Another terrible driving lesson!

[Bardotdot]

What's wrong with me? I seem to turn into the doziest person on earth behind wheel. In life in general I'm sensible and intelligent but behind the wheel I feel like a different person. I have had lots of lessons now, enough to be putting in for my test, but making silly mistakes. Every time I get in the car I vow to have a good lesson and do most things right but I still do stupid mistakes!!

I'll give you an example:

Today we were driving and I noticed the screen in my car (electric automatic) said 60 and I thought we were in a 30 zone. I hadn't noticed signs for 30 but I just assumed it was 30 because of the type of area it was. The screen in the car is hardly ever wrong with its speed limit signs. I immediately started speeding up and my instructor said 'why are you doing 37 in a 30?' I said the screen said 60. She asked if I had seen signs for 60 and I said no. But I also hadn't seen signs for 30 either I'd just guessed.

To explain what was happening in my mind, I just assumed I must have missed the signs that said 60 which is why I speeded up. I had also glanced in the mirror and seen the driver behind me was very close and looked annoyed at about the same time I noticed the screen saying 60 so I suppose I thought he's wondering why I'm doing 30 in a 60 area!!!

It's not that I am not thinking - I may be thinking too much.

Does anyone else have this happen after a lot of driving lessons?

I am thinking about forgetting it altogether as I appear to have the driver gene missing.

I learned in my late 20s and found it incredibly hard, there were many tears after lessons, I thought I'd never learn. It wasn't until the lesson before my test that I finally felt like I'd maybe finally got it, and somehow passed first time (when the examiner told me I'd passed I burst into hysterical laughter and exclaimed 'you must be joking!').

Regarding speed signs: as a rule of thumb, if you don’t see a sign saying otherwise then you assume it’s a 30 limit. People behind you who look annoyed either have resting bitch face or are just annoyed because you’re a learner.

When you’re learning you’re concentrating on so many things at once that you will find it a bit overwhelming. Just make sure that you’re following everything you know and you’ll get through the test - after which is when you actually really start learning to drive!

I'm the same. I cant drive straight and do not understand reference points. I also seem to do lessons when there are loads are cars tail gating me. My last lesson left me with a sweaty arse because of all the nerves.

I had 3 instructors and 5 practical tests (1 theory)
I found I was just like a different person behind the wheel be it nerves or what I was absolutely shocking... but it does get better and I feel I’m a better driver for all of the mistakes and failed practical driving tests :) it will fall into place for you OP.
Don’t be disheartened.. sincerely a once clumsy driver :)

Oh Hardasnails

There just seems to much to think about . I don't think my brain works fast enough.

It's so embarrassing to people literally decades younger seeming to sail through it. I am in my early 50's - perhaps that's part of the problem?

What do you mean by the screen in the car, do you mean the navigation system, if so never use that for the speed limit, always follow the road signs. Ignore the car behind some people like to be a dick and try and intimidate learner drivers.

Don't be so hard on yourself!! What would be the point in having lessons if you were born perfectly able to drive and knowing everything? EVERYONE else on the road has had to learn EVERYTHING you are learning now. Today you learned that the speeds your car shows are not always accurate, and that you should totally ignore that tool until well after your test. The fact is YOU had guaged the limit the correctly because you've already learned how to, well done you! The car was wrong and threw you off, now you've learned to ignore it. On to the next lesson!

FAQ Yes the navigation system. Won't do that mistake in future - hopefully!

I can’t make any sense of your post whatever! (But I can drive!)

I'm 28 and have been learning for 18 months I have found it very difficult and find it frustrating and embarassing when it seems everyone else around me doesn't struggle.

I failed my second test last week for approaching junctions too quickly. I also failed at the end of October for the same thing. My instructor is always telling me I'm approaching junctions to quickly. Between my last 2 tests we practiced this loads and no matter how many times he goes through the routine with me I always end up messing up. Its so so so frustrating I cried all the way home from my last test because I was just so annoyed with myself.

Newcatmum

I don't understand why we do it! I haven't cried yet but I have definitely been close. I feel like the harder I try the worse I get and yes, as you say, so damned annoyed with myself!

Another example:

Today we were driving along and a bus pulled into the stop. It was sticking into the road a bit further than it should due to another vehicle being parked. I could see it was ok for me to drive straight past ( it wasn't moving off and there was enough room around it on the other side of the road) but wanted to show the instructor that I had noticed the bus and considered the implications so slowed down very slightly as we approached it. She said there's plenty of room to get past, he's not moving etc. I thought 'yes, I know!!'

She must despair of me.

Bardotdot

I'm actually proud of myself that I've only actually cried after one of my failed tests and another time during a lesson which I ended up taking a 10 week break after as I couldn't keep doing it to myself!

How are you finding your instructor? Do you think it would be worth looking for another? I see this recommended quite a lot on threads like this and a lot of people say changing instructor has helped them. It wouldn't help in my situation my instructor is brilliant and I can't fault him at all he has the patience of a saint with me. Even after I failed my second test I was crying to him that I felt I let him down (he has given me some lessons for free due to my financial situation) but he just kept saying he's still proud of me as this time I only got 1 fault rather than 2 like the first time .