Sorry another driving thread but I need some reassurance....... or strong medication

[trinn]

Ok here goes, DH has been nagging me for weeks to take him to either clithereo or gisburn markets, I should explain my driving instructor has been nagging me about getting more road time ie driving to places with my DH, who seems to agree.

This is how it normally goes DH will ask me on friday afternoon if I want to go the next day, I say yes and then forget about it, wake up the next day thinking shit I'm supposed to be driving to clitheroe today, and come up with every excuse in the book like 'it's too sunny it will dazzle me', 'it looks like rain', 'I promised the kids I would bake a cake', 'saw a magpie on it's own' etc and end up not doing it, then my DI rolls his eyes at me and so does DH.

So here I am again DH has asked if I could drive to gisburn market tomorrow,and I have said yes, I don't want to chicken out, weekends is the only time I can get any practice as my DH doesn't get home from work until it's dark and I only have one lesson next week.

Gisburn is about 35 minutes away from me all A roads so shouldn't be to bad, I feel sick at the very thought of getting in the car and going.

Help !!!!!!!

[trinn]

should add DH has been driving 20 odd years and is very patient with me

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

You don't sound like you feel ready/confident enough yet.

That stage will come, just it hasn't yet.

How long have you been having lessons? My dad used to take me up to empty car parks, that sort of thing, to practise - where I knew I couldn't hit anything! Actual road practise came later.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

and it sounds a long way. I've been driving on and off for 17 years and I still find 35 miles a long way, and quite tiring/lots of new road systems to negotiate etc.

Can't they let you start with something a bit shorter/more local and familiar?

They shouldn't be pressuring you till you feel confident.

[trinn]

had 8 lessons with my DI, last time I went out with DH (ages ago) I drove around my town which is very unfamiliar in places as I only walk to where I need ie town centre, school run for about 2.5 hours.

My DH has said if my DI didn't feel I could do it then he wouldn't suggest it, and my DI says I'll do it not a problem.

[trinn]

should clarify I've had 8 lessons with my DI, before that 7 lessons with another DI who moved down south so had 15 lessons

[FivePhantomFlowers]

It doesn't sound as if you're ready for it as Eds says.

A bit more practice will do you good, but on local roads at quiet times, not driving 35 miles to another town - that's quite a challenge to some experienced drivers.

[trinn]

it's not 35 miles away it's 35 minutes away according to google maps about 18 miles away

[bluecarrot]

What makes it so dauting? Roundabouts (my fear!) fast moving traffic?

Do you feel unwell getting in car with DI?

2 years ago I was physically sick at the thought of driving, even with DI in dual control car. Then I literally just snapped out of it this summer! 10 x 2 hr lessons later I took my test and passed.

[trinn]

I'm fine with traffic, many of the roads in my town has fast moving traffic and I regularly break the speed limit on lessons have a lot of country roads just out of my town and I'm fine on them, can do roundabouts sort of, my fear I think is that of the unknown, the fear of actually getting into our car and going.

I'll just repeat the mantra 'I will do it, I will do it'

[SophiesMummySaid]

Try driving a dummy run on google earth? It's what I sometimes do when I'm going somewhere unfamiliar

[trinn]

lol tried that and got lost pmsl

[trinn]

told my DH not to let me chicken out of it because I will, I'll post how it goes assuming I'm still alive

[LadyKinbote]

Good luck. You'll feel better once you're actually moving. My advice is to do the same journey lots of times and then move onto another one once you're confident. Otherwise you're in a state of panic every time you drive a car!

[trinn]

cheers lady, got a feeling if I do this journey DH has a lot more up his sleeve

[fabsi77]

Hi trinn, please just practice, it will feel better once you are in the car driving, and much better once you arrive at your destination and realize you have done it :).

I am too, trying to overcome my fear of driving, I got into writing in a blog my "driving assignments" and document what went great and what went not so good so I know what to practice more (beginnerdriver.blogspot.com) It is helping so far, it has only been a week of commuting solo to work and bringing my son to daycare.. I am following ladykinbote approach :)