Anyone learn to drive 30's+

[Oldlearner]

Just wondering if anyone can share some wisdom on learning to drive when a little bit older?

I'm mid 30's, two kids under 4 and really need to drive.

I did learn early 20's got almost test standard and stopped now i've gone back to it im so nervous and anxious.

I've had around 10hrs of tution and feel my confidence is massively holding me back. It's like i'm over thinking.
Can anyone relate or have anything helpful they can share?

I did a practice run the night before tonthe childminders and to work.

Yes tried on and of from 17 .Gave up age 30 then had accident so back burner
Started again age 43 using hand controls and leaning in large adapted Sprinter van I passed 1st time with 2 minors had 30hrs of lessons

I do suspect if switched to auto years ago would passed before

Oh and did motorway day after my test (I live by it so knew had to tackle but took friend first time
Kids by day 2 and 7 hour drive to Scotland 12 weeks after my test

Yup. Started at 17. Did 10 lesson and instructor said you are ready for your test. I chickened out. Moved overseas with young kids and learnt to drive an automatic there. My husband taught me with the kids in the car and it was not pretty but I passed first time.
Moved back to uk and had to sit uk test. Also an automatic. Passed that first time too. I did try manual for a while again and my brain just didn't like it.

I would recommend learning to drive an automatic. There's so many distractions with small kids in the car. Having to be totally focused of which gear to be in and not stalling while the kids scream etc is just too stressful.

Steer, drive, stop, reverse and road hazards are enough to deal with.

I passed at 35, after several attempts in my late teens. I used to drive a friend's car on L plates when I was younger, and was confident and a bit cocky. It was a completely different experience in my 30s, and took me over a year after I passed to feel remotely confident behind the wheel. Over a decade later I'll drive anywhere and everywhere. It's definitely worth the effort.

I can relate to this. Had loads of lessons age 17 but was too scared to have that much responsibility. Fast forward to having 2 young kids and NEEDING to drive. I was about 29. I learned in an automatic that time as was living in USA.

It was still a learning curve but not as big as learning a manual. I can concentrate on the road much better without the addition of gears and clutch plus young people in the back seat distracting me.

I tried manual again when I moved back to the uk. Hated it. Sat my automatic test over here.

DH's oldest pupil - who passed - was 63. A lovely lady who didn't drive because her husband did. He sadly died and her children - also pupils of DH - paid for her to start learning. We got invited to a family wedding and she was so excited telling DH about her driving adventures.

Yes me 👋🏼 passed first time when I was 40. Lived in central London most of my life, didn’t have a strong desire to drive but when I decided I wanted to move rurally I knew I had to do it. Learning to drive in central London was a baptism of fire but it prepared me for driving on crazy country roads!

My advice is keep going even when you have a crap lesson. It’s easy to give up but it’s soooo worth it in the end. I love driving so much and would be so isolated where I live without my car.
Good luck 🚗

I learned aged about 57 - I’m still on P plates. Nervous as hell starting out, took over a year and just squeaked through on my test because I was so scared of speeding (instant fail) I went too slowly! But two years later I enjoy driving, have gained confidence on highways and city roads (I live in a regional Australian city) and am more independent than I’ve ever been in my life. You do get over the anxiety with practice. It’s like so many things, it’s the physical skill, the muscle memory my instructor called it, of learning car control. That plus learning all the rules is overwhelming, but take your time, it’ll sink in.