Charlotte streets a challenge to my driving confidence

HERBERT L. WHITE | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Jaslynn Vorachith recalls the challenges driving around Charlotte is a challenge to her confidence behind the wheel.

As Charlotte grows, it means more congested roads.

It’s hectic and overwhelming to navigate. With unpredictable drivers, highway exits, and construction at nearly every corner, it can be especially difficult for a driving newcomer like me to grasp. I’ve been told driving isn’t hard and if everyone else can do it, I should too. Well, I have trouble trusting myself. 

I lack confidence to make real-time judgments behind the wheel. That huge responsibility and that one vital mistake I could make terrifies me.

Just trying to maintain speed, I can feel my foot trembling involuntarily up to the point where I might just accelerate suddenly from intense nervousness. At that moment, an immense fear hits. Sitting in the driver’s seat means commitment, and once I’m controlling a four-wheel vehicle at 85 mph, I feel trapped. I couldn’t just jump out or give up. It was my responsibility to bring myself and that car from point A to point B.

For someone who already doubts herself behind the wheel, Charlotte roads can feel impatient and unpredictable. I feel most comfortable having someone I trust in the passenger seat – mostly to guide me and make the judgment calls I don’t trust myself to give. 

During the summer of my apprenticeship, I had to drive at 7:40 a.m. through an hour of heavy traffic every morning from Charlotte to Fort Mill, South Carolina. It was a big contrast to driving full speed on the highway. Instead of cruising and focusing on being inside the white lines, I had to be extra vigilant with the brake pedal as well as my surroundings. The concept that was a struggle for me to grasp was merging. I’m not a very confident driver, and if you want to make sure you make it to the right exit especially during traffic hours, you must be assertive.

When I needed to change lanes, drivers honked at my attempt. It was a struggle to understand how much space I had between cars. I figured that indicating my intentions was enough, but it seems I was sorely mistaken. 

One time when I had to get to an exit, my sister had to reassure me that I was able to merge. So, I did. I’d signal, give the other drivers a moment, and start to change lanes. But then, I was met with an aggressive horn blast. The car behind me decided to speed up. 

To prevent a collision, my sister had to take control of the wheel back to our own lane. During the whole ordeal, I remember my entire body feeling heightened and numb. My eyes started to well up from all the distress. I truly believed I almost caused a horrible accident. 

The fact that my sister had to intervene was proof that I needed someone in the passenger seat with me. Every time I’m honked at, or when people decide to pass is a reminder that I don’t belong on the road, though it may not be true.

In America, driving is a rite of passage. Economic independence starts with your means of transportation. Owning a vehicle provides important necessities such as getting to the grocery store and getting to work. Without it, you rely on alternatives that can be unreliable and out of your control such as public transportation. 

The same applies to relying on someone else to drive you around. Instead of running your own schedule, you’re dependent on theirs. I have been doing this for quite some time, and it has gotten to the point where it feels debilitating.

I notice the hindrance of going against what's expected. It feels stagnant to depend on others to get anywhere. I’ve been forced to confront my anxiety and trust myself. I hope it works.

Jaslynn Vorachith is a senior at Johnson C. Smith University and emerging journalist fellow at The Post.

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