Gutted- driving lesson

[Hipposat]

I’ve just got home from my driving lesson (24 hours I’ve done so far) Today was my second lesson where we drove to an area my test will be. He took me on a big roundabout today for the first time and I approached it too fast and took the wrong exit. I do fine on mini ones but with it being my first time on a big one I was a bit nervous.

At the end of my lesson he told me he thinks it’d be best to stick local routes and then also said that he thinks I should try automatic.

I just feel really disheartened and teary😬

Maybe try a different instructor?
If you approached it too fast did he not instruct you to slow down or apply his breaks? That’s what he’s there for, to instruct!
Don’t be disheartened, if you knew how to drive you would instantly put in for a test, you’re learning, think of those mistakes it as a learning experience.
Maybe you would benefit from an automatic though, so book a one off lesson in an automatic and see how that feels to you.

How big is big? I’m surprised you’ve got to 24 hours without going on a big roundabout. Is there a reason why you’ve not been on one before?

Leaving at the wrong exit doesn’t sound like a big deal unless it was dangerous? You could probably leave at the wrong exit on your test and still pass.

Your instructor sounds a bit crap if he only wants you to stick to local routes. For how long? You need to build confidence and going round the same roads won’t achieve that. As the roundabout incident has demonstrated today.

Switching to automatic is something I suggest to anyone who is really struggling but from what you’ve described here it doesn’t sound like you are. How have the rest of your lessons been?

Btw you will have plenty of moments as a driver where you make a mistake and they sort of stay with you for a bit. Try not to feel to disheartened. You’re only learning.

I wouldn't be particularly impressed with your instructor tbh. You're going to make mistakes - that's how you learn what not to do.

See this morning as a learning experience. You did it, made a mistake and know what you did wrong. That's an improvement on this morning before your lesson. You now have more experience.

If your instructor isn't willing to keep teaching you the more difficult stuff, find another!

If it’s only your 2nd lesson- he is being a bit harsh!
Do you have a car you can practice in with a partner or friend?
I learned years ago but I remember clutch control being something my instructor, and my dad, focused on very early. I was practising in empty car parks, not driving test routes at 2nd lesson stage.

Agree with pp, did he not tell you to approach slower, brake for the roundabout? And the wrong exit is fine really as long as you did it safely.

I took lessons and passed my test in my late 30s and it is just practice and confidence with the right instructor.

My first driving lesson at the age of 30, I didn't get out of the very long layby! I was awful, couldn't change gear and pulled on the handbrake instead. It took me a full year learning at one lesson a week.
The week before my test, my driving instructor gave me a mock test. Right at the start, she told me to pull in to the kerb. I looked at her and she looked at me, as all four wheels were on the pavement. 😂 It got worse. I accelerated towards a pedestrian crossing and my three point turn hit the kerb three times.
However, I passed first time and was extremely proud. My lovely instructor was extremely surprised 😂

If it makes you feel any better, the first time I did a hill start I nearly drove into a wall, swerved, overcorrected and ran over a bush. I still passed after more lessons though!

Are you sure he's not holding you back so he doesn't lose a customer too quickly? I know this happens sometimes.
Taking the wrong exit from a roundabout isn't a major thing, unless it was dangerous for some reason. You learn from mistakes and can't be expected to get it right all the time.

I took the wrong exit on my driving test! Still passed.

Roundabouts are hard OP - everyone messes them up sometimes while they're learning! It sounds like an overreaction on the instructor's part.

Ugh I do not miss driving lessons. I always felt absolutely awful the whole time, despite having a really lovely and competent instructor. Any mistake I made I felt terrible about and the weight of becoming responsible for a huge metal machine that could kill or injure someone stressed me out so much.

OP, it's normal to have these lessons where you feel disheartened and get some difficult feedback. I don't really understand why you'd need to consider automatic just because you made some errors.