MPR Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer found out one way Teen drivers get real-world experience without being on the roads:
Teenage drivers often end up in traffic accidents because they don't know how to react quickly to avoid a crash. There are a couple of driving clubs in the Twin Cities that train teens how to drive in the real world.
That's pretty cool. I'm pretty sure we all know a few adult drivers that could use a lesson or two. Think you're not on that list? Take our video quiz and check your own driving skills, and let us all know how well you did.
The options in the video are almost elemental, but it is a great exercise. What other tricky driving situations have you been in? What did you do? What was the outcome?
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Julia Schrenkler
Minnesota Public Radio Interactive Producer
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Comments: 13
The worst driving situation I've been in was driving (too fast) on a secondary road, when somebody pulled out in front of me, turning left, and stopped, in my lane. The person behind him also started to pull out, but she stopped when she saw my car. I had to swerve to go between the two cars, missing both of them.
Edwin, you were one fortunuate fellow. What a frightening situation!
Needless to say, streaming content seems to be pretty much blocked at my workplace...
Also - I have had to do all of these during my many years of driving experience...
Where did you learn how to react in poor driving conditions in order to avoid an accident?
Living in Minnesota (for Zelda and myself)...
:)
For the record: it isn't.
Try it from home OTB, it is a great way to suffer Audi envy.
Edwin was a lucky devil! That's one of those situations where you want to kiss the steering wheel, isn't it. Glad it turned out well for you.
Right on, Zeldapie, you quiz acer you.
That's a great question, Larissa - I'm curious too. Is it years of experience or maybe the creation of good habits (like the intense practice at these sorts of driving schools) that produce better driving?
I took my driver's test on my 16th birthday (January 6), in a snowstorm. It wasn't an enclosed course, either - it was on the streets of a busy city. And I passed! I was so thrilled, when I got home, I dropped off my white-knuckled mom and drove to my friend's house in the countryside. (She lived on a farm.) Through the snowstorm. At night. I honked at her front door, waved, then drove back home. (I can't believe Mom let me do that!)
I wonder though, is experience enough for everyone? What about people who freeze when they see themselves heading into an accident? Does avoiding an accident while driving have anything to do with how people handle stressful situations in general?
Don't know about everyone else, but this morning was one of those rare days I drove in to work (my real commuter-mobile) and I found it to be slipppppppppery. Some of the main roads were alright but man, those side streets. Whew!
Larissa, like Zelpadie, I grew up in the snow belt (although not quite as deeply into the snow belt as Zelpadie; I'm from Connecticut). For learning to drive in poor conditions, I would find an empty parking lot which was poorly plowed and practice.