Learning to drive.

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

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!

I agree. I didn’t start having lessons until I was 22, because up until that point, I was terrified of even being a passenger in a car and I was always adamant I didn’t want to drive.

I had around six months worth of lessons with my first instructor and I had to stop, my anxiety wasn’t getting any better and while my driving was okay, I didn’t feel like my confidence was making any progress.

I found a new instructor pretty soon after and had lessons for nearly another year and I still struggled with confidence, but I got better.

I had my first driving test a year and a half after I first started lessons and I failed my test because the examiner took me on a slip road and I hadn’t done slip roads in any of my lessons…. I kind of felt cheated as the examiner actually said I was a brilliant driver and he was sad to fail me…

Fast forward to a month later, I took my second test and passed. When I first bought my car, the confidence didn’t come straight away and I had to drive with my partner in the passenger seat the first few times, but that was almost two years ago now and I’m confident and enjoying driving now.

it will happen, believe in yourselves!

 

[BettyCrockerr]

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!

Right - when you get in the car today, before you start the car - tell your instructor that you are really struggling with steering and ask that you spend today’s lesson just focusing on that, ask if he can take you somewhere like an empty car park or somewhere you can practise moving the car around to get you used to how the car responds to you moving the wheel. It probably also that your not used to the dimensions of the car so your not aware where the car body is in relation to the road or what’s on the road, but again this is something that takes practice and you’ll need to ask your instructor to let you practice this if your not sure.

I agree. I didn’t start having lessons until I was 22, because up until that point, I was terrified of even being a passenger in a car and I was always adamant I didn’t want to drive.

I had around six months worth of lessons with my first instructor and I had to stop, my anxiety wasn’t getting any better and while my driving was okay, I didn’t feel like my confidence was making any progress.

I found a new instructor pretty soon after and had lessons for nearly another year and I still struggled with confidence, but I got better.

I had my first driving test a year and a half after I first started lessons and I failed my test because the examiner took me on a slip road and I hadn’t done slip roads in any of my lessons…. I kind of felt cheated as the examiner actually said I was a brilliant driver and he was sad to fail me…

Fast forward to a month later, I took my second test and passed. When I first bought my car, the confidence didn’t come straight away and I had to drive with my partner in the passenger seat the first few times, but that was almost two years ago now and I’m confident and enjoying driving now.

it will happen, believe in yourselves!

Agree with all of this.

driving is a skill that takes time to learn, and actually you only really start learning to drive after you’ve passed the test and are out on your own in your own car. I think it’s just getting hours down driving as much as you can, I never had a car or my own or access to another car to learn in ontop of my lessons but i think that would have helped

 

[BettyCrockerr]

@Hope96 how was your lesson this morning?

 

[Raymond Luxury-Yacht]

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

I don’t really post here because I already have my licence but I just wanted to say that it’s quite common to feel this way before your test because learning to drive is an overwhelming experience. I was the same because I absolutely hate exams and all the stress that comes with them. I was anxious. However, once I got there, my anxiety started to feel more under control because I understood there was no other way out.

I’m sure you can do it! Good luck!

 

[nightfeedz]

Argh. Thanks all. And love to others feeling so anxious.

I’m actually on long term anxiety medication but maybe it’s worth looking into beta blockers or something, not sure if I can take them but reading back on my last post yeah that is quite an intense level of anxiety I’ve tried hypnosis too actually and it has helped to a point. Would love another session before my test but sometimes this learning to drive feels like pouring cash down the drain.

The pressure of there being no tests and my theory expiring is just getting to me. I’ll get through it. Thanks x

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Argh. Thanks all. And love to others feeling so anxious.

I’m actually on long term anxiety medication but maybe it’s worth looking into beta blockers or something, not sure if I can take them but reading back on my last post yeah that is quite an intense level of anxiety I’ve tried hypnosis too actually and it has helped to a point. Would love another session before my test but sometimes this learning to drive feels like pouring cash down the drain.

The pressure of there being no tests and my theory expiring is just getting to me. I’ll get through it. Thanks x

Keep checking, they’re adding tests constantly. Monday/Tuesday is usually when they add the most.

 

[Belulah]

Argh. Thanks all. And love to others feeling so anxious.

I’m actually on long term anxiety medication but maybe it’s worth looking into beta blockers or something, not sure if I can take them but reading back on my last post yeah that is quite an intense level of anxiety I’ve tried hypnosis too actually and it has helped to a point. Would love another session before my test but sometimes this learning to drive feels like pouring cash down the drain.

The pressure of there being no tests and my theory expiring is just getting to me. I’ll get through it. Thanks x

I took beta blockers alongside setraline

 

[Hope96]

Right - when you get in the car today, before you start the car - tell your instructor that you are really struggling with steering and ask that you spend today’s lesson just focusing on that, ask if he can take you somewhere like an empty car park or somewhere you can practise moving the car around to get you used to how the car responds to you moving the wheel. It probably also that your not used to the dimensions of the car so your not aware where the car body is in relation to the road or what’s on the road, but again this is something that takes practice and you’ll need to ask your instructor to let you practice this if your not sure.

@Hope96 how was your lesson this morning?

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.

 

[Very traditional]

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.

Keep at it, like Betty said driving is a skill that takes. Practice. There are steering tutorials on YouTube that might be worth a look at, I think you can practice along with them. Also, it could be that the instructor isn't right for you; having the right instructor helps so much, if yours just takes the wheel instead of really getting to grips with the issue it isn't going to help you. Best of luck to you, you will bet there. I was 32 when I passed my test and I really regret not doing it sooner.

 

[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!

 

[BettyCrockerr]

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.

Please don’t quit. It just takes time to learn to drive. I think it sometimes seems that people pick it up really quickly and have a few lessons and that’s it, and maybe for some it does come more easily but I actually found it took me ages to learn to drive. My weakness when I was learning was judging the speeds of other cars and learning to multi task - for example going into busy roundabouts with heavy fast traffic - i found it hard to judge when to pull out and found it hard to get quick enough at pulling away onto the roundabout etc but it just takes repetitive practice over a long period of time.

 

[under the ivy]

I found steering hard too. I thought that would be the easy part! I used to oversteer on turns and on roundabouts. It all takes practice and time.

 

[megx]

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

 

[Thank(space)you]

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

Absolutely

 

[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.

 

[Thank(space)you]

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

 

[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?

 

[Thank(space)you]

Why do you need to buy a block of 10?

It's cheaper buying a block of 10 than it is buying each session individually, And my test has been postponed until September so definitely gonna have more than 10 sessions in between now and then

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Mine sells blocks of ten but it doesn’t work out any cheaper so I pay weekly.

How much does everyone pay for an hour? Mines £18.

 

[FishCustard]

My lessons are £30 an hour