I am so glad I have found this thread, and I’ll be spending the next few days catching up, driving is a sore subject for me. It feels like a stigma to be an older learner or to not drive, certainly where I live with poor public transport.
I learnt when I was 17 with a difficult instructor, who unfortunately had a lot of personal issues and then a mental breakdown. I was given another instructor who didn’t know the local routes, I didn’t feel confident enough but was off to uni 150 miles away and my parents wanted the test under my belt for the future. I failed miserably, I’d never been so nervous in my 18 years of life! I hit the kerb whilst driving on a straight road, I swore non-stop and the examiner told me if I didn’t get in control he would have to take over
I picked up lessons at Uni and it felt easier on new roads, there weren’t relics of bad lessons haunting me. I passed and that was 17 years ago, I havent driven since.
Ive spent 17 years with people saying “
Oh you get the bus? Why don’t you drive? It’d be easier if you drove there!”. When it comes down to it, I just didn’t want to drive. Nothing would change my mind. I never even entertained it!
The past year has been hard and there have been so many times I’ve just wanted to get in a car and see someone. I’ve felt isolated as a result of not having a car. It’s now got to the point where I WANT to drive! I’ve got refresher classes booked post-lockdown to build my confidence and familiarise myself with the rules of the road and I’m actually excited to do it!
The first hurdle is getting back in to the drivers seat. For me, the biggest hurdle is wanting to drive and I feel I’m already half way there mentally! I’ll be getting an automatic. I’m not bothered about gear changes, it’s the biting point and stalling it that gives me anxiety. So many people around me have said it’s more enjoyable in an automatic. I passed in a manual but probably won’t ever drive one.
Good luck to all learners, those that have been ridiculed, mocked, embarrassed. I’m rooting for you