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Driving Profile: Felix Levine
(sneak peek)
FELIX: The first time that I took my drivers test I actually hadn’t practiced driving in a month. I get in the car with my driving instructor and she’s like, are you gonna hurry up? But I had no idea what that sign meant. So I just cut straight through the left. So she starts yelling at me.
(intro music)
BHAVNEET: Welcome back to Drive With Us, a podcast where we bring on a new guest each episode to talk about the crazy things they’ve experienced on the road, who they are as drivers, and how they became the driver they are today. I’m Bhavneet.
TARANJIT: And I’m Taranjit. And today’s driver is Felix Levine the host of Where’s this Going and he shares with us his experience of being a new driver during these crazy times of the pandemic.
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BHAVNEET: Welcome Felix. Thanks for joining us today.
FELIX: Thank you so much for having me.
BHAVNEET: We’re super excited to talk to you about all your driving experiences. But before we get started, lets have you introduced yourself and let our listeners know a little bit about you.
FELIX: So my name is Felix Levine. I am the host of my podcast called Where’s This Going that I started about a year ago in my freshman year of college when I was 19 and I am now 20. And I also on the side am I’m a co-host for the Johnny and Gene show and I also manage and produce them. And that’s a true crime podcast that deals with two former very high-profile mafia members. So that’s been a journey of its own in working with that show. I’m also currently in college. And yeah, so it’s basically working on a couple different shows. Mine is of course that the primary focus just because that’s my that’s what I’ve been really working on for the past year. I guess. That’s the that’s the very short background on on who I am.
TARANJIT: One of the questions we love asking when we start the episode is what is one of the wildest or craziest things that you have experienced when driving?
FELIX: Well I’ll actually give more I’m actually a pretty new driver. I think they’re kind of two things that come to mind when I think about memorable driving experiences. And it was actually the first one was the other day. I’m from New York and I was driving down to to Maryland with my with my girlfriend for a couple days. And we got it was my first time driving maybe, you know, two or three hours or more in a row. So we’re driving down to Maryland and it just absolutely started pouring. I mean hailing like thunderstorm if felt like a hurricane really. And In that moment. It just I mean my girlfriend’s kind of panicking and it started hailing.IIt was just kind of like a weird surreal I had like this almost like déjà vu moment where I felt like a kid again. Just kind of being scared about the weather. I hadn’t thought about how scary Mother Nature could be until I started seeing all the the cars to my right and my left all pull over to the side. And you know, I was turning on my windshield wipers as fast as I could. And it still wasn’t doing anything. I saw absolutely nothing. So just kind of this weird experience of you know being afraid while also for the first time having the nerves of of driving for an extended period of time and not really knowing what’s in front of me. I could barely see really five or six be in front of me. So I think that was just kind of memorable the other day. But I think my other I guess a little bit funnier moment was the first time is about you know, the first time that I took my drivers test I actually hadn’t I hadn’t practiced driving in a month and my mom was super eager to have me take my test before we went on vacation. So I was like, all right, whatever. I’ll do it. This is actually this past summer and that night before I think I don’t know what happened. But I think I got about 2 or 3 hours of sleep. So I was already sleep deprived and hadn’t driven in a month. I had my driving instructor in while we were waiting to in the line starts telling me these stories about him at strip clubs. I mean just the absolute weirdest thing I’ve ever really experienced. Cuz I’m like dude like this is not what I want to be hearing right now. And he starts telling me all these weird stories about, you know, him and his brothers and you know their bachelor parties and what not. I get in the car. I’m in Staten Island. I get in the car with my driving what are they called the people giving you the test and they you know, it’s obviously a nerve-wracking moment. I hadn’t driven in a long time. And the first left that I take, it was on like this big two way and I didnt I waited for the green light while there’s so many cars going in the in the other direction and I was trying to make that left to kind of crossover. And and I just waited through an entire light. And she was like, are you ever going to go? And I was like, yeah. Yeah. I was just waiting for the light. And so that was already I knew at that point we were off to a rough start. Then I make another first my second left, I guess and I actually felt way more comfortable parallel parking than driving believe or not. And she’s like, all right. She she knew I was rattled she said, alright, lets let’s park. And so I I I I knew that once you hit the curb that was an automatic fail. That’s the big thing that everyone tells you. And lo and behold I start making my first of you know, the 4 or 3 allotted movements I guess and she’s like, can you hurry up? And so I just hit the gas a little too hard and boom hit the curb. And so I’m like *bleep* this is done..
TARANJIT: Oh man.
BHAVNEET: She seemed very impatient.
FELIX: I know. She was she was she had no patience whatsoever. And so I hit the curb and I’m like, oh *bleep*. This is this is done. I mean, it was already done from the beginning but this is really like officially done. So then I finish like kind of parking in like I don’t know eight movements or whatever they call him. And she goes she looks me and she was like, have you ever parallel parked before? And I was like I was so I almost started laughing. I wa like yeah, I have. And she’s like, okay. Yeah. And so then we start going again and then there was this other weird looking sign that I actually had never really seen before. And it was I think was a sign that basically tells you that you’re it’s kind of like a mini roundabout. Not really a roundabout. I don’t know really how to describe it. But it’s basically telling you that you have to go on the right and around instead of cutting through on the left cuz there’s no actual marking on the line that would tell you that you can’t go to the left. But I had no idea what that meant. So I just cut straight through the left. And she was like, do you even know what that sign means? And I was like, uhh no. And she was like, okay. You should probably study the book, too. So she starts yelling at me. She’s like, alright. Let’s just go back because at this point I was like so clearly done. And I there’s at the last stop sign before we get back to where everyone is and there was no cars really at that stop sign. And I was just so like I just started laughing. Like it was just like I wish there was like a hidden camera because I wanted like my friends and family to you know, cherish this great failure for a long time because you might as well laugh about it. And at that point I was like, all right, lets just go back. And I just ran right through the red. And she’s like, are you kidding me right now? Like are you you didn’t you not going to stop at the stop sign? I was like, oh. At this point I feel like it’s just it’s kind of done. Isn’t it? And she’s like, yeah, whatever. And she just like at the end. I get out. She pats me on the leg. And she’s like, I think you need to practice. So so that was you know, my I guess that’s all in one but that’s that’s really where my favorite stories come from in terms of driving.
TARANJIT: So you mentioned that you liked parallel parking more than driving. That’s the first I’ve heard of that. I feel like people don’t like parallel parking.
FELIX: Yeah. I actually dont whats it called? I felt more confident in my parallel parking at that point in time now actually like driving way more than I like parallel parking. But I actually, you know, this is the weird thing where I actually had a really well, I’m grateful to have my license right now. Let me put it to you this way because I was actually always a good driver if I do say so myself. But the issue was that I I really wouldn’t practice and in January since I go to college, I had to go back to school around January 25th. And after I failed my test last summer, mom was like okay in January you’re’ getting your test. And so I said, alright. Well, let’s do it. And I took it in January for the first time at a different place. And I actually got everything perfect except for this one left turn that was on a two-way, but there was no markings again. I guess those are my really my kryptonite. And and so I kind of said I went over that imaginary line if you will and she told me sorry I have to fail you like that’s it’s probably the worst mistake you can make. You’re supposed to know that you’re supposed to always stay on the right and you’re a little bit too much on the left. Whatever. And so that was January 15th. And so I was supposed to be back on the 25th. And I was like, whatever. I’ll do it in March, you know. Then I’ll go for round three. Especially since I knew I was going to get it. At that point I was you know, a very good driver and I had practice so much as opposed to the first time. And I had this weird idea in mid-January was like, all right, you know what? Why don’t I just take it one more time before school. I know I’m going to get it. I know where that turn is. Like if I just do it if I remember that turn is I’ll get I’ll get my license. So then I booked myself for a couple days later. I ended up getting it, you know with perfect a perfect score and I was really happy obviously because I got my drivers license. But I was even more happy when I look back on it today because when I came home and for March when I was, you know had originally planned to take my third test after failing it the second time while there was a global pandemic. And so basically, since then, I wouldn’t have my license today if I hadn’t decided to take it a couple days after my second failure. And that license has been ever so valuable because I was able to then drive throughout the pandemic. And I actually met my girlfriend about mid way through mid way through quarantine seasons if you will. And the only way we were able to see each other was because I could drive. If I didn’t have my license, I would have had to have my mom pick me up and drop me off every time to see my, you know, who’s now my girlfriend. I wouldn’t be able to go on these trips alone. I would you know still be license-less as of today if it weren’t for for that third test right before I went back to school. So I guess the moral of that story is, you know, don’t delay anything that you can do today because you don’t know what tomorrow holds I guess. Especially in in the you know, in pandemic times.
TARANJIT: Yeah. That’s a great point. So you’re mentioning that your driver instructor or the person that you took the test with I think the first time, she was yelling at you practically. Was she like one of those instructors that everyone’s like you don’t want to get?
FELIX: She was uh she. I mean, I just feel like she was one of those people that had too much pride with a little too much pride with her job, you know. Like she just was there to. I mean, it’s already intimidating kind of moment when you’re taking your test. I think it’s a feeling that I’ll always really remember. And I think that anybody who has their license or has taken the test before knows that feeling where you could be so good at what you’re at driving, but you just need to be good for those 10 minutes you are in the car with the inspector, instructor. Whatever you want to call them. So for me with that lady, she was just kind of all business right as I got in. She kind of thought she was hot *beep* if you know if I do say so myself. And so I was just like, all right, whatever. Let’s let’s just try to do our best the best we can. But yeah, it’s it’s already intimidating and then when you have someone who’s intimidating on top of that, it just gets really nerve-wrecking even for for someone who you know, I feel like I’m someone who can manage stress fairly well. Even in that moment. I was just you know kind of shaking or shaking my boots. Not really, you know sure of what I was doing Hoping that I was doing everything the right way. And and I actually remember I was so sleep-deprived that I hopped in on the on the driver side on the driver seat when she came to the car and I almost forgot to put my seatbelt on. I mean that’s the level to which you know, some people I guess myself included on that day get rattled by those moments..
TARANJIT: Yeah. I feel like some people might have given up after that moment, but I’m glad to hear that you kept trying and you’ve managed to get your license.
FELIX: Yeah. No. Thank God. Thank God I did, you know. Cuz I really don’t know what I would be doing right now. If I hadn’t had it Especially in New York City. You know, for a while. No one was riding the subways. That was dangerous. And you know just for my own personal life to have my car and be able to kind of go whenever I wanted and do it safely is a blessing.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. Exactly. Especially since right now, driving in your own vehicle is pretty much the only thing you can really do.
FELIX: Yeah. Oh, yeah. That’s for sure. And you know, especially in a big city like mine. *laughs* My city. In a big city like New York City. It’s really cool it’s a privilege to a car and to be able to use it.
TARANJIT: Going back to your first story, you were talking about driving down to Maryland. I don’t know if you know, but we’re from Maryland.
FELIX: Oh wow. Very cool.
TARANJIT: Did you notice any differences between I guess New York drivers and Maryland drivers
FELIX: Yeah. I mean. I guess it is not just New York and Maryland drivers, I guess it’s New York and Maryland people I think. I don’t know. I can’t say specifically about Maryland people cuz I dont know them enough and I haven’t had enough interaction. But you know New York drivers are they represent the New York personality to the to the 10th degree. I think they are we’re mean and we cut in front of people. We we dont we dont care who’s in front or in back of us. We you know, we just do whatever you want as as as New Yorkers do. But at the same time, I think we’re still loving and safe and, you know, we I don’t know for myself, I still try to be safe of course. It’s important. So do I notice any massive difference between New York and Maryland drivers? No. But it is definitely different. You know today. I actually drove back from being on the highway for 3 and 1/2 hours and coming back to the city, It’s a different vibe. When you’re driving in the city and it’s close quarters and lower speed limits and people less room and more traffic. It’s a whole different ball game.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. Did you prefer driving out in the open or more in the city?
FELIX: I definitely enjoyed driving on highways, I guess in terms of like ease of driving. Cuz highways. I just find a little bit easier actually than I ever expected for driving. But I got to say, you know, I do love that feeling when I come back and drive into New York City and you know, you see the the Freedom Tower and you see like Manhattan skyline and and then you get into Manhattan and you just feel this New York City vibe. And now that I can drive it’s also weird feeling for me because for 19 20 years. I’ve never been able to drive in New York in my own, you know, hometown. So now that I can drive in the city and because New York Citys also special in in my opinion. It’s it’s just a really cool overall feeling to to drive and blast music and you know take in the city and realizing that you’re driving in York City. And I don’t know. But I like every time I do.
TARANJIT: Yeah. The main difference, I guess, between driving in the city and out is like I think in New York City you’re more in stop-and-go traffic, I feel like. As opposed to if you’re driving in the open, you can just keep going.
FELIX: Yeah, definitely for sure. It’s nice to be able to keep going cuz in the city you get caught up in traffic. And it’s in those moments that you really don’t want to be driving. But you know, it’s weird. I think a young driver is being young and driving is very different than when you’ve been driving for 30 years. You know, I’m still at that point where I’m in that like honeymoon phase. Being in love with my drivers license and being able to do it all the time. But you know, I think eventually I’ll get to a point where you know, I don’t want to drive as much. But right now I love it regardless of what it is.
BHAVNEET: I agree with you. I love driving, too. Very much. So there are typically like stereotypes associated with drivers in different areas and you kind of touched on this but would you say that there is a specific life stereotype of New York drivers?
FELIX: Uh. Yeah. I mean we just we don’t for lack of excuse my language, we kind of don’t give a *beep*. You know, that’s that’s kind of our our vibe all the time. So its you know, I mean, I think it just represents our personality and you know, I think we’re we’re aggressive drivers. And we are we dont have that much patience and a lot of road rage. And I mean I am actually not too bad on it with road rage, but I’ve seen my dad’s to be honest. He’s pretty bad. You know, that’s that’s really I think my my observations on it.
TARANJIT: Speaking of road rage, since you haven’t experienced it.I guess personally, has someone had road rage towards you?
FELIX: Yeah. Definitely. A couple times. You know, to be honest, I can’t think of one story off the top my head that really resonates, but what I can remember is just in my earlier days driving with my mom after I got my permit, just you know, kind of making some rookie mistakes and having people honking, you know, give you looks. Pull up to the side. But in terms of my experiences, I can’t really can’t say there that many. But with my dad because I’ve been around him for a while, you know, I’ve heard him use every swear word in the book and have people reciprocate towards him. And you know, he’s been driving his whole life, so he’s more comfortable with the car. So he can do things that you know, sometimes are not the most legal if you will. But he means, you know maneuvers a car really well. So he knows even if he’s going to cut someone off or do some something that that would fall in that territory, he he still knows what he’s doing. So you know, I’ve seen I’ve definitely seen road rage towards me. I’ve actually been pretty lucky and not seen too much. But that’s what it is.
BHAVNEET: That’s actually kind of surprising since you’re in New York. I would think that it would happen a lot more often. That’s good.
FELIX: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, it’s okay. I think if you you just really no pun intended stay in your lane then it’s you avoid it for the most part.
BHAVNEET: Would you say that like, I know you said that you’re still in that like honeymoon phase of you love driving. Would you say that you prefer to always be the driver or would you rather be the passenger?
FELIX: Definitely the driver. I really love driving. It’s very therapeutic for me because I’m I’m very busy. And I have a lot on my plate. So it’s just a really nice moment to do to just get in the car and enjoy kind of being the time away where you can’t be on your phone and you know, you can listen to music or whatever you want to. And but you know since I’ve gotten my license, I definitely enjoyed driving more than I do sitting in the passenger.
BHAVNEET: I definitely feel you. That is exactly how I feel. I alway like am I have to be the one driving. But have you ever gotten into a car where you are the passenger and then wish you had never gotten in?
FELIX: Yeah. Every time my mom drives. That’s that’s precisely the feeling I can I get. Yeah, that’s that’s that’s the truth. You know, I love my mom, but I do not like getting in a car when she’s driving. And now that now that I drive, she loves that I’m her little personal chauffeur, so we don’t run into that issue anymore. Yeah, that’s that’s really the best answer I can give you on that is I really don’t like getting in a car with my mom.
TARANJIT: So how would your family and friends describe your driving?
FELIX: I think right now it be mostly my girlfriend for the most part and I think she she thinks it’s good. She better think it’s good. You know, No I mean honestly, I I am I think a good driver. I I take it seriously. There are a lot of there’s a lot at risk, you know. That’s that’s that’s the truth. It’s really our lives on the line. So, you know, it’s it’s tough. I do I do prioritize safety over being an idiot on the road. I do like going fast. of course. I do like and I do have a little bit of a speeding problem. I’ll be honest. But you know, I I pick and choose my spot that when I where when I’m when I when I speed when I’m a little bit over the limit that way, you know. But it can get crazy. You can get carried away. I mean today I was going 100 on a highway and you don’t really realize me. Some roads really feel different. Some you feel like you’re going a 100 when you going 70. Some you feel like you’re going 70 when you going a 100. Some are smoother than others. And it plays into your speed. So it’s you know, you have to really think about the consequences of being an idiot and that’s really important to me because, you know, one small move can really alter my life. You know, my girlfriend’s life or whoever else is in my car. So that stuff is as important to me.
TARANJIT: Yeah. It can definitely also affect people around you at the same time.
FELIX: Yeah. I mean definitely, you know, it’s it’s it’s really no joke cuz I know that if something happened I would feel incredibly guilty. So, you know, it’s I do take it very seriously.
TARANJIT: I’ve never actually hit 100 on my car before so that’s a new one.
FELIX: Yeah, I actually I I literally did it so that I could feel what it felt like to hit a 100. And you feel a little weird. I guess you just kind of have less control. But it’s not when you’re empty on the road and you’re hitting a 100 It just feels a little fast. But when you’re going 90-95 today and really it really doesn’t feel much like more than 70. So it gets gets it’s weird. Different roads different roads feel different I’ve noticed.
TARANJIT: I would be freaking out the entire time. I would be worried that there’s a cop sitting somewhere.
FELIX: Yeah. Yeah. I was very careful in that but you know what it is. It is what it is. I guess, you know just try not to be doing that in spots where cops sit.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. It’s good that you prioritize safety. That is very important. And you did mention that you don’t get a lot of road rage which is good. But are you someone who I guess when you do get angry at another driver, are you someone who tends to honk your horn or are you someone who doesn’t?
FELIX: I’m definitely I don’t honk my horn a lot. Mostly because I haven’t really gotten used to I kind of forget that it’s in front of me. I mean I’ve done it of course, but very very slim percentage of the time. You know, I I think I’m pretty good overall about being respectful. I think sometimes I’ll pull some *beep* stuff if someone is trying to skip a line and there is an exit and you just kind of ride it out until the end and just make your way inwards. .I’m one of those unfortunately. But sometimes you got to save a little bit of time. But I think for the most part, you know, I don’t honk. I’m not too much of a *beep* like it like that cuz you dont really know who you’re dealing with in the other car. So I’d rather, you know, wait the extra second or not say anything unless it’s plainly obvious that they need an awakening.
TARANJIT: That’s great to hear that.
BHAVNEET: So you don’t play into that New York stereotype?
FELIX: No. No. I’m not I’m actually not much of a honker.
TARANJIT: So speaking of honking or annoying drivers, what would you say is your biggest pet peeve of driving?
FELIX: I think people that like leave their blinkers on by accident. Which I’m actually done myself, but that’s just annoying cuz you’re trying to figure it out. People that are going slow. That’s really annoying. I mean, you know, I think it’s better to go slow than fast generally speaking. But if there’s no one in front of you, holding everything up. That gets on my nerves. And then I think I don’t know sometimes if you do run into that person that you can tell is just a little weird and they’re and they’re kind of like sticking next to you or they’re driving next door or they’re tailing you. I don’t know what. Just people that you feel like a little bit suspect to have them near you is annoying. I guess those are my pet peeves.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I would definitely say having someone sitting in your blind spot or driving the same speed as you when you’re trying to move over is annoying.
FELIX: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, definitely that and you know, the blind spot is is really killer. So just for me, it’s just a peeve. Just for anybody that’s on that side is going to really make sure I see. Things happen.
BHAVNEET: So there’s been a lot of like change I guess, and since you’re a relatively new driver in the supposedly proper way to hold a steering wheel. So when you drive, how do you typically hold the steering wheel and I guess how are you taught was the correct way?
FELIX: 10 and 2 is the way I was taught. Do I do it like that? I only do it like that when I am in a high stress situations. If I am on a highway for hours, I’m one of those lazy people that like has their hands in their lap and I’m kind of holding it at like the time to 7 and 5 if that makes sense. So yeah, just cuz I guess it’s my arm just gets tired, honestly, if I’m only at 10 and 2 like, you know straight for 3 hours. And I actually feel like I have decent control doing it the way I do it. So, I don’t know I, you know, I’’d say I mostly hold it like that and then sometimes I would go one hand my right on my right hand on it with like if if I’m going slow and it’s a nice day and the windows open, I’ll have my like left arm just kind of hanging out the window. I’m one I;m one of those *beep* But yeah, I think of for the most part I kind of do that like 7-5 left right holding of the steering wheel.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I totally agree with you on your arms getting tired when you’re driving for a long time. It’s just more comfortable holding the steering wheel at the bottom.
BHAVNEET: I don’t think anyone actually holds at 10 and 2
FELIX: Yeah. I don’t think so. Unless you’re kinda stressed.
BHAVNEET: That’s true. So then do you tend to drive differently. If someone is in the car with you versus if you’re driving alone?
FELIX: Yeah. Definitely. I drive my normal driving with everyone except for mom except for my mom because she just gets very anxious quick with when her son’s driving and she’s not in control. So yeah, I definitely drive different I respect every single speed limit to the to the maximum when my mom’s in the car. No doubt. I drive differently then. But you know, I think whenever someone else is in there, I also do feel responsibility for them. It’s one thing if I got into an accident and I was just me. I could live with that. But if I feel like it was someone else that I you know negatively affected and had real consequences with that would be harder on my mental state. I suppose, you know, I just make sure that I’m always doing aware of everything aware of who’s in the car with me and I think they’re in a just like everything in life. It’s about picking and choosing your spots of when you want to do certain things. So if I want to speed a little bit or be more of an aggressive driver, I’m running low on time, it doesn’t mean go full speed the whole time you are trying to make it by a certain time. It just means that if there is an opportunity for you to cut some time, do it. But do it safely. So you know it’s really a skill that you develop and, you know, now I understand how it can be so dangerous and why there are so many accidents. Cuz it’s if you don’t pay attention 100 percent of the time, it could be really fatal.
TARANJIT: Oh. I agree with you there. So I know you touched on this earlier about your first time driving experience and your driver’s test. A lot of states have started to take the parallel parking off the test, like it’s not required anymore, do you think that it should be included or do you think that’s fine?
FELIX: Yeah. I don’t know. I mean it’s annoying when people don’t parallel park the right way or they park with like 5 feet in front of them. It ruins a potential spot when you’re looking for a spot, obviously. Do I think it’s necessary to get your license? I think well you know what. Let’s go with yes because then I think it makes it harder for you to get your license, and I kind of hope that it is harder to get your license. It’s one of those things that you can’t be handed out super easily in my opinion. It’s a legit thing. It’s putting not just your life in jeopardy but it’s putting the people that are on the road. So it’s a little frightening considering so many people so many idiots in this country have their license and they are on the road. So that’s a little scary. But let’s go with yeah because I think whatever it takes to hold people to a higher standard with regard to something that plays with someone else’s life, then they should really be able to they should need to know every skill at a high level before they’re given their their license.
TARANJIT: That’s a great point. Yeah. Here I think, in Maryland, they removed the parallel parking. So our brother had to recently take his test and it was so easy for him. He just passed right away. But I feel like having that parallel parking is one of the ways a lot of people fail because of that.
FELIX: Yeah. I’ve heard that, too. And it is what it is. I’ve had a lot of friends that failed their test because of parallel parking. And I think that you just need to once you find a little point of reference, it gets a whole lot easier.
TARANJIT: Do you think that after like x number of years, people should have to retake their test?
FELIX: Honestly, no. Because I’m thinking about myself or my dad. Like what. After 10 years of driving, you wanna really go back to the DMV? So, no. I think once you get it, you get it. But I do think that it is good to maybe do some background checks on people. Like people people go crazy sometimes. They got their license when they were 20 and healthy and you know life takes people on different paths. So if for some reason they have some mental you know whatever. You know there’s a lot of there’s a lot of crazy people out there. You just kind of hope that whoever is on the road next to you doesn’t decide to swerve in your lane because that could really affect your your life even if it had nothing to do with you.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I’ve had a close call recently where the traffic in front of me stopped. So I came to a slow stop, but the person behind me didn’t realize that we came to a stop and almost just rear-ended me.
FELIX: Yeah. No that’s super scary. I mean there’s luckily I haven’t been in one of those situations yet. You know it’s it’s scary. I don’t Know how else to say it.
BHAVNEET: We have one final bonus question for you. If you could make one new driving law, what would it be?
FELIX: Um. If I could make one new driving law. Well there is something that I noticed that that’s not talked about enough. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a law. Or something that you could ever really make into a law, but something that I noticed that is incredibly dangerous that no one tells you is that when there are 3 lanes and say you’re on the left lane and there is someone that is parallel to you on the right lane and you guys are both thinking about going into that middle lane, that’s one of the things that they don’t teach you ever really is when you go to that middle lane, you really gotta make sure that that person coming from the other side, so in the right lane, is not also going to go into that middle lane at the same time. And it’s hard to see if you’re parallel because of you know the blinkers are on the back of the car. So I feel like that is something where people can get really hurt if you guys both choose to go into that middle lane at once. And even if you guys don’t touch, it’s still kind of like a panicky moment. And then you kind of swerve. So that’s something I noticed cuz one time I was trying to go into that middle lane and the guy kind of next to me in the other lane was trying to do that as well. And that just kind of caught me off guard as something that I never really thought of as something that is important to not. So that is something that I think of more of like a driving tip more than a law. In terms of a law, I really think that they need to reevaluate the speeding laws if I’m being honest. I got a speeding ticket, the other day actually, for going 36 in a 25. When the most that they allot you in a 25 is 35. So I was literally 1 mph over their kind of extended limit if you will on an empty New York City street. And they said that because I was in a school zone, but school has been out. I think they are just I think some of the speeding things are stupid. I think that you know everybody is going 80 on a 65 anyways so don’t be stingy about the speed limits unless it’s crowded. I think that if there is no one on the road and you’re going 90 on a 65, I honestly think that’s fine as long as it’s a really empty road. So I guess it’s just annoying that you get ticketed for that in those certain situations. I guess that would probably be my best suggestion.
TARANJIT: Yeah. It’s probably that the police officer was just bored and you were like the only on the road. So they were like, alright. This guy.
FELIX: Yeah. Exactly.
TARANJIT: Do you have any final thoughts or any other tips that you would like to provide other drivers that are listening?
FELIX: Just be safe. Cuz if I’m next to you or if anybody else is next to you, we want to get to our destination safely. And don’t text and drive. Don’t drink and drive. And for a lot of people really, the most important now that even in my demographic is people smoke people drive while high or smoke weed and they think that is kind of funny or what not. But I don’t think it’s that funny. I think you can wait to get to your destination to smoke you’re weed. I personally don’t smoke, but we don’t have to get into that. But I respect anybody that does for whatever they choose to, just don’t do it on the road. Cuz even if you think you’re fine, if you injure anybody, you will feel guilty for the rest of your life. So I guess my main message is safety. Safety. Safety. You know I don’t want to be that dad who’s like, yeah. Make sure you’re safe on the road. But you know it’s true. It’s I know anybody who would get into an accident, they would feel really guilty if being an idiot even for a couple seconds and it ended up either taking someone’s life or their own. Or compromised them or they were paralyzed or something atrocious to happen that would be life altering just because of one stupid mistake. So you know I think take it seriously, but also take a deep breath when you’re driving. I see too many people who are just like tense while touching the wheel and you know, these cars are well made for the most part.
TARANJIT: Great points. Before we let you go, where can listeners find you if they want to get in contact with you or listen to your show?
FELIX: They can follow me on Instagram @Felix.Levine and follow me on Twitter @FelixLevine. And subscribe to my Youtube channel.
BHAVNEET: Awesome. Well thank you so much for coming on. We enjoyed hearing all about you’re driving experiences even the as short lived as they might be right now.
FELIX: Yeah. Well thank you so much for having me.
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BHAVNEET: His experience taking the driving test has to by far be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard in terms of like everything that he could possibly do wrong.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I know. I was just listening to it and just like I mean I can I could understand that you’re nervous when you’re taking the drivers test. So just having that anxiety and nervousness trying to make sure you’re right and then your instructor on top of that yelling at you or be like hurry up and it makes you anxious enough to just like hurry up and get it done over with it.
BHAVNEET: Why was his instructor? Like that’s your job. Like, why are you doing that?
TARANJIT: Maybe they’re like I want to fail people. Like i don’t know
BHAVNEET: I must fail people.
TARANJIT: You know how like I know here at our local DMV, we’ve had classmates tell us that, oh yeah. You don’t want to get this person because they are always they just fail like to fail people.
BHAVNEET: Yeah, that’s what I was nervous about, too. But he got his license. So
TARANJIT: I just just hearing all the things that went wrong like him sitting at that red light and just just sat through the light. Because he is just like I can’t turn.
BHAVNEET: Well I mean they’d always tell you only go when you it’s safe to go.
TARANJIT: But his instructor was like, are you going to go?
BHAVNEET: That’s a little excessive.
TARANJIT: But I found the funniest part why I don’t know if like this was the funniest part or the other was the funniest part. But like him talking about the roundabout and not really knowing like which lane to go in, so he just cut right through Just like I’ll just cut right across.
BHAVNEET: Yeah that that was really weird. It was like, are there not roundabouts there?
TARANJIT: He’s a New York city, Bhavn.
BHAVNEET: That is very true. Then why was there a roundabout on his test?
TARANJIT: But I think he said he went and took it out more, right? One time. But like when he was talking about just cutting through the circle. I was thinking about people here who don’t know how to drive around the circle. And they do technically cut through in a way. Llike they switch from lane to lane.
BHAVNEET: That’s true.
TARANJIT: Instead of staying in one lane. They are just like, Oh. I ‘ll just go straight through somehow.
BHAVNEET: This whole thing is for me. Okay. Weee.
TARANJIT: Yeah. But I can’t imagine what it would have been like if he didn’t pass and he ended up having to take it in March and the pandemic the whole pandemic thing started.
BHAVNEET: He wouldn’t have his license.
TARANJIT: Yeah.
BHAVNEET: It’s good that he decided, yes. I’m going to try one more time and then got it before this whole thing happened. Because like you said, then he wouldn’t have his license and he would kind of just be stuc. So there’s a little bit of a moral to the story, right? So keep trying and persevering.
TARANJIT: The cliché moral.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. And well, I mean, it’s true, right?
TARANJIT: But it’s proof in a way. Like here’s an example. It does happen, if you keep trying.
BHAVNEET: Exactly. Take Felix. Keep trying. And you will get what you’re aiming for.
TARANJIT: Great. I don’t know. The way that you said it, I’m just like, yeah. Encouraging.
BHAVNEET: And…
TARANJIT: Yeah.
BHAVNEET: Well, that was this week’s episode. If you have any interesting driving stories and would like to be a guest on the show. Fill out the interest form on our website at drivewithuspodcast.com.
(outro music)
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(next week’s sneak peek)
ANDREW: When you drive an ambulance, you have to be not only a defensive driver, but you also have to be a very aggressive driver. You just have to head on a swivel handle, you now, 360° all the time. My first shift ever I was so nervous. Scared. And I eventually had to step back and and and I was just like I can’t do this right now.