Learning to drive #2

[hogwartsgraduate]

I had both a male and a female instructor. The male was by far better for my anxiety and nerves - the female was quite bitchy tbh but they are all different! My male instructor was newly passed through BSM and he was brilliant.

 

[Irishgirl14]

Yeah I’ve already asked that question and it’s being ignored so

I'm not ignoring the question

So finding the hole observation thing the hardest I think if I got the hang of that would hopfully get alot easyer

 

[BettyCrockerr]

That's the thing I'm not new started my lessons but with covid my lessons were all spread out over nearly 2 years I got a car nearly two months but only getting 1 lessons for a hour each week as I don't have anyone to go and practice with and think that's half the problem I'm not getting enough practice I have my full 12 lessons done so can book my test but ovbs not ready

Have you spoken to your instructor? What do they say?

 

[Miss.Chanandler.Bong]

Mine took nearly 3 weeks as Royal mail seem to he having issues at the moment

I did read somewhere you can’t contact the dvla until the 3 week mark so I was thinking I might have to wait that long

 

[TheGlossy]

Honestly, I think you need to just book a test. Get something booked, and see how it goes.

When this instructor said he thinks you need upwards of another 20 hours of lessons - what on earth for? What is it that he thinks you need so many lessons to learn??? If you can competently drive, do all the manoeuvres and can complete mock tests then that’s enough.

Go figure. He said I need to re-learn how to perform the entire driving lifecycle and yet during the first lesson, he said I clearly know how to drive. He contradicts himself a lot. He showed me how to do a U-turn yesterday when I know how to do them and did it perfectly in my last test. I bluntly told him I feel as though I'm going backwards if I have to re-learn the lifecycle from scratch as if I were a brand new driver. Him telling me I can't drive in between lessons because I have to learn to operate a car is a joke. Surely, after more than 100 hours, I know how to operate a car.

He had the audacity to tell me: "I saw your last results and I don't think you knew what the test was about". At that point, I was close to 90 hours of driving and it was my second test, so I surely knew what the test was about. We had an issue with the car I rented from my then instructor which was not road-worthy and the tester told me I shouldn't have sat the test in the first place because of that, but he still managed to mark me negatively (primarily around gearing and progression) despite that.

There's a huge backlog with testing at the moment, so no one can book a test. It's straight to waiting list!

I had a lot of lessons with one instructor and she was so expensive. She went on holiday and I never had lessons with her again. I stopped lessons in July 2018 and found a new instructor. I started with him in January 2019 and passed by April, but he had good intentions and wanted me to pass ASAP - a lot of instructors are money grabbers. The best thing I can suggest is doing your test if you feel confident. If you fail, it's not a big deal. You'll know what to work on. But, can I ask why you've decided to get automatic lessons instead of manual?

Exactly, a lot of them are money grabbers. It doesn't matter if they are private or affiliated with a school. I find the private ones to be as greedy as the school-affiliated ones because they probably don't have as many students.

I already sat the test twice in manual, failed both times. I've accumulated roughly 100+ hours of driving in manual and decided to switch to automatic instead because it's been a couple of years since I passed my theory (4 exactly). I haven't driven since January 2020 due to COVID, so I thought I'd go automatic now that lessons are available again in a bid to get my license as soon as possible and also to remove gearing from the process since it's my big problem.



To be honest, I'm not liking automatic driving at all. I much prefer manual because it makes far more sense in my head in the sense that your speed is directly adjusted through the gears and you have clear control, whereas in automatic, the brake / gas manoeuvre to adjust the speed is really confusing because you have no real visibility/control over what you're doing and the gas pedal is very sensitive. I really don't like automatic driving and find it more annoying than anything else, but it's the easy route.

 

[Lalla]

Thank you so much, I’m so happy. Going to brave driving to the shop today! X

Congrats on passing - hope your first solo drive went well!

 

[Irishgirl14]

I’m also doing automatic, I have done 10 of my EDT (assume you’re in Ireland by your name) and bought a car a few weeks ago. I’m fortunate enough with my boyfriend that I do all the driving at the weekends, but we can’t really go out after work as he works so late. But a week after buying the car I was driving 2 hour drives across counties and I’m driving from Waterford to Donegal this weekend and I’m not nervous one bit. Once you are getting out there in your own comfort you’ll be absolutely fine. I have had the car just over a month now and haven’t had a lesson since just after I bought it as they’re too busy but I think I’m flying it whereas during the lessons I was constantly nervous and making silly mistakes, I think it’s coz I’m quite shy with new people.

Once you manage to get out you’ll progress so much quicker - I started learning to drive in March and I have to wait until August to book my test (6 month rule) but if I didn’t I’d probably be booking it soon. Best of luck

That's brilliant well done In my head kinda thought the same once I have the car ill get the hang of but not turning out that way

 

[Thank(space)you]

I took rescue remedy before my test, I did pass, but obviously can’t say if it helped or was just a placebo effect? I would say worth a shot, as they can’t do any harm

I second this

 

[Boredofgrey]

Just found your post, my 18yr old has a car, on a provisionally licence. Insured on a learner policy but if/when she passes (likely to be July) but I’m getting the most horrendous quotes for a 5k car. Thoughts? I’ve tried Tesco, comparing websites etc.

Is that with a box? Some insurers offer a curfew too? You can try a higher excess?

 

[noseybirdxo]

I’ve learnt so much since passing my test in November and having my own car. I’m a very confident driver now. I had no choice but to drive 12 miles home from the car dealership with my car a few days after I passed my test. You learn to drive for that reason… to drive!

Ivy!!! What car did you get in the end?

I have my partner who could come with me but poster above made a good point about becoming too reliant on people. There are quiet roads near my house I could practise on. I learnt to drive in London but have since moved out of the city. I keep telling myself if I can drive in London, I can drive anywhere.

I just need to bite the bullet and get on with it.

I think having someone else with you is totally individual choice, I only did cos it was my boyfriends car and I guess cos he would know it far better than me and even things like if I got a little stuck like trying to turn in the road for example then I’d have him to bounce off my thoughts. Everyone is different, if it had been my own car I don’t think I would have had him for my first few drives.
Exactly! My boyfriends test was in Sidcup, I tell my boyfriend that if he can drive around Sidcup and Dartford areas etc and down the A2/M20 etc then he can drive anywhere!
I definitely think doing some quiet local roads you know well is a good idea, as @BettyCrockerr says - focus on just going A to B and then go from there. You’ve got this

 

[bxiley]

How much is everyone planning to spend on a first car? I don't know what to realistically budget - and insurance is going to be mad!

 

[noseybirdxo]

I am not a learner but I am new to the roads. I passed my driving test a week before the first lockdown in March 2020. Plans of buying a car were delayed because of the pandemic, I did my Pass Plus end of September 2021 and this week I just bought my first car - a Fiat 500. Haven’t driven properly since September.

My anxiety has always held me back and learning to drive took me a long time, now I am really scared to go out and drive on my own. I keep thinking of the worst. Anyone have any useful tips?

If you have anyone that you can go out with that you trust and will be calming influence, then if that is something you’d prefer for comfort then that’s one thing. Are there any quieter roads that you can go round by your home? Or could you drive some of the routes that you did on your lessons so that you’re driving where you’re familiar with? Or get pass plates that might help with other drivers knowing you’re new.
They are the things I’d do and have done since passing. My boyfriend always said when he passed and got his car, he just had to get on with it cos he had to drive the car home from the car place! I drive his car so I guess just did the same!

 

[LaurieLaurie]

hey! I don’t know if you know about this but helpful thing for tests. I used a service called SpeedyTests to get myself cancellations, so basically you pay a one off fee and you can use it as many times as you want until you pass. So I first paid for it back in January 2019 and I used it up until I passed recently, depending on the fee (i think paid £16) you pay you can have them automatically send you any cancellations at either 1 or 2 test centres by text message and you get about 15 mins to reply to the text to book. You might be able to get earlier than March if that’s what you want

Thank you for letting me know, I will give this one a try. I paid £10 for Testi but they never send notifications.

 

[SoulDestroyer]

No it's not at all, tbh I found slightly easier x

oh good, thanks. I seem to be aware of the hazard too early and don’t score because the software is so specific

 

[noseybirdxo]

I actually can’t believe it, I passed my test today! Am still in shock . So nervous to go out on my own for the first time!

It feels like a blur… When I drove to the test centre with my husband I had a big (stupid) pre test panic on a huge roundabout which ended up with me in tears… but I somehow pulled it together for the actual test! The lady actually thought I was a confident chilled driver… LOL.

huge congrats to you!!!!!

 

[hogwartsgraduate]

Hi - new to this thread! Just need a bit of a vent really.

I've been learning automatic (admittedly with some gaps) for about a year and had a test booked for two weeks time. Had some lessons with a new instructor since September and have had such a regression, she said it is very unlikely I would pass the test. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and after todays lesson I've decided I'm just going to give it up, get my money back for the test and take a break. My plan is to pick it up in the new year when there aren't so many appointments and birthdays and I'm off work and not pregnant!

The last few lessons, I haven't slept beforehand and the emotional toll after just hasn't been worth it at all! Neither me or my husband drive, but we live in a small walkable town with good public transport, so think we will be fine with baby. Just needed to get this all off my chest as it's been weighing me down since I got back from the lesson.

Sending hugs ... Do it in your own time, there's no rush. I've put mine off before now, have a new test in Dec but it's not the end of the world. I have had 2 kids without driving and not missed out xx

 

[Lilu22]

excellent news - congratulations!!!

i know what you mean about the examiner I felt the difference with the second one too and it felt very clear and calm.

As for me I’ve been driving for a month now and I’m finally starting to feel a bit better about driving alone in my car been doing short ish routes and just building up, getting used to the feel of a different car. But a couple of times recently I’ve felt like I’ve enjoyed it! Miracles do happen

Can I ask, how do you get motivated to go on drives? I’ve had my car for about a month but have only been out when I have to. I know I should go out more to gain more confidence but I can’t get motivation

 

[Irishgirl14]

Have you spoken to your instructor? What do they say?

Said I need more practice and watch YouTube videos he can unfortunately only do 1 hour a week

 

[BettyCrockerr]

We have spoken about it and I've asked if he could be abit calmer but he says he just can't help it and that he doesn't like doing it but has carried on going out in the car to try and help me. I do understand where he's coming from. Its not nice to see that side of someone when he isn't normally a shouter. But yeah definately never again because it's clearly not benefiting either of us and maybe not even when I'm newly passed for abit because I'm still going to make mistakes then. My driving instructor just goes on so much about private practise and I don't know if it's laziness on his part or he genuinely thinks it helps. Every week he talks about it, what have I been doing, im not doing enough, I need to drive to this this and this place and it's just like chill out. Thank you for advice and responses, speaking to people it sounds like it's a common thing and it's just too much for some people

A decent driving instructor would NEVER suggest you go out practicing with someone else like this, far less be pilling on the pressure to do so. Your instructor sounds like an arsehole to be completely Frank.

 

[Pinkfoxxie]

Have my first driving lesson tomorrow after five years (work and Covid got in the way) have totally lost any confidence I’d had when I was taking lessons before! different instructor as well (who is a not very close friend) not sure if I should have gone with someone I don’t know at all so then won’t judge me when I cry