I am a terrible driver. (Anyone got a spare tail light?)

[Kennylz]

So, I was blessed to get a decent first car, a nice little convertible, and I spent all day on a high. Out with friends, just loving life, then at the very end of the day, I'm at my friends house to head home, and its ****ing DEEP night. Dark, trees blocking the moon. I'm staring in my rear view at this big shiney mail-box I don't want to hit, then BAM.

Back into a stupid, god-damn, baby tree that cracks my tail-light. Second time I've hit something backing up!

I -FAIL- at backing up at night. So, I've got two questions.

1. Tell me how to not suck so much at backing up at night.
2. Whats a good place to get some cheap replacement parts, ie, one tail light under 50$ for a Chrysler 2000 Sebring Convertible.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh

[Thanatos]

Um, the only thing I can tell you is to practice.

[Roshak]

Yeah practice. Try Parallel parking that will REALLY prep you.

[MasterInquisitor]

I could give you my recipe for reverse round corners and parallel parks. One involves yelling "praise" and the other involves chanting.

My driving lessons rock.

[bestantreas]

Oh, I cant wait to get my driving licence and then a car!
I will have to wait one more year...

[RZZZA]

driving scares the %^&# out of me, that crack you heard could have been a toddlers spine...

[Roshak]

driving scares the %^&# out of me, that crack you heard could have been a toddlers spine...

I used to be too. Than it got to be okay. Though there's no way in hell I'm going through Chicago. To those who've experienced it needs no explanation.

I used to think I was going on a mission in the airforce and was happy to of made it back alive.

[allthesedamnnamesaretaken]

I just backed up into a mercedes. Anyone have a spare $1000 for a new bumper and licence plate rack?

[Kennylz]

I'm feeling better. Turns out the person who owned the tree saved the peices to my tail light, and we are getting some crazy glue then some red tail light tape, and doing surgery on the car.

Saved me 200 friggin' dollars.

[Black Hawk]

I would think the cars brake lights would light up what is behind you, at least my car does. The key is to watch what things are behind your car before attempting to back up. The rest will come from practice and learning your cars dimensions. Also if your in a tight spot I would suggest getting someone to help you or if there was no one constantly get out of your car an check for yourself, don't be one of those people that keeps going until they hit your car. I've noticed that most of these people are women with big ass SUV's and while it is entertaining to watch em backing up and hitting cars and lamp posts at the local McDonald or Blockbuster, when they hit my car it brings out the worst in me

[MattErickson]

I hate driving. Get too nervous and too distracted. Saw a red light while talking to my mom in the car, acted as a stop sign - oups!

Again driving my dad's Lexus, went to reverse park - Hit a concrete block behind me -

Luckily it was night when I was driving with my mom and no one was around.

And with my dad.. well that's another story for another time.

[MasterInquisitor]

The only thing I've hit reverse parking is the kerb.

How do you people hit so many things?

[Garnier]

I've been driving three times since I got my permit, and never bumped into anything. Its scary at first I guess, but its really not that hard.

Though once I came to a curve and didn't realise I was going 30mph, so I kinda careened around it. Doubt that will happen again, lol.

[boofhead]

Just get a motorcycle. You can see the edges of your vehicle front, back and sides.

*WARNING: Unless you are an alert individual with a knowledge of defensive riding techniques specifically for m'bikes, and have good co-ordination don't bother (or get the necessary training - simple things you wouldn't even think of can lead to pain or worse).

[kev-o]

If you don't have insurance, don't drive.

Best advice to give.

[NaptownKnight]

I am just learning how to drive too. Backing up is hard, but I have struggles parallel parking more than anything. I have to hope I don't wreck my car, it's a nice Caddy, and I would be disowned by my father Two of my friends have totaled their cars already, I just hpe I dont...

[Aristocrat]

Turn your lights on... (You do know cars have lights right?).
Also, staying on the driveway is generally a good way to avoid those pesky trees. If you aren't on the driveway, then that is the first place you reverse too.

Driving is easy folks, and parallel parking is a lot easier than people think, you just have to know when to swing the car, start swinging inwards when you are in line with the other cars back side/passenger window, and then straighten when you are in line with their numberplate, never fails.

Soon you will be driving along and hurling abuse at other motorists like a pro.

[MasterInquisitor]

When parallel parking, well with my car anyway, I start to straighten when the middle of my car is pointing at the tail/headlight of the car I'm reversing round...(that's when I get to shout fire!). Then I go back till I'm square on and the sort out how far away from the kerb I am.

[Cyrus the Virus]

If you reverse, use the rear-view mirrors and look around before doing anything, analyze the situation.

[MasterInquisitor]

Isn't that what you should do all the time?
Reversing - analyse, check your mirrors as you move
Manoeuvres - analyse, check your mirrors as you move
Turning into a road - can you or can't you go. Mirrors dammit!