Learning to drive.

[nightfeedz]

Good luck! Let us know how you get on. x

I have my second driving lesson tomorrow and it's for 1.5 hours rather than an hour and I can't even remember how to start the car. Well done me!

Thank you! It was good apart from the full day of anxiety beforehand. I don’t love spending time with my instructor, he is a bit annoying but I think I’m ok with that!

What I need is to be comfortable making my own decisions and driving on my own without panicking and I think he is going to push me to do that. He reckons the test I have booked in July will be good timing.

Good luck with your lesson! Muscle memory will kick in for you once you’ve had a bit of practice, take your time

 

[Thank(space)you]

Dreading my lesson tomorrow, my confidence has definitely gone

 

[Gembo]

Dreading my lesson tomorrow, my confidence has definitely gone

Hey don’t be hard on yourself, I‘ve been driving for 16 years now and I still lose my confidence, especially having not driven for so much of lockdown. You are learning something new and it’s a big thing to learn, you wouldn’t give anyone else a hard time for it. Take it at your own pace, it took me I think 4 attempts to pass as my nerves would just completely overwhelm me and I’d physically shake. You will get there I promise just don’t give up x

 

[LaurieLaurie]

I’ve cut my lessons down to 1 a fortnight, I’ll go back up to 1 a week in the run up to my test but that’s not until November. It seemed like a waste of money when he’s happy with my driving and I’m a confident driver.

 

[under the ivy]

My DI cancelled my lesson this weekend due to illness. I mentally prepared myself as well so I feel rubbish when it gets cancelled! Hoping to do it during the week after work.

 

[Thank(space)you]

Update:

So my mock went Rubbish. Instructor said he's postponing my test to just wanna cry. 7 minors and 7 majors so I get it but it's frustrating. He even said the fact I was nervous is a sign I'm not ready

 

[HoGi]

Update:

So my mock went Rubbish. Instructor said he's postponing my test to just wanna cry. 7 minors and 7 majors so I get it but it's frustrating. He even said the fact I was nervous is a sign I'm not ready

When is your test booked for?

With the current backlog postponing will mean you probably won't get another before September/October at the earliest

I would maybe try another instructor see what they say. Only you can postpone your test, this seems a bit off of your instructor

 

[nightfeedz]

Update:

So my mock went Rubbish. Instructor said he's postponing my test to just wanna cry. 7 minors and 7 majors so I get it but it's frustrating. He even said the fact I was nervous is a sign I'm not ready

So disheartening for you Try your best to do what feels right for you.

I’m in NI so it might be different for you but I asked my instructor if there was any room for manoeuvre with test dates, if I did want to change mine. He said that some test dates were held back so there will be more released gradually throughout the summer, just keep on checking the system.

I know sometimes the time pressure doesn’t help the nerves so if you decide it is best to take your time hopefully you will be able to find a way to rearrange.

 

[Pixipoppy]

Update:

So my mock went Rubbish. Instructor said he's postponing my test to just wanna cry. 7 minors and 7 majors so I get it but it's frustrating. He even said the fact I was nervous is a sign I'm not ready

Not sure how it works these days but can your instructor change your test date? Also nerves isn’t a sign of anything! Everyone is nervous when they do their test, please don’t feel too disheartened!

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Update:

So my mock went Rubbish. Instructor said he's postponing my test to just wanna cry. 7 minors and 7 majors so I get it but it's frustrating. He even said the fact I was nervous is a sign I'm not ready

How come you have a test booked? Are they a new instructor? I would be listening to them, saving your money and rebooking the test. They won’t be ‘failing’ you to be difficult, even with nerves you shouldn’t be getting 7 majors. They have to think of yours and others safety.

 

[under the ivy]

Try to learn from the experience @Thank(space)you , you want to be a safe driver which will save you money in the long run if you need more lessons. Rebook your test for a later date, it will soon come round! I was disheartened with my test not being until November but I know I need these months to be properly test ready and hopefully pass x

 

[Thank(space)you]

When is your test booked for?

With the current backlog postponing will mean you probably won't get another before September/October at the earliest

I would maybe try another instructor see what they say. Only you can postpone your test, this seems a bit off of your instructor

My test was booked for 4 weeks time. He said he will try to get me a new test date in September

Not sure how it works these days but can your instructor change your test date? Also nerves isn’t a sign of anything! Everyone is nervous when they do their test, please don’t feel too disheartened!

He said he wouldn't let me use his car if I kept my test date so i don't really have a choice but to postpone

How come you have a test booked? Are they a new instructor? I would be listening to them, saving your money and rebooking the test. They won’t be ‘failing’ you to be difficult, even with nerves you shouldn’t be getting 7 majors. They have to think of yours and others safety.

Not a new instructor, I've been having lessons with him since 2019 (lockdown has been delaying things) he told me I was ready.

I understand why he's told me to postpone but I'm still allowed to feel despondent about it.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

My test was booked for 4 weeks time. He said he will try to get me a new test date in September


He said he wouldn't let me use his car if I kept my test date so i don't really have a choice but to postpone


Not a new instructor, I've been having lessons with him since 2019 (lockdown has been delaying things) he told me I was ready.

I understand why he's told me to postpone but I'm still allowed to feel despondent about it.

Where do you live? When I took my test, I was the one who had to book it - not my instructor. How can your instructor try to re-book on your behalf??

Everyone is nervous before the test, that is completely natural and normal. What were your 7 majors??

 

[Pixipoppy]

My test was booked for 4 weeks time. He said he will try to get me a new test date in September


He said he wouldn't let me use his car if I kept my test date so i don't really have a choice but to postpone


Not a new instructor, I've been having lessons with him since 2019 (lockdown has been delaying things) he told me I was ready.

I understand why he's told me to postpone but I'm still allowed to feel despondent about it.

4 weeks is still a decent amount of time depending on how many hours you can fit in - what were the majors for? Can you narrow down where your biggest weaknesses are? Honestly sometimes it can just be a bad day, I’ve had tests where I’ve had no majors and all minors... or several majors and no minors at all. My driving was never consistent when I was learning due to extreme nerves! If I messed up one thing it threw me and I’d make loads more mistakes.

 

[Thank(space)you]

Where do you live? When I took my test, I was the one who had to book it - not my instructor. How can your instructor try to re-book on your behalf??

Everyone is nervous before the test, that is completely natural and normal. What were your 7 majors??

I'm in Somerset, UK.

I can't remember all of the majors but the ones I remember are:

*didn't stop at a closed junction
*did stop at an open junction
*didn't accelerate quick enough onto a roundabout which caused a car to slow down
*mounted the pavement during a parallel park
* looking in my mirrors only when joining a dual carriageway from a slip road, rather than also looking over my shoulder.

 

[HoGi]

I'm in Somerset, UK.

I can't remember all of the majors but the ones I remember are:

*didn't stop at a closed junction
*did stop at an open junction
*didn't accelerate quick enough onto a roundabout which caused a car to slow down
*mounted the pavement during a parallel park
* looking in my mirrors only when joining a dual carriageway from a slip road, rather than also looking over my shoulder.

I wouldn't say any of those things warrant you postponing for potentially several months. You have a month until your test and can easily get in another 10 hours in that time which is a fifth of the average hours needed to pass and you have presumably had lessons for a while.

Did your instructor say you were ready to book when you booked this test?

 

[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!

 

[Glaschelle]

I'm in Somerset, UK.

I can't remember all of the majors but the ones I remember are:

*didn't stop at a closed junction
*did stop at an open junction
*didn't accelerate quick enough onto a roundabout which caused a car to slow down
*mounted the pavement during a parallel park
* looking in my mirrors only when joining a dual carriageway from a slip road, rather than also looking over my shoulder.

Roundabouts Passed my test 3yrs ago and was indecisive on one yesterday

My problem is I don't trust other drivers - I wait till I'm sure where they're going.

But nothing you say there is insurmountable. And I don't think warrants waiting months for a new test date. But the instructors have you over a barrell especially just now. Unless somebody can hire one of the dual control cars for you to take your test in.

But - please remember the test is only to make sure you can control the car properly and safely and you're aware of you're surroundings.

You learn much more about driving when you're out on the road - on your own!!!

But good luck it'll be worth it in the end.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

I'm in Somerset, UK.

I can't remember all of the majors but the ones I remember are:

*didn't stop at a closed junction
*did stop at an open junction
*didn't accelerate quick enough onto a roundabout which caused a car to slow down
*mounted the pavement during a parallel park
* looking in my mirrors only when joining a dual carriageway from a slip road, rather than also looking over my shoulder.

you have another month before your test date right? That’s loads of time. Can you have a couple of lessons a week between now and then? I’d be cracking out the lessons and spending each one literally going over and over these issues - your instructor needs to be focusing on the weakest areas. Stopping at junctions for example is fairly basic - for the purpose of the lesson and the test just stop, regardless of what you can see. You have to ever so slightly over exaggerate what you do - like when you check your mirrors & your blind spot, make it really obvious what you are doing - I actually used to say it out loud, “check mirrors, now looking over my blind spot and it’s all clear so I’m safe to go” - right I know that might sound daft but it makes it obvious to your instructor or the examiner that you know what you are doing

 

[Kim Mild]

My test was booked for 4 weeks time. He said he will try to get me a new test date in September


He said he wouldn't let me use his car if I kept my test date so i don't really have a choice but to postpone


Not a new instructor, I've been having lessons with him since 2019 (lockdown has been delaying things) he told me I was ready.

I understand why he's told me to postpone but I'm still allowed to feel despondent about it.

Try another instructor. Tell them you have a test booked but your current instructor is unavailable that day.

I would try and take the test . You will learn so much more by taking thr test and failing than you will by lesson after lesson ( not trying to be negative , cos fail or pass are the only outcome and either could be likely depending) .