Become aware of who is around you. Assume you don't always have the right away. Watch out for people opening doors and backing up.

Take a lesson, maybe 10. ***EDIT*** - From an acredited driving school with proper practice, with an instructor you get along with. www.yd.com is great for canadians.

Run your hand over your arm, neck and head. Feel that? It's flesh and bone and contrary to popular teenage myth, it is prone to damage, sometimes irreparable. You are not immortal. That said, relax, be aware of what's happening not one car length ahead but two or three. Drive defensively; not everyone's as cautious as you. Drive your drive, which means don't let cars in front, in back or passengers in your vehicle push you to drive a certain speed. You know what you can handle and what you can't. Have fun. Driving is a means of transportation but it's also a kick, especially in countryside as beautiful as Ireland.

Go to your local DMV and pick up a handbook for drivers. This will let you study what all the signs mean, the lines, limits, restrictions, U-turn rules, etc. When you are just starting out, remember that aren't mario andretti - don't go racing around, showing off, running lights, taking corners fast, etc. Be cautious, learn how your vehicle reacts in different situations (corners, flat highway, stopping, accelerating, etc) and be sure that it is set up for you. Check the mirrors and adjust accordingly, same for the seat, steering wheel, etc. Read your owners manual (I stress this) so you know your vehicle. Some vehicles have odd lights that will come up when you drive and you need to know what they mean. Keep in mind that on the gauge cluster, red lights require immediate attention, yellow lights need attention soon, and green lights are just for notification. Familiarize yourself with the controls for lights, the horn, cruise control, the stereo, HVAC, etc so that you can use then without looking away from the road. Stay off the highways until you become comfortable in the city. Don't drive at night for a while - it requires you to be a lot more alert and it's more dangerous. Remember that even if something looks and is stupid, people will still do it. For example, if you (along with 15 other cars) are coming up a street at 50km/h and you see someone thinking of pulling out, assume they will. It may seem stupid, but you will realize how right I am after a year of driving. Plan for the worst... Learn how to drive automatic, then learn how to drive stick. Even if you never own a stick, it's one of those life lessons that you should have 'just in case'. Make use of empty parking lots to see how fast you can stop from certain speeds, how fast you can take turns, etc. Go find something to use as an obstacle, and if your car has ABS get up to 40km/h, brake hard and swerve around it. Keep hard on the brake the entire time. Do this 3 or 4 times. Then when the ABS comes on when you drive it won't scare you. When driving, scan ahead at least a block for people stopping, crashes, etc. Always scan left and right, etc. Keep alert and keep your head up. If your phone rings, let it ring. Focus on driving and call the person back. That's all I can think of for now. Take it easy, go at your own pace, and go from there. Good luck.

Never play the radio or any other music at a volume that you would never hear the sound of an approaching ambulance.

HOLD ONTO YOUR FRICKEN HAT!

The Golden rule applies in driving as well as in life: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."