Advanced driving

[olivethegreat]

Has anyone done any extra driving qualifications? Is pass plus the best one?

I'm becoming increasingly unconfident driving, despite having driven for 20 years. I've never crashed but today ended up in a ditch needing recovery after unwisely going up a country road my car was not suitable for. Feel like a total idiot, loads of walkers passed who were all lovely but clearly thought I was a loon. And dd was with me. The car seemed fine but I think I'm going to get it serviced to make sure.

I drove my dd to school for a year 90 mins each way up a motorway with no issues, so I can drive , but I'm getting too nervous.

I find it really hard to judge distances , so find getting on and off motorways etc quite hard. I struggle on short slip roads. I often hesitate on roundabouts and was rear ended by an impatient driver a few months ago.

I live in the country so I can't do much without driving . I think I'm suffering a massive loss of confidence which could be dangerous so I wonder if some advanced lessons would be a good idea?

I was thinking of just explaining my issues and booking some advanced lessons? Entering dual carriageways and some defensive driving skills maybe?

How is your eyesight, have you been tested recently? I would have some refresher lessons rather than going for advanced and ask the instructor to appraise your driving generally first.

Yes my eyes have been tested recently. I wear glasses for driving but have to take them off to join motorways to judge, but I think that's probably a confidence thing as they aren't even that strong.

Yes I think probably finding an instructor to help bring my skills back up and make me safer is the way to go, and then hopefully taking my skills more in the advanced direction.

Also both today and another time when my brake pads stuck (so not strictly my fault!) the car has badly overheated, so I'm also wondering if I'm driving it badly technically as well as skills wise

My first thought was eyesight too

I wear glasses for driving but have to take them off to join motorways to judge

^ that really doesnt sound right, in fact it sounds dangerous, you shouldnt be messing about with glasses while driving to sort out your vision. Have you told your optician this?

If the car is overheating and the brakes sticking perhaps you should take it to the garage. I'm confused how you ended up in a ditch too, if you didn't crash, did you drive it into the ditch? You could definitely do with some more lessons, and an urgent check on the car, you sound dangerous.