This makes me seriously question the level of testing required to get a licence where you are. By that I mean that by the standards I'm used to you were wildly under prepared for driving on the open road and shouldn't have been put in that situation until you were ready.

It took me three attempts to pass my driving test. I could actually operate a car just fine for all of them but it wasn't until the third that I was actually ready to be on the roads unsupervised. There is a lot going on and until you've built up the experience and habits to do it safely it's... A lot.

I think I was also 19 when I got my licence but didn't really drive at all until I was in my mid 30s. I always lived places it simply wasn't necessary. If if stayed there then I doubt I'd have ever got a car. I find driving incredibly tedious.