Learning to drive.

[HoGi]

My child had me up most of the night, I've had around 4 hours sleep. Am I okay to drive today for my lesson? I'm too scared to cancel so close to my test but also very scared I'll have a shit lesson due to being so tired

You might have to drive on less sleep in the real world once you pass, so less harm now in a dual control car!

I would just tell your instructor you had a bad night and try not to over think it.

What time is your test next month? Will someone be able to have you child so you can have a better night sleep that night? Although nerves may keep you up

 

[Gem2212]

I’m learning automatic at the moment (last lesson was before Xmas) and have my test booked for May at 39 weeks pregnant I’m so nervous for the test but I think it’s the pressure of trying to do it before baby arrives and knowing if I fail I could be looking at a good few months wait to resit!! I’m 35 and this is my 3rd attempt at learning to drive since turning 17 and I wish I had tried automatic years ago! It’s made driving so much easier and enjoyable for me, I’ve bought a little auto car for myself and have no anxieties about just jumping in and driving whenever we go out where as before I was a nervous wreck! My husband now drives auto and has said he will never go back to manual now! Honestly couldn’t recommend it enough!

 

[TruffleTrifle]

Im grateful to have read this thread!
I have zero issues driving, but my daughter took 40 lessons and 5 fails to pass.
2 years on, shes doing great and is confident in herself
Keep going everyone!

I’m the same took me 6 attempts to pass. I had 3 tests in the space of a year then gave up for 8 months, then did a crash course and took another 3 in the space of 3 months and passed the day before my theory expired. I’m a perfectly fine driver and actually really enjoy it but the test environment and build up to it gave me awful anxiety and made me make stupid mistakes. Unfortunately all you can do in that situation is just keep going and not give up.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

He needs to be reported to DVSA, they are the ones who provide him with a badge to instruct. Absolutely unacceptable behaviour.

Yes but also the police. It’s gone way beyond just reporting to the DVSA.

 

[openbook1]

I am from the UK and tried learning manual but it was awful. I hated the roads back home, they were soooo narrow/fast and no shoulder.
I now live in North America and have my license. I learned/drive an automatic and it makes a world of difference. The roads are much wider here too with plenty of shoulders, lol. I used to be a nervous wreck - I would go out learning with my husband and it caused the biggest fights. Then I took lessons and preferred that. I passed my test first time but it took a lot of practice. I used to be so nervous that I would drive somewhere and then not want to drive back, not sure why. Now I drive without issue but it definitely takes time. I enjoy it, put my music on, and just go. Although, recently I hadn't driven for a month, and getting back in the car was nervewracking but it was fine once I started. We also have a large SUV so that makes me feel a little safer.

 

[Sabbie]

Honestly, it's ten times easier to drive an auto, and they're not like they used to be years ago. They have come a LONG way. I've just got my first electric which is obviously auto, and it's a dream and so easy. I laugh at people who insist manual is the best. They clearly have not been in these auto cars lately!

 

[megx]

I passed in a manual and my first car will definitely be automatic. There are so many narrow roads and side streets in England, I'd rather not stall every 2 minutes and possibly cause a crash and have much less anxiety on the roads. Manuals will be phased out soon anyway, dont feel ashamed to pass in an automatic.

I think me worrying about being judged for learning to drive in an automatic proves that I overthink things, so I’m probably better off learning in an automatic and taking the worry of using the gears away from driving

 

[BettyCrockerr]

My lesson is at 2pm and I really don’t fancy it. Test centres are all booked up with no dates available at all and I just feel like I’m wasting my money. My friend lives three hours away and they have no test dates until October!

I ask him what I need to focus or work on and he says nothing.

If he’s saying that you don’t need to work on anything and therefore are “test ready” then just tell him that you will drop down to 1 lesson a month or whatever for now instead of wasting money on lessons that you don’t need and then get your test booked for as soon as you can and then have a few additional lessons in the run up to it? Remember you are paying him for a service- you decide when you have lessons, not him! If he’s saying you have nothing to work on then he shouldn’t have an issue with you doing the above.

 

[megsmagoo]

The test is only 40 minutes as well and it flyyysss by so quickly!

I thought I had failed because my instructor neglected to tell me that they’d ask me to pull up on the left first time they said it my stomach sank and I was waiting to be told I’d failed lol. He asked me to do it twice more so figured out it must be a part of it

 

[Belulah]

Thank you everyone for you good vibes! I will let you all know how I get on!

 

[sugarhoneyicedtea]

I am so happy I found this thread!
I am 31 and don't drive, I never bothered to learn at college as I didn't feel the need and then went to uni and travelled and never saved the money up. I had some lessons with a couple of instructors when I was in my early 20s (manual and automatic) and the dread I used to get before lessons was so horrible, I was pray that they would cancel last minute as the pressure of driving an actual car on the roads where there are other people gave me such bad anxiety. I never did my theory as I buried my head in the sand about my actual test as I felt so nervous to actually do it (I never did) I feel like it was a huge waste of money and my parents are disappointed that I quit but I honestly couldn't handle the nerves, I used to cry and everything (such a wuss).
I make the best of it and I don't need to drive but the older I get the more I get ashamed of my lack of driving especially when trying to arrange dates. But reading everyone else's experience make me feel not so alone! My friends have all been driving for years and I don't think they get my anxiety about it. Covid hasn't helped but I think my 2021 resolution will be to bite the bullet, find a good instructor and start again with the automatic lessons and get it done!!

 

[Upintheair83]

I failed didn’t stop fully at a give way. Such a stupid mistake.

Awww hey well done for going for the test and doing it!!
That’s brilliant in itself!!! Good on you. And that’s such an easy mistake to do, but next time you will know and be more aware of it. God on some of my tests I made some real hum dingers! I think the examiner was terrified at points!
Don’t be harsh on yourself. I’m so proud of you for having a go and doing it!!
This wasn’t your time but next time it might be! You keep going because I think you are doing amazingly well. Xxx

 

[LaurieLaurie]

How far in advance would you advise booking a practical test at the mo? I've heard there's still long wait times, so don't want to leave it too long, but I'm still a good amount of time away from being able to pass!

In my local area they had tests on for February 2022 and got snapped up within 10 minutes.

Start looking ASAP!

 

[Doyoureally?]

Im so glad this thread is there (thank you!!!)
I have my theory on Sunday. I'm crapping it. Im practising on my app continually but I seem to have triggered my anxiety badly with not knowing what will happen on the day. Can someone help explain it? Like from when you enter the building etc? Do you pick hazard first? What if you want to finish before the time is up? If you fail do you get a bit of paper? Does everyone there know you've failed?
Jesus my anxiety about going in a room and not knowing what to expect is worse than doing the test I think.
Sorry if this is pathetic - I usually can't go anywhere new without a friend or my partner, so I'm expecting my nerves to get the better of me. (Tempted to pop a diazepam these are prescribed to me btw)

This is how it was pre covid, I imagine the only difference will be sanitisation and distancing (potentially masks until you sit down/for the duration).

You arrive at the test centre and book in. You’ll be given a locker to put all of your things away and they will check that you don’t have anything like your phone in your pocket to cheat. They will also check you have no writing on your arms ect. They’ll check your ID also, you take your ID in to the test with you.

you’ll be directed to a booth and your details will be there to confirm, then you’ll get instructions on screen with headphones on how the test works and a quick practice. If your unsure of anything or your computer is not working then you can usually raise your hand and someone will arrive to help you.

You’ll take the theory part first and if you finish early you just need to confirm on screen when you’ve done you’re happy to proceed to the next step. It will also give you the option of a break before starting. The hazard perception will then start. Once you’re done sometimes they ask you some research questions on screen but you can opt out of these.

You don’t need to tell anyone you’ve finished you just get up and see the person outside the test room. They print your result there and then and give you the paper. Only the person printing your results will know the result.

Hope this helps, once seated I always feel a bit more relaxed. If you have any other questions just ask!

Also the app I used with incredibly similar to the actual test experience so if you’re doing well on that it’s very positive!!

 

[under the ivy]

I really wanted to take my test this summer but I’m not going to rush it. I’m happy with November. It gives me enough time to be properly test ready (even though I can drive now and do manoeuvres). I just want experience on the road!

 

[Belulah]

I have booked a test! Well my sister booked it for me! The queue had 67,000 people in by half past eight! I got knocked out and rejoined- at the back of 200,00+ people. My sister managed to hang in there and 8hrs later she was front of the line!

 

[Pixipoppy]

Hi everyone!

I’m trying to find a new instructor for when restrictions ease off in April. I’ve also been thinking of learning automatic - 1) because I want to pass ASAP and save money with lessons 2) honestly, gears & clutch are what make me anxious. I know people say learn manual then you have the best of both but I’m just not bothered. I’d be happy buying/leasing automatic cars. It would make me a more confident driver as I’m able to focus on what’s going on around me I think.

Has anyone learnt just automatic?

I always used to say no - persevere with a manual but to be honest I think most new cars in the near future will be Electric and eventually they will probably all be automatic anyway? So if you think it would be easier then maybe that’s the option for you. I will say though as someone who failed their test multiple times and really struggled with gears and biting point... that has never been something I’ve found difficult since passing my test and driving around. The gears are now the easy bit for me! It does eventually just click and become second nature, but I know how hard it is at the time when you’re just desperate to pass!

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Lesson went really well she said there's a few tweaks we need to work on but nothing major and she sees absolutely no reason why I won't pass my test next month

Awesome!!!! Now dont ever go back to that other guy!!!!

 

[Pixipoppy]

I failed didn’t stop fully at a give way. Such a stupid mistake.

Honestly you will get there! We all make silly mistakes when we’re nervous! Ill tell you some of dumb things I did in tests that I never did in lessons and have never done since... such as -

instead of going right around the mini-roundabout just turning right and driving the wrong way.

mounting a central reservation

Stopping at a GREEN light for ages

being too scared to go over 40mph on a dual carriageway and crying when he said I need to speed up

reversing into a bin

stalling 6 times in a row

I hope this has made you feel better about your small mistake! I was bloody awful and even resigned myself to never passing but you will get there eventually. I love driving now and have been told I’m a very good driver! Keep going

 

[Belulah]

It’s 8 weeks til my driving test. Had a lesson yesterday and I was making stupid mistakes (leaving the handbrake on, not looking at my blind spots). I can drive and my instructor says I’m confident. I’m just dreading the test now.

Its normal to dip before test.

Yes I'm this month, I'm nervous but excited. I keep telling myself I can drive, I'm just showing someone how well I can do it

Its 40 minutes. You can do this!