How do you steer a car?!

[Berryberryberry]

I know that sounds stupid. I had a driving lesson today and I couldn't work out were I should be in the road or how to get the car to stay there. The instructor spent a lot of time adjusting my steering. I have Dyspraxia and can't visualise things. I feel like I'm never going to do it because I don't understand how.

This probably isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m ten lessons in and still struggling to steer. I’m not diagnosed but almost certain I’m dyspraxic

He should have told Roy how to line up etc?

I think it's one of those things you can overthink. Can you steer a bike?

Told YOU, not Roy.

I read the title of this thread as 'How do you steal a car?' and thought wow, Mumsnet is picking up tonight

No advise either way OP, sorry!

Do you know any dyspraxia online communities to ask there? It sounds like a problem specific to that to me and not sure if you'll get as many people who can advise here.

do you ride a bike?

Look where you and the car are heading for.

Test and see how manipulating the steering wheel affects that.

As a general rule, if you take both hands off the steering wheel and drive forwards the car should go straight before veering gently off to the left (to safely dump you out of the path of other road users I suspect!) So when you drive straight you will normally be pulling the wheel ever so slightly to the right.

To keep the car straight, focus your view further down the road. Don’t try and steer in between the lines, focus on where you want to go.

To go around a corner, pull the wheel very slightly in that direction and then hold it. The car will respond quickly. You will rarely have to pull the wheel too far off centre except when parking. The wheel will start to feel like it is gently pulling itself straight as you come out of the corner. Kind of hard to explain, but don’t be alarmed, panic and counter steer. Slow and small movements should get you through the majority of road driving.

Yes I can ride a bike though that took some going. Instructor told me I need to "feel" where the car needs to be. Except I have no idea what he means by that.

Look ahead into the distance and adjust the steering? Like others asked, do you cycle or scoot? You turn towards where you want to go but don’t oversteer.

Oh I see. You will feel it once you know how the car handles.

Make sure you look ahead not at the bonnet/just in front of the car.

You steer in the direction your looking, firstly relax, on a straight road let your eyes look down the middle of the lane you're in and your hands on the wheel will follow your eyes.
Turning corners will come with practice when you get used to the width of the car.
You're over thinking it, think about walking down the street, your legs follow your eyes.
Learning to drive is difficult but you will pick it up.
That makes perfect sense to me 😉

When you're learning to drive you tend to fixate on the bit of road just beyond the bonnet. Try looking down the road where you're going, should make steering easier and smoother.

I had this same problem when I started lessons because I rode a motorbike and was used to being in the middle of the vehicle. I relentlessly used the side mirrors to check my position in the road. Every time I checked the rear view mirror, i’d check the side mirrors. Maybe every 10-20 seconds. It now comes naturally. My test is in December.

Good luck!!

You're probably not looking far enough ahead. Don't look at the bonnet of the car. Keep your gaze up and look further ahead on the road. That should help.

It seems more natural to steer a scooter or bike though I suppose because you aren't inside them? No idea if that makes any sense. And also you aren't sat in the middle of the car so centering the car seems much harder

I think it's just a case of getting used to it by driving around empty car parks and industrial estates. Your driving instructor doesn't sound hugely helpful so you could always change if you are still struggling after a couple more lessons.

Yes a bike or scooter is much easier because your hands are placed at the far left and far right of the vehicle, and you can tell where your own hands are!

You will have to adjust your visual in the road, you no doubt feel weird because you would normally be in the passenger seat.

You’ll get there! Most of us had our steering adjusted when learning to drive.

One other thing I tend to watch where the central white lines hit the bonnet of the car - so you can judge from that perspective.

@pigeonpies

Maybe it's best if you stop learning now. Safer for everyone on the roads! I see enough idiot drivers around who can't drive properly and near misses, we don't need someone who can't keep a car straight knocking a poor kid off his bike.

What a stupid reply. I assume on your first lesson you could just drive no trouble then?

@BluebellsGreenbells

One other thing I tend to watch where the central white lines hit the bonnet of the car - so you can judge from that perspective.

Thank you that's a really good tip