Learning to drive.

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

My instructor went for the breaks too.

I was on a three roundabout and they came flying around the inside lane and and flew straight in front of me and shot past to exit. So they were in the wrong lane, double the speed and just doing what the hell the wanted.

Sounds like they were just wanting to overtake you, but doing it in a very stupid place and like an idiot! I had this happen to me a few times when I first passed my test (I didn’t even have P plates) and I had idiots overtaking me on roundabouts, honestly it was scary!

 

[Doyoureally?]

I failed.

only got two minors and did my manoeuvre well but there is a four lane roundabout in the city centre and a lorry was trying to get in my lane and apparently I didn’t move over to let him in quick enough.

That appears to be a really shitty reason, but it appears you had a really good drive and are clearly very capable! 2 minors

 

[Thank(space)you]

I’ve been learning to drive for a while-confidence is a massive issue for me and I just don’t believe in myself that I can actually drive safely anyway I’ve had 3 instructors. My first one was an absolute knob, he was my mums friends dad and he just wasn’t nice at all, he would go to the shop half way through our lesson and I never felt I was learning anything. ( just to add I was learning automatic at this point because I was so scared of learning in a manual) but anyway I decided enough was enough and that I wanted to learn manual just so I always had that knowledge, my instructor was a family friend, he was okay but I felt like he was putting so much pressure on me, he would sometimes make “jokey” comments about my driving which just made me feel uncomfortable, anyway long story short he came into my house one day after a lesson and told my parents I needed a car for myself as he didn’t have time to teach me (his partner was having a baby) I took a break from driving after that and then started with the instructor I have now who is incredible and understands how I am, my anxiety and confidence with driving ect..

I had two tests last year, one I failed for reverse parallel park, and the other a reverse bay park I actually did the reverse bay park at the end of the test in the test centre, and my instructor said I was actually in the lines, was absolutely fine but then I just doubted myself and readjusted and failed ffs

a big thing for me overall is confidence with driving, I’m just terrified of going wrong, making a mistake, even my instructor says I put too much pressure on myself rather than being more chilled. If anyone has any tips on how to be more confident and comfortable with driving please help a girl out I’m hoping to a book a test soon, have got one in December as that was the earliest I could get, but do want one for end of July/early august, so let’s hope it’s third time lucky or I might give up

Paul mckenna hypnosis app, practicing outside of lessons if you can, rescue remedy

 

[judsmum]

Whereabouts is everyone doing the practising/tests? I’m in Rotherham. To be fair i am closer to Doncaster (which I know better and would prefer) but I have my lessons at 1pm on a Thursday and he picks me up from work which is in Rotherham!

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Driving lesson tomorrow, feeling very despondent about it. Feel like I'm never gonna get there and I'm wasting my money my friends are sick of hearing me moaning about it and have even questioned me whether it's worth me continuing my lessons as I don't enjoy them.

I just want to be done with lessons and be able to drive now

Talk to your instructor and put a plan together of areas you need to work on/improve on - it might help to focus your mind and allow you to feel like you are working on specific things rather than just driving around with no sense of purpose?

 

[Belulah]

Hi, hope everyone is well! I’m still looking my wounds after the fail. I haven’t driven since when normally I drive to work everyday and have my lesson on a Saturday. I just don’t see the point right now.

 

[Doyoureally?]

No problem! I used theory test success. The videos were different unfortunately but very similar! They are like sims type virtual reality videos in the actual test so it’s actually clearer than the ones they use where it’s a camera mounted on a car. X

Thank you so much, made me feel better! Can I ask what app you use? I wondered if they would use the same videos for hazard perception x

 

[nightfeedz]

Congratulations @Belulah yay for you!

I’m in NI and tests and lessons have just started up again, I’ve managed to get a test slot for the end of July but I want to change instructor and am struggling to find someone. I don’t like the added pandemic pressure!

 

[Belulah]

Had a lesson today, only 1 more lesson now until my test. Today's lesson wasn't the best, it wasn't bad at all, and at the end of the lesson she reassured me she has no concerns that I won't pass. It's just my nerves kicking in a bit I think. I was thinking or taking kalms to help a bit in the week before my test. Does anyone think this will help?

I'm more confident with my actual driving than I am with my manoeuvres I'm happy with my parallel parking, and parking on the right. Just not so happy with my bay parking.

Remember with bay parking you can ask to check how straight you are and open your door and have a look. Obviously you have to stay seated. You can also pull out and straighten up as many times as needed .

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Guys I have my first lesson in 7 mins I want to throw up

It’s your first lesson! Relax. Deep breath. Remember you are there to learn, no one is expecting you to know what to do do just chill out and enjoy it

 

[Thank(space)you]

I have my first driving lesson in over 2 years on Monday morning. I had about 10 hours a couple of years ago and gave up as it was another stressor at a time when I was struggling with my MH. I've been on a wait list for ages and now I'm finally able to pick back up I feel so nervous! Not sure how to alleviate nerves but I'm glad I've got a morning slot as at least then it's over and done with for the day rather than me sitting around all day worrying about the lesson

I also need to rebook my theory as that ran out a few months ago.

Good luck!
You're in good company here rescue remedy helps with nerves, as does bananas. Keep breathing and tell your instructor how you're feeling
The DGN driving school videos on you tube are amazing too

 

[justhavinganosie]

My friend failed 3x in an auto, passed 4th time. You can do this!

 

[Magee]

So great to see so many people passing!! Well done everyone

 

[Belulah]

@Pussy Galore You are doing the right thing, at times like we this we need to watch out for each other and it’s best not to put anyone at risk.
Is there a chance for you to visit the building (the outside) with your partner before the test to help your nerves?

 

[Pixipoppy]

I’m 10 months in passing and owning the car and it potentially needs some expensive work doing to it I probably wouldn’t have got a brand new car but get the best that you can afford. I wish we spent a bit more on ours! It’s really put us off buying a ‘second hand’ one again so looking into leasing or finance now and tbh leasing is looking a bit more appealing to us which I didn’t expect!

I second this. I think leasing is a good way to go. My first car only cost £1000 but broke down several times (once on a major slip road which was terrifying). It was just too much stress for me when I’d only been driving a few weeks!! Luckily my second car was ok but you never know what you’re buying. My car clearly had issues before it was sold to me

 

[nightfeedz]

Hi everyone,

At the age of 35, I passed my driving test today. I wanted to share this in case it gives others hope. I always thought that driving wasn’t for me. I never needed it for work and my husband always drove. Last year, my husband passed away after a four year battle with bowel cancer. I suddenly found myself as a widow and sole parent to our beautiful daughter. I knew I needed to learn to drive to be able to give us some freedom. However, it did not come easy to me! I’ve actually had lessons, on and off, for the last ten years. It was only last summer when I finally got stuck in.

I had my test this afternoon as cannot believe I have managed to pass. I was so nervous in the lead up but all those nerves disappeared as soon as I started the test. I feel like I barely have any recollection of doing the test and couldn’t even tell you which roads I went down. I guess I was very ‘in the zone’.

I literally think that, if I can pass, then anyone can. And I sincerely mean that!

I’m now nervous because I’m going to have to buy a car and go for my first solo drive before contending with a sassy five year old in the back!
If you’re nervous, keep going! x

Congratulations on passing your test, thank you for sharing x

 

[Kim Mild]

I had one instructor in a manual car. He got on my nerves so I stopped going. We needed to travel down south so I decided I needed to pass my test quickly. I got an automatic instructor and passed my test within about 6 weeks. It was good because all you have to learn really is the rules of the road and so on as the car is literally start stop. I would recommend it. Even my partner who is used to manuals always says he would always get an automatic because it just makes no sense to get a manual.

I keep seeing cars ilike that happen to be automatic, but I can't get my head around them cos I've always driven manuals . I stall the car I have now fairly often , considering how long I've been driving for , but I blame the car cos I didn't have that problem in my previous cars .

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Thank you so much for taking the time to offer your advice. I didn't see your first message until now but I did make him aware that I am struggling with the steering. I feel like he is taking over at times because he can tell I'm anxious and slow at reading the road but I don't think that's helping me learn. I don't think the lesson was great unfortunately but he said my pedalwork is good and the steering is getting a bit better. I don't feel like it is much better because he spent most of the lesson with with hand on the steering wheel which doesn't help me as such. :/ I wish I had access to a car to practice when I'm not having lessons but that's not possible for me. I'm having 2 lessons next week one on Tuesday and one on Saturday so I'm hoping 3 hours in total will help me feel a bit more confident. I don't really feel like I'm learning that much because the steering isn't coming to me but my driving instructor seems to think if I had started lessons when I was a bit younger that would have helped but I don't think so as I've always been quite an anxious person. I'm unsure as to whether I should carry on or just quit for now.

Change instructors.

Is the official theory test app worth buying? Mines in a month or so and I don’t know whether to get it or not

Definitely. That’s all I used and flew through my test.

 

[Snippysnips]

I told the examinee every time. I said "I'm checking my mirrors now" before/as I checked them. Got 4 minors but none of them were for observations

Yeah I kept trying to remeber to move my head to let them see, some of them can be super critical than others so somtimes it's down to the actual examiner, I ended up with 2 minors on my test an he said it was cause he felt a clean sheet would be suspicious so I got one for unnecessary indicating because I indicated an there wasnt a car around an another for being a bit slow taking my foot off the clutch

 

[Belulah]

My instructor told me currently it’s 17 weeks waiting time for our local test centre (Suffolk)- which means people can not actually book as the calendar on the website only shows 16 weeks ahead.