Learning to drive and it's tough - moral support please!

[Lottapianos]

It's hard. One of the hardest things I've ever done. I had a load of lessons as a teen but just got back to it in October, now nearly 40. I know I'm not a total disaster. My awareness is good, my mirrors have got much better. I'm learning to drive in East London which is TOUGH, and I'm doing ok. Every lesson I learn more stuff and feel a tiny bit more confident

But I've been driving our car over the past few days- quiet roads, Christmas - and it's fucking scary. Silly mistakes like grinding gears, staying in 2nd gear too long. Parking still shit. My confidence is far from great. I've been losing sleep over the whole thing

So please, anyone who is learning or who passed in the last year or so, please share tips or commiserate or just share in how scary it all is! I know I will get there but it's bloody hard right now. X

Oh Danni, you're so sweet! And that roundabouts clip was bloody marvellous by the way, made things much clearer and less scary so THANK YOU!

Well done! I passed as a 30 something and have never looked back. Take care though, you really learn to drive after you pass!

I know, still a long way to go and lots to learn

Well done! I was in the same boat as you last year and finally passed in May. Bit late now, but I find chewing gum really helps for nerves - maybe try it anyway when you’re out on your own!

Also YYYY to World Driving videos! He’s an instructor in my area and I am sad I didn’t find him in time to be my instructor. In fact I saw him with a pupil in traffic the other day (I was on my bike) and I couldn’t help grinning at him! He probably thought I was a right idiot. Would recommend his motorway vids now you’re fully fledged :)

Good call on the motorway vids! I still have 5 hours of lessons left and plan to use them for motorways and dual carriageways

I started your thread at the beginning and nodded my way through your journey, in agreement with how bloody hard it is.
I passed at 38, and hated every minute of learning.
Fantastic update, well done to you. It's a really big achievement.
You'll NEVER have to have another lesson, feels good doesn't it!!!

Congrats lotta!! I've been following your thread with interest, as I passed my test at 40, and it was such a hard slog. My instructor felt that older learners were often more cautious than carefree youngsters, although tbh I've always been a cautious person so I'm not sure how much difference it made for me!

I also think that by that age, I was so confident in other areas of life, work, etc, that it was really difficult to do something out of my comfort zone. I used to feel so drained after lessons. Probably because I was so nervous - my instructor suggested taking Rescue Remedy before my test - I didn't have the heart to tell her I was already taking it before every lesson!!

Good luck with your driving - a few quiet roads/familiar routes for practice by yourself to get into it and you'll be grand

Many of us will have been the same. Just keep at it and don't be discouraged.
One day you will realise that you've just driven from A to B while most of your brain will have been thinking about something else entirely - the processes will have become automatic. Or 'smooth grooves' in the brain, as someone once described habitual actions that often seem hard while you're learning them.

'I also think that by that age, I was so confident in other areas of life, work, etc, that it was really difficult to do something out of my comfort zone. '

Oh my god YES! I really struggled with struggling if you know what I mean. And I found the level of potential risk incredibly stressful

Thank you all for lovely comments

@Lottapianos how you getting on? X

Hi danni, planning several long ish drives when insurance comes through in the next few days. I haven't driven since my test and it's been good to have a break from it. Planning to start driving to work the week after next, after a few solo practice drives first. Feeling fairly excited, positive and just a bit nervous!