Learning to drive.

[Thank(space)you]

What’s making you resent them? Do you not feel like you are getting anything out of them now?

I just feel like I'm so ready for my test (it's booked for end of Sept) my instructor has had no critique for the last 2 weeks.
However he keeps telling me I need to be out practicing daily (which isn't feasible) in the back of my mind I wonder if he's gearing up to postponing my September test too

 

[Thank(space)you]

Oh god I am feeling more and more pressure to pass in July cos otherwise I’m gonna have months to wait for my next test

Thats how I feel with my test at the end of June

 

[Thank(space)you]

I've lurked on this thread loads and used to see the manual/automatic debate

I used to be a very nervous driver. I passed in a manual, drove 200mi a week commuting in a manual, but the idea of driving outside of my comfort zone used to stress me out to the point of crying.

Two weeks ago I bought an automatic and I LOVE driving, why didn't I do this sooner?! I'm up and down the mway and just driving out to all sorts of new places.

If anyone here is a nervous driver and gets scared - I've been there, and please try an automatic before disregarding driving altogether

May I ask what it is about the manual thats given you this boost?

 

[LaurieLaurie]

DVSA say new tests are released throughout the day on Mondays.

 

[Kim Mild]

Are toilets at test centres open now? I always need a nervy wee when I’m anxious!

The centre I did my test at didn't even have toilets.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Driving lesson today. Another block of 10 to buy. I really can't afford for my test to be postponed again

Why do you need to buy a block of 10?

 

[under the ivy]

I pay £280 for 10 hours. I put £200 in my DL fund every month and £200 in my car fund. I've had to dip into my DL fund this month due to vets fees

I read the other day the pass rate in my area is only 36% But tbh most areas are under 50% so it's quite normal I suppose. My test route is one of the worst apparently as it's in a city and there's soooo many roundabouts! My test is next week, I'm bloody terrified

The pass rate for my test centre is 47%, I think that's average?! I was reading reviews the other day and people are saying they fail you for minors so that's got me worried. Best of luck for your test! x

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Yep I’ll be fuming! As will everyone else lol

Im desperately hoping to find a cancellation for this summer but since the cases have started to rise I’ve noticed less short notice cancellations popping up

 

[Raymond Luxury-Yacht]

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 an lesson on Tuesday and then the same 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.

I’m in no position to tell you what to do, but a lot of people have some minor issues when learning to drive that seem like huge problems at first but actually aren’t problems at all. It’s not rocket science, just a skill, and practice does make perfect! I watched Youtube videos after my driving lessons to figure out the things my DI could not or did not want to explain. I found it very helpful when I needed someone to repeat the explanation over and over again.

Good luck, I know you can do it!

 

[Ef27]

You will get there, don’t be disheartened. Just think of it as more practice. I know how you mush feel, but keep going xx


Awww, 15 lessons is nothing! To be honest I probably had over a hundred. And that’s no exaggeration! Not that you will need that many! But I kept stop/ starting the lessons because I got disheartened. So just keep pushing through and you will get there xx


You will get there, maybe use some cbt for when you hear that word. If you ever see the speakmans on tv, they have this trick of pressing this part of your hand that can calm you down when you feel anxious. Maybe try that when you another mock. Just keep going, don’t be disheartened. X


You did bloody amazing!!!! Well done! City centres are horrific when you have passed let alone doing a test!! You should be very proud of yourself with 2 minors! It won’t be long until you pass at this rate! Well done xxx

Thank you

 

[Lollypad]

In London I was paying £23/hour if I booked a block of ten (I guess there’s a lot of instructors around so have to be competitive?). We’ve moved and I’m fairly rural now so paying £28/hour. Im fortunate that I think I’ll only need another 15-20 to get my confidence back up

 

[openbook1]

I would not trust to get in a car with someone who openly talks about these things. Also for the most part he is teaching young adults. I would be worried


It is harassment. He is probably teaching persons as young as 17 as well. There is something seriously wrong with him to openly talk about that

He likely knows where they live too. Creepy.

 

[TheGlossy]

If your only issue and barrier to passing your test is related to gear work and all other aspects of your ability to operate the car and drive safely on public roads etc and you want to drive an automatic car etc then it’s a no brainer, obviously just go for it.

The gear is definitely the issue. The assessors both told me my observation is great, but the gear management still needs a lot of work. After all these lessons (about 4 hours per week), I think it's time to forget about the manual. Most people told me they passed their test in manual though currently driving automatic and they would never go back to manual. I think going automatic would certainly relieve me from all the gear work and allow me to just focus on observation/driving. There's to much to manage with a gear.

 

[Thank(space)you]

I’m flying through my lessons but still no tests available in my area. My instructor said I would have passed January this year if it wasn’t for the lockdowns

How frustrating for you!

 

[LaurieLaurie]

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

Well done

 

[jawidjanqndn]

got my first lesson next month.. any tips? i am a very anxious person.

 

[Dancing Dave]

learnt in & now drive a manual.

Can I ask - you said it’s an easier option to learn in an automatic,but it doesn’t sound like you’ve ever had any experience in driving yet, you might be surprised that actually a manual
Car really isn’t hard to learn in. I think a lot of people put a huge emphasis on changing gears as being some sort of barrier to learning to drive but actually once you’ve learnt how to do it, you can do it. I think the more difficult aspect of learning to drive is getting everything else right - trusting your judgment, being aware of what’s going on, speed, manoeuvres etc

I’m not saying you are wrong or whatever I’m just interested as to why lots of people see a manual car as hard to learn in.

Ive had plenty of conversations with friends and family and have actually tried driving before albeit a long time ago. It’s just a personal choice for me!

 

[Hope96]

How many lessons have you had?

So far...
1 x 1 hrs
3 x 1.5 hours

I just don't like to not get things first time which is a bit silly especially when learning to drive but it's getting me down if I'm honest.

 

[Kim Mild]

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.

Try a different instructor

 

[Fortheloveofme]

Stop putting this enormous pressure on yourself! Just relax. If you pass - wonderful. If you don’t pass then no drama, just take it again.

I know but my theory expires about 10 days after test