This is why they can't build bare-bones cheap cars anymore.

Reply

[-]

tgkid88@reddit

This is exactly why I hate new cars. My kids were all trained to drive on cars that were older than 2005.

Reply

[-]

-insignificant-@reddit

Lol I got called an a ableist from someone who said they had ADHD and wanted to install a 3rd party blindspot monitor system on their car. My point was if you can't focus on driving and want to rely on a system like that, you shouldn't be driving for when the system inevitably gets something wrong or fails.

Reply

[-]

guy_incognito784@reddit

She’d be a pretty solid driver in Maryland.

Reply

[-]

Jameson-Mc@reddit

Def Stop riding with her. Maybe even stop being friends. She doesn’t value you enuff.

Reply

[-]

HP_594@reddit

My dad’s car has the same stuff. However, he always refrained me from referring the tech unless absolutely necessary, and makes me rely on my own to get out of tight spots and all It also helps that I trained in a car with very minimal tech (only a 4” screen and a reverse camera), so it has enabled me to rely on my instincts more than the tech

Reply

[-]

42ElectricSundaes@reddit

lol the car didn’t do that to her she would be just as bad with whatever she drives

Reply

[-]

cteno4@reddit

I’ll be the odd one out here I guess: if you have 360 degree cameras and side collision warning, it’s safer to just look at the screen in front of you. You see all that info in one spot instead of having to crane your neck around like an owl, where looking to the right will make you blind to the left.

Reply

[-]

supersid07@reddit

I do something similar while reversing, I look only at the camera and rely on sensors. Freaks out my girlfriend but while backing out at 5kmph I would say the sensors are reliable. The car has other bells and whistles but I always look at mirrors and all while merging or changing lanes

Reply

[-]

WhoTookMyName6@reddit

My friend and I don't always follow the law that much. But he'll often take unknown roads in the night and then ask friends of us to "keep up". Meanwhile there's gravel for example and the guys on their motorcycles almost ate some dirt. I know it's not the same but I get the frustration of carelessness.

Reply

Reply to Post

71 Comments