Learning to drive.

[Belulah]

Had a really frustrating lesson the other day, I thought I was doing really well until we got to a manoeuvre and it turns out my first instructor taught me completely wrong (apparently) which then sent me in to a "well i'm terrible anyway" mindset which then took the rest of the lesson down with it. Some days I feel quite confident and then others are just...eurgh.

Manoeuvres never made sense to me until I was doing them out in the wild so to speak!

 

[Belulah]

I had them every day in my last week. Used all my savings but worth it. For me it was manouvers on repeat. I feared them so much.

Got my test next month eeek, excited and scared. Any tips for my last few lessons? Doing 2 lessons a week at the moment

Wanted to add I am sending you all the positive vibes in the world! You know you can drive. Its just holding your nerve- easier said then done.

 

[Prefrontalmedialcortex]

Hey everyone! So happy to have found this thread. I start my lessons tomorrow. I’m a complete beginner at driving but passed my theory last year. Had a taster lesson with my instructor last week and she was so lovely and made me feel at ease. I’m ridiculously nervous now though. I’ve been watching YouTube videos etc. but are there any tips you can offer which you would of liked to have been given when you were in my position?

Best of luck with your lessons, enjoy the learning experience and it is great you got good vibes from your instructor.

I would say do not doubt yourself, do not be too hard on yourself if you make mistakes, it is normal and okay to be worried/stressed or anxious and do not feel pressure to learn or pass the practical exam in a certain amount of time. Everyone is different and learns at a different pace.

It took me over 2 years to learn/pass. At first I kept comparing myself to others but eventually told myself that I was doing it at my pace.

 

[kittypaws]

Did your instructor not do an eye test with you on your very first lesson?! Yes, being able to see is pretty important!!!

Hahaha yes she did but I had cataract surgery a few years ago (I'm not 80 I'm only 29 ) and my eye has clouded up again recently (need another op!). It became apparent when I couldn't see the road signs hahaha. I've got my glasses now and the difference is remarkable so I can't wait to get in my car now and be able to see

 

[Belulah]

Thank you for your stories everyone!! Will keep you all updated! Would love to follow overs stories x

 

[LaurieLaurie]

My lessons are £35 an hour and I’ve got my first one tomorrow for 1.5 hours so that will be £50+

I can’t believe how hard it is to find a test at the moment! I’ve had a look and nothing near me at all.

You’ve got to look constantly.

I’ve got the Testi app so it sends me notifications when tests dates are made available. Mines booked for late summer but I noticed they had put a week of tests on for December, five minutes later they had all gone.

 

[Slatternly]

I had my second lesson after five months off (lockdown/broken leg) yesterday and it went very badly. I kept stalling at roundabouts.

My instructor is great but I feel he is losing patience with me. He told me that it was the worst I’ve ever driven. I am a nervous driver but he goes on about me being nervous which is unhelpful and a bit gas lighty as I’m usually fine nerves wise after an hour. I felt really despondent yesterday. I’m reasonably intelligent but unable to do this thing that everyone else is able to do. I find it hard to multitask in a car but can manage multi tasking brilliantly ar work!

I’m sick of learning to drive... I’ve been doing it every week for over a year. I’d sack the whole thing off of my mil wasn’t paying but I feel trapped into having to see it through to the end.

I just don’t seem to be improving. I’ve been learning to parallel park for months now and the penny hasn’t dropped.

Should I switch to automatic?!!

I’m so reassured to see others on this thread have struggled with the same issues as I have though.

 

[LaurieLaurie]

My next lesson is Friday after his three week summer holiday. It should have been my driving test but he was double booked!

Hope you’re all doing well!

I’ve just come back from a lesson where my instructor says I need to use my mirrors. I’m not being stubborn by writing this, but I do thoroughly use my mirrors before signalling etc. How can I make it more obvious that I’m looking at the mirrors?!

Mine said the same and I told him I checked them every single time, he just couldn’t see me so I now make it a bit more obvious by just moving my head

 

[HoGi]

My test is first thing tomorrow. I am trying so hard to be positive and breathe! I want to pass so much. Hope everyone else is getting on well with lessons and tests.

Good luck! Xx

 

[LaurieLaurie]

I enjoy driving manual, the gears and clutch etc are second nature to me now. I’d be bored just driving around pressing stop/go.

 

[Lollypad]

You could join some local facebook pages and ask if anyone knows of any? I see a few people do this where I live

Yeah I’ve got in contact with all of them I’ve seen and they all have waiting lists I’m still waiting on two to come back though so

 

[Belulah]

I‘ve had tests booked by instructors and booked my own tests. I don’t think they have access to anything different to the public.
sorry you had such a horrid time @Thank(space)you have a wallow and then get back on it!

 

[nightfeedz]

I’m intending to book some automatic lessons once restrictions lift.

My fear is much more about being on the road and my own concentration rather than clutch/gears/operating the car itself but I feel like simplifying the process will help me focus.

I resisted trying automatic for ages but I’m so tired of the stop start of lessons and tests and anxiety over the last few years and want to do what I can to get going.

You know yourself and your driving and your own priorities! It is so nice to read experiences of other people who understand these anxieties. We will all get there one way or another. Good luck everyone.

 

[Thank(space)you]

I was all ready for my test tomorrow and they’ve gone and cancelled it. Giving me the closest date of the 3/12. Absolutely gutted.

I've heard a few people having this happen now, I'm sorry it's happened to you. I'm sure there will be cancellations before 3/12. Keeping everything crossed for you lovely.

That is awful!! And to have to wait so long until the next date as well. I'm so sorry, gutted for you.

Had my second lesson this morning, I think it went really well all things considered but bloody hell are roundabouts hard. I just can't get my head on straight when it comes to slowing down, changing gears, lane discipline and position and looking for what is coming on the right I know I'll get there and my instructor has been fab so far. I'm bloody exhausted now.

You will get there I used to be exactly the same. Found roundabouts so overwhelming but keep keep it. Dgn videos on you tube are great too

 

[openbook1]

I don’t think automatics stall so that might help! I couldn’t cope with the stress of stalling!

Automatics do not stall.

I tried learning manual when living in the UK and stopped. Moved to Canada where all lessons are in an automatic and passed first time after only 10 hours of lessons I think it was, 5 lessons total. Here on your test you must do a parallel park. You get three chances. If you can't complete it, it's an automatic fail. No roundabouts though, we have stop signs instead. Which again, you must do properly or is an automatic fail.

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Well done for passing!!

I usually throw on some Gazelles.
My next lesson is tomorrow and I’m gonna tell him to stop talking bollocks and let me focus on my driving or I’ll never pass

 

[Ken_barlow]

I totally get that level of fear, I was the same for years. Not a total success story here either as I don’t yet have my licence but I have my test in a few days. I still get nervous but I CAN drive, I can go above 40mph and I now believe I can pass my test and belong on the road as much as anyone else does.

For me it has not been easy but I firmly believe if I can get to this stage you can too! Good luck x

The thought of going 40mph is terrifying!
And Thankyou, I just need to get in the mind frame of “I can do it one day” instead of “I will never ever do it”

sometimes I wish I just learnt at 17 like most people! Xxxxxx

 

[nightfeedz]

So, after me posting about my anxiety for my test tomorrow, I've woken up with an awful sore throat and i can't taste much. Given its a symptom of corona I'm going to have to cancel. I'm actually so upset.
My partner says he thinks I'm just run down from the worry and pressure I put on myself the past couple of days and I should wait to see how i feel tomorrow. (My test is at 8am!)
In all honesty my body aches all over and my headache is getting worse, not going to risk anyones life for a theory test. I won't be able to get in do it again for another 3 months though so I'm gutted. I have driving lessons weekly and I'm ready to do my test. So I'm thinking of doing maybe one or 2 lessons a month to save some money until I get my theory done?!
Sorry for the long rant. I'm so frustrated and annoyed with myself.

Oh no, hope you feel better soon. It is so unlucky but I think you are making the right call.

Your plan makes sense. I was ready for my test (ish) before Covid and so once lessons started again I had one once every two weeks just to keep myself going with it and now that my test is booked again I’m focusing on it more. I hate to think how much money I’ve spent on this but it is what it is. is it possible to get cancellations with theory tests?? I’m sure this will be a frequent occurrence these days.

 

[Lollypad]

Well that's my test cancelled! I hope you lot aren't too affected!

 

[Belulah]

I had my first manual driving lesson last week and although the actual driving part went well my instructor was terrible. He would use his phone and blast it on speaker which would distract me so much. He asked me personal questions about my relationship and if I loved my partner. He done a whole lot of talking about everything except driving. Didn't go through the Cockpit drill properly. Didn't teach me nothing about mirrors. Threw me straight on the road and kept kissing his teeth when I made a mistake despite me telling him I'm nervous and it's my first time. What really had me questioning his professionalism is when he asked me if I could drive back home! Honestly that session was enough to put me off but I've booked another instructor for 2 weeks time and also in an automatic car this time. Hopefully I'll have a better experience. Good luck to you all doing your theories and/or practical test x

Instructors like this make me wonder how they manage to stay in business. Sorry it was such a horrible experience

For everyone who is having bad experiences with instructors, please report them. If you don’t, they will continue getting away with taking money from learners and providing a sub standard service.
Your instructor shouldn’t be using their mobile phone during your lesson, they shouldn’t be asking you personal questions about anything, they shouldn’t be tutting at you or sighing if you make an error. If you feel you are getting bad service please report them. If they work for a larger company then report them to their employer and file a complaint as above.

Complain about a driving instructor

Complain about an approved driving instructor (ADI) if you're not happy with their service or behaviour

www.gov.uk

Thank you for sharing this Betty! I wish so much I had reported my penultimate instructor. Fleeced me out of hundreds, was always trying to make out he was doing me a favour because I was a single mother, used to tell me about his sex life!