Driving

[Hopeless1886]

Hi all.

I’m learning to drive, have done around 15 lessons and I’m really not enjoying it I wish I was! I’m rubbish, can’t get the hang o the clutch and constantly changing gears, then I panic! I feel like I’m wasting money, but I need to drive. Wish I’d done it years ago before I had children. Did anyone else feel like this? Am I the only one?

I've just had a look at how many lessons people typically have before passing a driving test, and the answer came back between 40 and 50 hours.
I learned to drive as soon as I turned 18; I wouldn’t have the nerve to do it now so kudos to you. I do remember hating driving lessons and thinking I'd never be able to do it. I use to grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were white.

You will get better; it may just click one day. Hang on in there!

I meant 17.

Have you thought about trying an automatic?

I second the automatic idea. Far easier. No pesky gears or clutch control to worry about!

Another suggestion of an automatic. It's far easier to get on with the actual driving skills without worrying about the clutch and gears.

I was completely like this, honestly I was and everyone told me to my annoyance that it would bloody click and I just couldn’t get it and one lesson my instructor made me cry

I changed driving instructor to one I was much more comfortable with and it did click!!

I passed first time about 6 months ago and now own a pretty big car and drove a 5 hour round journey alone at the weekend!

Honestly it does get better. I used to cry before my lessons and shake and have nervous toilet trips

Stick with it. I wish I’d done it at 17 now but I did it!! Took about 9 months at 2 hours a week and I was insured on my partners car and drove with him.

Good luck, it’s so horrible until it suddenly works

Also, I actually found driving with the radio on when you’re comfortable massively helpful. It stopped me overthinking every move. Driving is movements more than thinking where your hand and feet should be. It will become automatic.