*I cycled through various song titles to use for this post and most of them seem to come laden with issues. I was going to use Shania Twain’s In My Car (I’ll Be the Driver) but upon closer inspection the lyrics very much rub me the wrong way – I like to pick my own ice cream flavour, thank you very much. Then I moved on to You Can’t Ride In My Little Red Wagon, but is there a more annoying song on the face of this planet? So a Beatles innuendo-filled song it is.
Tobia, bless her soul, told me I have a “gift” for coming up with random blog topics (this being a comment on my ground-breaking research into my readership’s cutlery preferences).
Today, it’s time to chat about driving.
Manual or automatic (or both?)
- I very much wish I was more competent using a manual transmission. When John and I got married we owned a 5-speed car (which he had purchased before we met). I mostly just let him drive me everywhere. My parents also had two manual vehicles, but I never learned how to drive them proficiently (my father neglected to tell me you had to release the clutch – not exactly a trivial detail – and was flummoxed why I kept stalling). If I had to get from Point A to Point B – so long as there weren’t any gigantic hills to stop/start on – I could make it. Eventually. But I am definitely Team Automatic.
Carsickness – yes or no?
- Yes! If I’m in the backseat for long, especially if there are twists and turns. Blergh. And, regardless of where I’m sitting, it’s a Yes if I am looking down and trying to read. This is a huge bummer because on long car rides it sounds delightful to be able to read a book the whole time (which is what my mother does). Motion sickness is THE WORST. One of our kids had a lot of trouble when they were young but are much better with it now. Children’s Gravol was our friend for a few years.
Speed limit – yes or no?
- If I’m driving in a neighbourhood or within a town or school zone, YES. If I’m on the highway, I see the speed limit as a suggestion within plus/minus 10 km/hour (mostly plus). That said, we have an eco setting on our current vehicle that gives much better mileage if we stay at the same, lower speed so I mostly now stick to the speed limit. The average speed where we live is 110 km/hour on highways, so that’s what I drive. A few years ago, I would have almost always been going 120 km/hour on the same stretch of road. I have never been pulled over for speeding or any other traffic violation and hope to keep it that way!
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal?
- I am horrible at parallel parking and would gladly walk ten minutes to park somewhere that did NOT require parallel parking. I think our vehicle has parking assist but I’ve never tried it. When I took my driving test as a teenager I had practiced parallel parking like crazy because it was supposed to show up on the driving test. And then my adjudicator didn’t make me parallel park; I was both relieved and frustrated to have worked so hard and then not been tested. I think it’s a skill that you lose over time if you don’t use it…and I’ve lost it.
Windows or AC?
- AC. I don’t like hair blowing all over my face and am pretty curmudgeonly about it.
Driver or passenger?
- I prefer to be a passenger if we’re in a city and if I’m driving I prefer to be driving alone or with the kids. Having an adult in the passenger seat with me always makes me feel like I’m under someone’s watchful gaze. If John’s home and we’re going somewhere together, 99% of the time he’ll drive and I prefer it that way. But I also do enjoy being alone in the car on the highway, blasting tunes over the stereo. Since I’m home with the kids solo a lot, I get plenty of opportunity to drive…
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet?
- We are a music family. I do sometimes listen to podcast episodes while driving, but 95% of the time it’s music. We love music.
If you drive, thoughts?
- Manual, automatic or both?
- Carsick – yes or no?
- Speed limit – yes or no?
- Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal?
- Windows or AC?
- Driver or passenger?
- Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet?
If you don’t drive, what method of transportation do you use? Any driving stories you want to share? Who taught you how to drive? Have you ever had a speeding ticket?
Header photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
Maria
What a fun topic! Cars are on my
mind lately as we will likely need to change vehicles this year.
Manual, automatic or both? Automatic! My dad was too worried about his clutch to successfully teach any of us to drive stick. My husband loves stick shift though and misses driving it.
Carsick – yes or no? Ugh. YES. Did not used to. Pregnancy #1 gave it to me and it resolved after birth, but it came back with pregnancy #2 and never left.
Speed limit – yes or no? In theory yes. In practice on the highway I know that going 10 over keeps me moving with traffic.
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? Umm I have done it about 10 times in the last 16 years of driving. (16 years?!?!?). I have depth perception issues due to an eye muscle disorder and this is the one place where I really notice it when driving. Parallel parking is really stressful for me.
Windows or AC? AC
Driver or passenger? Due to motion sickness I have to drive. Gravol will get me to a point of being ok on flat straight roads as a passenger for a little bit.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? When the 4 year old is in the car we usually have an audiobook on. Alone I prefer music or a podcast or silence depending on my mood.
Elisabeth
I’ve always struggled with car sickness, but it was especially bad during pregnancy (ask me how I know – UGH).
My dad is the same – if he’s anywhere other than the driver’s seat he’s likely to get queasy.
Michelle G.
This was another fun one, Elisabeth!
Manual, automatic, or both? I can drive both. I learned how to drive with a manual, but I definitely prefer an automatic!
Carsick – yes or no? Luckily, no.
Speed limit – yes or no? Yes.
Parallel parking—nightmare or no big deal? I haven’t needed to do it in so long that I’m sure I’ve forgotten how!
Windows or AC? AC
Driver or passenger? I prefer being the passenger.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? Music
Elisabeth
It is a gift to not get car sick! Woot, woot!
Coree
Oh this is my secret shame… I drove as a teenager but never drove in the UK/transferred my license. And now at 39, I’m too stressed by the idea of driving. We have a manual transmission and my current excuse is that I’m waiting until we get an electric car to get my license. But I’m booked to take the theory test in August, and that will start the two year clock for taking my theory test.
I get pretty carsick but luckily where we live, we don’t have to drive that often. We take the bus into the city, and we walk or cycle to school, so it’s just weekend swim lessons + day trips.
Elisabeth
I think it’s a dream to live in a place with such a great public transit system a vehicle isn’t needed. We do NOT live in an urban enough location to pull this off.
Driving is stressful, especially after time away from it (Gretchen Rubin talks a lot about this; again, she lives in a place where public transit is ubiquitous).
Good luck with the testing!
mbmom11
I am team automatic all the way. My husband has tried teaching me stick, but his truck is temperamental, so I never get far. My sister tried teaching me ages ago when I visited her in Nova Scotia – I stalled at a light and we had to switch drivers after a few minutes. (Sorry to those people in Halifax who were stuck behind us!)
Motion sickness – oh gosh,yes, my entire life. Several of my kids had it severely in their youth, and even as teens/adults. Always travel with barf bags. I can read a little now, if it’s on a tablet, but a paper book is no go. The worst drive was, going through mountains, I got sick and then several of the kids got sick in sequence. We had to keep pulling over to the side of the road.
Speed limit – yes – within 5mph. If someone wants to go 80 mph I let them pass.
Parallel parking – I did have to know it for my driving test. (Just thinking about it – I hear my dad giving me instructions about how to do it). I used to be able to do it pretty well, but the more modern car it’s harder to see if the side of the car is going when it’s supposed to. I However, where I live now isn’t crowded and parking is plentiful, so I don’t need to worry about it. If I had to do it, I’d probably have one of my kids stand outside the car and watch for me.
A/C on the highways and country roads, windows open when driving in town.
I’m the driver, unless my husband is in the car, then he usually does it. He just can’t stop being a back seat driver. I’m better at backing up than him though!
I like some music, mostly radio, occasionally books on tape (I just dated myself there!). However, our tape players/ CD players never seem to last too long, and I’ve never managed to download playlists. So I’m at the mercy of my teen’s playlist if we manged to remember the aux cable in the car. We also used to have portable DVD player, which got us through manage long trips – I didn’t mind harry potter or narnia in the background.
Elisabeth
Halifax would be a NIGHTMARE for driving. Downtown is all built into a hill and there are so many one-way streets which make it extra confusing.
NGS
Manual, automatic or both? I learned how to drive a stick in high school, but I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do it today. Team Automatic over here.
Carsick – yes or no? Not usually. I did get carsick once in the middle seat of a minivan on windy mountain roads when I was reading a book. But I can read in a car and not get sick.
Speed limit – yes or no? I’m similar to you, Elisabeth. In town I stick to the speed limit. If I’m on a busy interstate, I’m just going to keep up with traffic. If I’m on a two-lane highway with little traffic, I can go as fast as my car will allow.
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? I will drive for miles to avoid it.
Windows or AC? AC. My hair gets so tangled in the wind. That being said, recently I’ve been tying my hair up after work, rolling the windows down, and blaring music on the way home. I’m loving the hot, steamy weather here. We don’t get it much, so I’m loving it.
Driver or passenger? Passenger. I hate driving and mostly want to just read a book while someone else drives.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? It really depends. Lately it’s been the music blaring (see above), but I do audiobooks on road trips, podcasts a lot, and quiet, especially if it’s just an in-town trip.
Elisabeth
“Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? I will drive for miles to avoid it.” This made me laugh. And miles are farther than my kilometers, so I think we see eye-to-eye on disliking parallel parking!
I do love driving with blaring music. It always strikes me as a bit odd since I get overstimulated easily, but something about being in the car with loud music is so freeing!
Suzanne
You do have a gift for choosing fun topics, Elisabeth! And for choosing topics that elicit surprisingly strong feelings.
I can drive manual and automatic. For fifteen years, my vehicle was a stick shift, which meant that my husband never drove it. (He CAN drive a stick, but he doesn’t enjoy it.) I love feeling like a racecar driver. Sadly, a stick shift is not ideal when you spend a lot of time in a car pick up line.
I much prefer other people to drive… if they are good drivers, LOL. Driving is a major source of anxiety for me, so unless it’s my husband, dad, or brother (or maybe a handful of other people), I would prefer to be in control. But someone else needs to navigate!
I listen to audiobooks in the car. When my daughter is with me, we listen to whatever music she’s currently into. When we are on a road trip, we usually do a combo of audiobooks (we just finished Harry Potter 5 on our last road trip!) and music. My husband and I sometimes listen to podcasts, too, if my kid wants to play on her ipad for awhile.
Sadly, I do get carsick. Especially if I try to read anything, including my phone. I was not always this way! I used to read on family road trips when I was a kid and I miss that.
Elisabeth
I love the IDEA of driving stick; it is fun and interactive and does very much feel like a racecar driving experience. We live in a town with a lot of hills, so I think I’m extra hesitant. My Honour’s supervisor in university said her husband took her to the bottom of a giant hill in Montreal and that’s where he started to teach her to drive stick. I think I would have broken up then and there! (But she learned!)
John is the most competent driver I know; my father is one of the worst I know. My brother is pretty good, but there is no one that makes me feel safer in a vehicle than my husband, which is an excellent thing!
Gigi
Manual, automatic or both? Automatic. I wanted to learn manual but no one would teach me for fear that I’d “strip the gears.” Odds are good, I would have.
Carsick – yes or no? No, I’m blessed that way.
Speed limit – yes or no? Generally, but will go 5-10 mph over on the highway and even then, I’m not keeping up with traffic.
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? If I can’t pull forward into a parallel parking space then it’s not happening. I failed my first driving test because of parallel parking; which was ridiculous because there wasn’t any parallel parking where I lived at the time.
Windows or AC? Generally AC but if it’s a REALLY nice day, windows.
Driver or passenger? I prefer to drive. Unless the husband’s in the car and then he drives because he’s a nervous passenger and I am not.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? I listen to music on the radio usually.
My first driving lesson was with my Aunt Jackie. She took me to a cemetery to practice; on the grounds that I couldn’t kill anyone there.
Elisabeth
Eeks. Maybe I should be exclusively relieved I didn’t have to parallel park for my driving test!
That Aunt Jackie quip is priceless! Hahaha.
Shelly
I can drive manual and had two vehicles that were. I taught myself and was super proud of that. Although there were a few times I blocked traffic for several minutes. I loved feeling competent but ramps stressed me out (we don’t have many hills in my city) and now I’m team automatic.
I prefer to drive as I do get carsick. Sometimes I can read but not always.
I heavy a heavy foot but really try to stay within the “allowed” range. I used to get some tickets but not in several years. Although parking tickets.. ugh
I usually listen to podcasts. Music when it’s not just me. Although a cranked song occasionally is good too.
If it’s not windy and in the city I prefer window open. On the highway or windy I would do AC. I get cold quickly so I like ac only if it’s really hot.
Elisabeth
Yes – ramps and hills and even stop lights on level ground were stressful to me. And not at all in an automatic, so that is the route we’ve taken ever since!
Diane
-I once had a friend tell me that her father taught her to drive a manual car because he never wanted her to be stuck somewhere and unable to drive home. That’s really stuck with me. I actually currently drive a manual car – it’s my Husband’s car, and he taught me how to drive it when we got it in 2012. We recently got a van and he now drives the van because I don’t enjoy driving something the size of my living room. And while I am trying to wrap my brain around getting rid of my own car – the 20 year old Subaru – I’ve been driving the manual car to sort of wean me off my attachment to the 20 year old one. I don’t love driving the stick shift, and half the time I forget what gear I’m in and do something terribly wrong when I have to shift. The 12 year old regularly asks me if I’m doing it right. I’m sort of dreading my summer commute which will be through stop and go traffic. But driving the manual car has taught me a lot about giving people grace on the road.
-I don’t tend to get car sick, but I do get very sleepy. I fall asleep quite easily in cars.
-speed limit … very inconsistent on this one.
-Well, the little manual car I drive is much easier to parallel park in than the 20 year old Legacy Wagon. I think I’ve almost figured it out.
-Windows. The AC has been … disappointing in my 20 year old Subaru and the manual car isn’t much better. I like the windows open and a good breeze in my face. Except not on the Beltway – then it’s too loud.
-Passenger, definitely passenger. See above about falling asleep in cars.
-I move between radio, audiobooks, podcasts. I don’t listen to a lot of music because for years I had no way to stream music from a personal device in my car (have I mentioned that it’s 20 year old?) There is CD player, but I didn’t really keep CDs in my car, though last summer, there was an amazing CD library of musicals at work, so I listened to a lot of musicals on my commute. I sort of like the serendipity of the radio, not knowing what is coming up next. I do also listen to a lot of NPR too because the Husband doesn’t really like listening to public radio, so the car is one place I can listen.
Elisabeth
We’ve had poor AC a few times and I really struggle with it! We also don’t have a garage and getting in to a hot car in the summer – ugh.
I wish I could sleep in a car. I don’t sleep well in a car, on a plane…or really anywhere other than my own bed.
Good luck with that summer commute!
Melissa
Manual, automatic or both? Automatic, much easier round the city.
Carsick – yes or no? Yes, I can’t even check my phone as a passenger without feeling sick. If we are doing long distance driving in the morning I usually take the first shift because that’s when it’s worse. I also get sick on planes, trains, buses and boats.
Speed limit – yes or no? – generally yes because we have a lot of speed cameras around. Maybe just a little over on the highway. There is a lot of traffic in our area so you can’t really speed easily.
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? – I’m fine with parallel parking. Our current car does it for you but I don’t let it.
Windows or AC? – AC. Windows open is too noisy.
Driver or passenger? I definitely prefer to be driven around.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? Music or podcasts.
Elisabeth
I know a few people who get sick on planes; ugh! I struggle with boats and buses, but not trains or planes.
I don’t think we have any speed cameras where I live; but I do see police officers waiting with a radar monitor. We call them speed traps. And they’re more likely at the end of a given month because they tend to have quotas, so they go out then if they haven’t issued as many speeding tickets as expected.
Lisa’s Yarns
This is such a fun post!!
Manual, automatic or both? Embarrassingly, I don’t know how to drive a manual. So automatic for life.
Carsick – yes or no? Sadly, I have developed car sickness in my 40s. This is very problematic because I am in Uber a lot for work travel. I am sure I make it worse by being on my phone so I try not to be on my phone. I have no issues in the front seat but Uber drivers don’t really want you in the front seat.
Speed limit – yes or no? In the city, yes. I’m freeways, I am usually 5-8mph over the speed limit.
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? I am not great at this. I got good at it in grad school when I parallel parked twice/week. But now I have zero chance of doing it with our RAV4 as it’s way too big.
Windows or AC? In the neighborhood, I like the window down a bit for ventilation. Otherwise AC.
Driver or passenger? Passenger! When I took the boys to the pool last weekend taco asked why I was sitting in daddy’s seat. I had to explain that mom actually does know how to drive.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? With the boys, we listen to Taylor swift, on my own I listen to podcasts, when it’s just Phil and me it’s silence! Phil is not a music guy. Sometimes I can convince him to listen to a podcast but that is rare.
Elisabeth
Oof. That would be rough with all your Ubering!
Great point; parallel parking a large SUV or minivan is NOT THE SAME as parking a Yaris or some other tiny car!
Ha “why are you sitting in Daddy’s seat.” That is hilarious <3
Jenny
I learned to drive on a manual transmission, but all the cars I’ve driven in the last 20 years have been automatic. Manual is fun though.
Carsick- YES. Such a bummer- like you, I would LOVE to be able to read in the car.
Speed limit- like you, absolutely if it’s a school zone. Other than that I stay around the speed limit, or try to fit in with the flow of traffic.
I haven’t parallel parked in a long time- I avoid it.
AC is a must in Florida!
And- I LOVE listening to podcasts while I’m driving.
Elisabeth
I can’t imagine living in Canada without AC; in Florida. GAH. Can you even imagine?
Birchie
Vroom vroom…
Team Manual! However, I’ve passed my beloved stick shift car down to my oldest stepson and I’m now driving my niece’s old car, which is automatic. I don’t mind it;-)
Reading makes me car sick. That’s part of the reason why I’d rather be the driver than the passenger.
Yes, I drive the speed limit…well I drive the limit that I know I won’t get pulled over for. About 5 MPH in the city, and anywhere from 10-15 MPH over on the freeway.
Parallel parking oh good gawd nooooooo. I’m willing to park very far out of my way to avoid it. However, now that I have my niece’s snazzy car with a backup camera, I’m more comfortable with the idea.
Team AC!
For the most part I’d rather be the driver. The exceptions are for long drives I’m happy to share driving duties with the Hubs.
I listen mostly to podcasts or audiobooks when I drive.
Elisabeth
“well I drive the limit that I know I won’t get pulled over for” that was basically me for many years! Now my cheap side (with my husband’s urging) has made me stick to the speed limit more closely. If it saves $$, I suppose that 10 km/hour can be done without.
Sophie
Ooh good topic! Automatic (I actually have never driven manual!), yes I get carsick, AC, yes to speed limit (in Australia there are a lot of speed cameras etc anyway), hate parallel parking. I’m podcasts maybe 90% of the time if driving solo, although if we are driving as a family it’s music (usually my husbands choice as he’s more opinionated on music choices!)
Elisabeth
I don’t know if we have speed cameras…anywhere in this province. I know they have them close to some big cities in Canada, but none of that I know of here.
San
I nailed (!) parallel parking during my driving test… during the test, the guy had me park on a one-way street, on an incline, right next to a wall. A lot could have gone wrong, but I had a very good driving instructor and taught me well.
Oh, and I learned to drive with a manual transmission. I actually think everybody should know how to do it.
Elisabeth
My heart rate is picking up just reading about having to parallel park in that environment!
I think it’s standard in Europe to HAVE to pass your test on a manual? I have a friend from South Africa that said it’s the case there as well. You have to pass the test on a manual, but then of course many people end up with automatics. It is such a useful skill and one that I wish I had a better handle on. I am glad I have at least a basic knowledge and could, like I said, in an emergency, get myself from Point A to Point B without TOO much stalling…I think?
Ally Bean
Manual, automatic or both? Both
Carsick – yes or no? No
Speed limit – yes or no? Yes
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? Used to be no big deal but after decades living in the suburbs it’s a nightmare
Windows or AC? Both
Driver or passenger? Both
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? Quiet
Stephany
Have you tried those wacky car sickness glasses? Some people swear they work to help with car sickness! https://www.amazon.com/Sickness-Glasses-Carsickness-Airsickness-Seasickness/dp/B0CNBWNGDX/
Manual, automatic or both? Automatic. My dad tried to teach me to use a manual but I was not a very good student.
Carsick – yes or no? Nope – thank goodness!
Speed limit – yes or no? Ugh, I’m not the best about this. I’m usually 10 mph over the speed limit, 15-20 mph on the highway
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? NIGHTMARE. The last time I tried to parallel park, I had a whole line of cars behind me watching me fail. I finally gave up.
Windows or AC? AC 4 life
Driver or passenger? Passenger princess! I hate driving.
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? Usually podcasts or music, sometimes an audiobook
Elisabeth
I have not! I had no idea there were glasses to help with this????
Sounds like you have a heavy foot 🙂 I won’t convert the mph to kph, though, so in that case 20 over doesn’t sound as bad.
I have also given up in SHAME – UTTER SHAME – while trying to park. It’s not so bad if no one is watching but when people are lining up to get by on a narrow street the stress is insane.
Elisabeth
Also, I am LAUGHING hysterically at the look of those glasses. They look so silly I’m inclined to think they must work. I have literally never heard of such a thing.
Sabine
Manual, automatic or both? As San, I also learned how to drive with a manual transmission, and had to learn how to operate an automatic when renting cars…I definitively had to get used to it. Our car is manual and I actually like ramps. But we drive very little.
Carsick – yes or no? No
Speed limit – yes or no? Yes
Parallel parking – nightmare or no big deal? Currently out of practise, but I used to live in an area where this was the only option.
Windows or AC? I have to say that I prefer it not to be too hot and just use the regular ventilation.
Driver or passenger? Both
Music, podcasts, audiobooks, or quiet? Public (classic or informative) radio or quiet.