Driving today

[dr4b]

I've started earmarking some entries as my "driving log", so I'll make an entry about today. First time driving in about two weeks unless you count driving Kevin's car around Edgewood. Eli went with me. I drove to Tokyo Food Store, but it was closed. Then I went from there to Squirrel Hill - I took Ellsworth to Morewood to Forbes to Beechwood to all over the place. We went through Schenley a bit too. It was raining for about 2/3 of the time I was driving, but I managed pretty well with it. I have to get better at looking behind me quickly and not losing control of the car. At the very end there was a bad moment where I was pretty sure I could switch lanes and did but Eli got really freaked out because I didn't look behind me before doing it. (I'd been keeping track of the cars on the road, so I knew nobody was there). I should know better in the future and look back. I sort of parallel parked at the end. Well, I pulled up to an empty section of curb and worked the car back and forth until it was next to the curb.

Comments

[eub.livejournal.com]

What I worry about is for example somebody could theoretically have come south on Melwood and turned left into the lane to the left of us, staying out of view of your mirrors. Incautious driving on their part, but...

[sk4p.livejournal.com]

First time I was out in my car after I bought it I forgot to check my blind spot and the car nearly wasn't very new anymore. I've been religious about it ever since.

[nmr8.livejournal.com]

do you remember the close call on the way to great adventure a few years ago? i'd hazard to guess that that was because i had gotten into the habit of 'knowing' where surrounding traffic was. that worked really well on montgomery ave for 2 years though :)

[dr4b]

that was like 6 years ago now. I don't remember that exactly, but I do remember your particular driving style... you drove a Neon like it was a dirt bike... I haven't known that many people since who drive quite like that :)

[blk]

Ooh, next time we go out maybe I can figure out how to teach parallel parking!

[jd7a.livejournal.com]

augh...
I've been driving for almost 10 years, and i still can't parallel park for shit.
I also still suck a lot at changing lanes, but after living in Austin for a year, I've gotten a little better.

[mh75.livejournal.com]

kinda late on this one, but...

I think that it is very important, when driving, to be aware of all the cars near you. It keeps you from being surprised. i like to play a game where i try to anticipate where the cars will be in the next minute or so.

Still, head checks should be so automatic that you don't think about them. That will come with practice.

Parallel parking will come with practice too. I still can't park my new car, because i haven't tried enough.