Stuck on events

hi guys, i have a question

so my game goes off on a series of events. and well with my coding sofar, it doesnt really work since its all on if statements… and basically id have to do it in a certian time or it … doesnt really work, so im making variables to basically signal to other things that the events has happen,

i.e. clicked the car to get in, then drive…not just magically drive with no driver…

well i dont know where to put these variables at, and where to put em when they load…

i was thinking

onClipEvent (onLoad) ? im not sure if that even works
schoolOut = -1
brooksCar = -1
lightGreen = -1
truckDrives = -1
levelDone = -1

ect…

any hints would be nice…