Learning to drive.

I drove one of the test routes yesterday (my test centre has 2 possible routes) and it was quite difficult! It might have been the time of day I was driving (school pick-up time) but there was cars cutting across me and trying to overtake. I kept my cool though and my DI said I drive very well I have another lesson on Friday but I'm really pleased with my progress.

Has anyone managed to change their test date to an earlier one? I want to have a look and see if I can move mine forward from November but I'm worried I'll lose my date!

under the ivy said:

I drove one of the test routes yesterday (my test centre has 2 possible routes) and it was quite difficult! It might have been the time of day I was driving (school pick-up time) but there was cars cutting across me and trying to overtake. I kept my cool though and my DI said I drive very well I have another lesson on Friday but I'm really pleased with my progress.

Has anyone managed to change their test date to an earlier one? I want to have a look and see if I can move mine forward from November but I'm worried I'll lose my date!

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I paid for the premium version of the Testi app and I’ve got a test three months earlier but you just can check via the official booking website without it affecting the date you have. They constantly put extra tests on there, I saw some for this month and July but you’ve got to hit lucky.

Log in with your driver numbers and click change test. Show earliest available and if there isn’t any you want it doesn’t affect your booking.

under the ivy said:

I drove one of the test routes yesterday (my test centre has 2 possible routes) and it was quite difficult! It might have been the time of day I was driving (school pick-up time) but there was cars cutting across me and trying to overtake. I kept my cool though and my DI said I drive very well I have another lesson on Friday but I'm really pleased with my progress.

Has anyone managed to change their test date to an earlier one? I want to have a look and see if I can move mine forward from November but I'm worried I'll lose my date!

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Only 2 possible routes!? Where I live there’s 20 possible routes

I would beseech anyone thinking of giving up to stick with it. I have hundreds of hours of lessons, 5 instructors, failed three theory and three practicals but I passed. I can’t tell you how euphoric it felt when you pass- and how completely life changing it is!

I’m not being hyperbolic using the word “beseech”-I’m passionate that everyone can pass because I did and my God I was not born to drive!

Guys I just have to say to anyone who absolutely hates their lessons/is terrified of driving, I PROMISE you will get there. It may take some people longer than others but it WILL come naturally at some point and I can’t believe it’s me saying it tbh!

I’ve posted on this thread a lot but as a bit of background I’m 29 and first started having lessons when I was 19! Then I went to uni so stopped for 3 years and since then due to money, anxiety, cataract surgery, moving to a new city and covid, my lessons have been stop start stop start stop start. I’ve always hated driving and over the years I’ve had 5 different instructors.

I started with my current instructor in early 2020 and I dreaded every single lesson, I’d even cancel lessons and make up excuses cos I just hated it. Then covid happened and I resumed my lessons with her again in august 2020 and out of nowhere on my first lesson back my confidence just really increased. I was still dreading lessons though and was a very nervous driver, just not as bad! Anyway then the 3rd lockdown happened and I resumed lessons again in April then bought myself a car. My first lesson back in April I felt SO sick, I bought rescue remedy pastilles but it went really well and over the coming weeks I dreaded my lessons less and less and my confidence just increased more and more.

So now it’s June, my test is in a couple of weeks and I am a completely different driver to even 2 months ago! I don’t even have nerves anymore (apart from when I panic when I stall ). But in my own car with my bf I’ve been doing all the huge spiral roundabouts in my city (there’s loads!) and all the A roads and dual carriageways doing 70mph when 2 months ago I was scared to go over 30mph!!! Trust me one day it’ll just click and come to you and you’ll be a different person on the road and that’s me now! I never ever ever thought I’d be in this position with my driving and am so proud of myself for not giving up and really pushing myself.

So to anyone reading this all I want to say is I PROMISE you can do it, it just takes time

Just gotta control my nerves now on my test day

Hope everyone is doing well.

I’ve just come back from a lesson - I feel a bit flat after it tbh! I did nothing wrong but my DI kept taking the wheel and she’s never done that before. I wasn’t in the way or making errors, just made me feel a bit off!

Otherwise, I’m doing well. I keep looking for a test cancellation but no luck.

under the ivy said:

Hope everyone is doing well.

I’ve just come back from a lesson - I feel a bit flat after it tbh! I did nothing wrong but my DI kept taking the wheel and she’s never done that before. I wasn’t in the way or making errors, just made me feel a bit off!

Otherwise, I’m doing well. I keep looking for a test cancellation but no luck.

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Get the Testi app. I’ve managed to move mine from November to August, they are constantly adding dates

My lesson was a bit meh this morning, I got a telling off but we have enough banter to laugh it off.

I’m having a panic. My test is in about two weeks and I am having a crisis of confidence. I’m cutting it quite fine with my theory test expiration and I don’t think I’ll be able to push back the date.

I don’t even know why I’m posting, I know I have to do it and try my best. I just wish my confidence wasn’t so bloody fragile

nightfeedz said:

I’m having a panic. My test is in about two weeks and I am having a crisis of confidence. I’m cutting it quite fine with my theory test expiration and I don’t think I’ll be able to push back the date.

I don’t even know why I’m posting, I know I have to do it and try my best. I just wish my confidence wasn’t so bloody fragile

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My DI said a bad lesson is normal before the test x

nightfeedz said:

I’m having a panic. My test is in about two weeks and I am having a crisis of confidence. I’m cutting it quite fine with my theory test expiration and I don’t think I’ll be able to push back the date.

I don’t even know why I’m posting, I know I have to do it and try my best. I just wish my confidence wasn’t so bloody fragile

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Just stop over thinking it. Seriously, take the pressure off. Don’t go into it thinking of it as “a test” or that you have to pass it. Just view it like a lesson; go in, listen to what’s being asked of you, drive, do your best and try to relax into it and see what happens - if you pass then fantastic but if you don’t pass then no worries, youll just book it again and you’ll know what to expect the next time, just take the pressure off - the world is not going to fall of its axis, it’s not the end of the world, it’s fine!!!

Belulah said:

I would beseech anyone thinking of giving up to stick with it. I have hundreds of hours of lessons, 5 instructors, failed three theory and three practicals but I passed. I can’t tell you how euphoric it felt when you pass- and how completely life changing it is!

I’m not being hyperbolic using the word “beseech”-I’m passionate that everyone can pass because I did and my God I was not born to drive!

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Oh thanks for that. I'm going to be starting lessons again soon. It's been about 6 years since I last had any lessons, I think my last instructor put me off but thought it's time to start again. I always feel so nervous for lessons, eeek!

BettyCrockerr said:

Just stop over thinking it. Seriously, take the pressure off. Don’t go into it thinking of it as “a test” or that you have to pass it. Just view it like a lesson; go in, listen to what’s being asked of you, drive, do your best and try to relax into it and see what happens - if you pass then fantastic but if you don’t pass then no worries, youll just book it again and you’ll know what to expect the next time, just take the pressure off - the world is not going to fall of its axis, it’s not the end of the world, it’s fine!!!

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I don’t know, my first test I drove into two wing mirrors and had a huge panic attack. I can’t shake the thought I’m going to kill someone or myself every time I drive.

I know you mean well and I appreciate it. Unfortunately I can’t just stop overthinking. I know it’s not like this for everyone so your advice may be helpful for others. The only thing I can do to beat this driving anxiety is keep facing up to it but it is hard.

Belulah said:

My DI said a bad lesson is normal before the test x

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This makes sense. I’ll give it a go.

nightfeedz said:

I don’t know, my first test I drove into two wing mirrors and had a huge panic attack. I can’t shake the thought I’m going to kill someone or myself every time I drive.

I know you mean well and I appreciate it. Unfortunately I can’t just stop overthinking. I know it’s not like this for everyone so your advice may be helpful for others. The only thing I can do to beat this driving anxiety is keep facing up to it but it is hard.



This makes sense. I’ll give it a go.

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Have you seen your GP? You could get anti anxiety medication to help? Or try hypnosis? you just need something to help you gain control over your emotions around it - but you’ll get there, you’ll be fine

BettyCrockerr said:

Have you seen your GP? You could get anti anxiety medication to help? Or try hypnosis? you just need something to help you gain control over your emotions around it - but you’ll get there, you’ll be fine

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I had a anti anxiety tablet I took one to see if it would effect my driving then one an hour before my test. I can’t remember what they are called- I’ll check and update my post.

I've been meaning to reply back to some of the lovely replies for a few days now but keep forgetting to do so but thank you everyone. I will respond properly later on today. x

I have a lesson at 10:30 and I just really am considering cancelling. I really don't want to have my lesson today and I feel really negative about it all after last weekend. I have zero confidence or faith in myself right now.

Hope96 said:

I've been mean to reply back to some of the lovely replies for a few days now but keep forgetting to do so but thank you everyone. I will respond properly later on today. x
I have a lesson at 10:30 and I just really am considering cancelling. I really don't want to have my lesson today and I feel really negative about it all after last weekend. I have zero confidence or faith in myself right now.

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How many lessons have you had? If it’s early days just put your trust into your instructor and listen to their instructions, they should be talking you though every step if you are unsure.

LaurieLaurie said:

How many lessons have you had? If it’s early days just put your trust into your instructor and listen to their instructions, they should be talking you though every step if you are unsure.

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Thank you for your reply. It'll be my 5th lesson today and fair play to my instructor he does his best to talk me through the steps but I just don't think driving is coming to me as quickly it does to some people. I am struggling with the steering and that's one of the main part of driving so I am feeling pretty useless. I don't really feel like I'm learning very much in my lessons which are 1.5 hours each time either. I've been feeling anxious and dread since waking up.

Hope96 said:

Thank you for your reply. It'll be my 5th lesson today and fair play to my instructor he does his best to talk me through the steps but I just don't think driving is coming to me as quickly it does to some people. I am struggling with the steering and that's one of the main part of driving so I am feeling pretty useless. I don't really feel like I'm learning very much in my lessons which are 1.5 hours each time either. I've been feeling anxious and dread since waking up.

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What is it about the steering that you are struggling with?

BettyCrockerr said:

What is it about the steering that you are struggling with?

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I genuinely just don't know when to steer or when I do it's too late according to my driving instructor. He also takes over a lot so I don't have time to think but he said I need to think quicker. :/ I was driving in the middle of the road a few times last week and about to go into a parked car at one point because I genuinely just can't tell when to steer so I understand where he is coming from. I didn't realise how often you have to steer either and that it is small, gentle steers the majority of the time. I must come across as so stupid!

Hope96 said:

I genuinely just don't know when to steer or when I do it's too late according to my driving instructor. He also takes over a lot so I don't have time to think but he said I need to think quicker. :/ I was driving in the middle of the road a few times last week and about to go into a parked car at one point because I genuinely just can't tell when to steer so I understand where he is coming from. I didn't realise how often you have to steer either and that it is small, gentle steers the majority of the time. I must come across as so stupid!

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Ask him to talk you through when to steer and turn etc. It took me months for the penny to drop over steering when I reverse park but it dropped in the end.