People who learned to drive as a mature learner...

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How long did it take you to feel like you could drive after passing your test?

I passed 2 weeks ago, but have only just found the time to organise the insurance. I've driven twice on my own (well, once on my own and once with a non-driver passenger), and both times I was OK once I got going, but really nervous setting off and a bit shaky once we parked.

I don't feel ready to drive somewhere new on my own. I've only been places I went on lessons.

I got a “nervous tummy” for about a month, but I do have anxiety issues more generally. I had to drive a lot because I needed to get our daughter to nursery, and it was November so the light wasn’t always the greatest. It was a journey of max 10 minutes each way, four times a day, and I still hated it at first. You’ll get there! I am finally starting to understand people who say they like driving 🙂.

You can get a P plate. Ie "probationer" just to let other drivers know you aren't very experienced.

I was mid 30s. Just take it slowly and build your confidence. Try going on your own on country lanes and drive as much as you can. Challenge yourself by doing things that won't panic you but will make you think a bit harder. Practice on roundabouts near home. Driving will soon become second nature.

I passed last summer at the age of 39 and, initially, didn’t want to drive anywhere! It took me having a strong word with myself and buying a car to force me out on the roads. If I had 10k worth of metal just sitting on the driveway, then I HAD to be making use of it! Slowly, the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it. Like you, I started out locally, then started pushing out a little further each time… I also picked a good satnav app so I didn’t have to worry about getting lost/re-routing.

Hope you’re feeling more confident on the road soon, and everything in its own time 😊

It doesn’t matter what age you pass your test. The way to build your confidence & independence is always the same : Just drive. Drive more, drive further, drive on different types of road, drive every day even when you don’t have anywhere in particular to go.

At first, pick a time when the roads in your area are likely to be relatively quiet. Early on Sunday mornings are often a good choice. Set yourself an achievable challenge, eg I’m going to drive to a town 10 miles away, find a parking spot, go & get a coffee, then drive home. Do it on your own to minimise distractions. the more you drive the more normal it will seem & you will soon notice the improvement.

The very worst thing you can do is not drive because that will inevitably build up psychological barriers.

You have done the hard bit by passing your test. You have proved you can do it. You’ve got this.

I just bit the bullet & drove everywhere because I have anxiety & didn’t want it associated with driving.
Luckily I had a school run of 10 minutes drive, I drove from West Midlands to Norwich.
South wales.

My plan is to drive every day, even if it's just to the local shop for milk or around in a circle. I drove to Lidl today. I don't understand why I was so nervous about it, that's what's got me questioning myself.

I've driven to Lidl hundreds of times; it's where I learned to park. On the run-up to my test, I drove to Lidl twice a day, every day for a month.

It's not like one particular thing worries me, either; I come to a roundabout, and I'm fine. Parking is fine. Traffic lights are fine. The driving itself is fine. It's before and after the driving that I am nervous.

A few months. I did short, familiar journeys then progressed a little bit further each time.

i was 40 when I passed and I went out every single day, even if it was just around the block. I’d then sit and have a cuppa to calm down!
I used to drive to a big Tescos which was on my practice route on a Sunday morning which was much further away.
13 years later I drive all over the place and don’t think about it. You just have to go out. Passing is almost like relearning again to be on your own.

Tomorrow, drive to a different supermarket. One further away. That’s how you will build your confidence & experience.

Make sure you reward yourself. A nice drink and treat!

I was very anxious but I just got on with it tbh because I had to drive to work - DH had been driving me and dropping me off/picking me up before I passed! (After we moved out of London where I'd been taking driving lessons and was just not ready before the move). My best advice honestly is just keep getting behind the wheel, do familiar routes, do short routes, and build up slowly.

I remember my first solo trip, I was coming back home and had to do an almost emergency stop, as did at least two cars in front of me when someone suddenly braked hard. Didn't stall but wouldn't have been end of the world if I did and I didn't crash either!

My issue still is I've never driven on the motorway, got pregnant quite soon after passing and DH and I were both very nervous about it. Pregnant again now but planning to book a motorway driving lesson during my next bit of leave when toddler is in nursery, or it will be forever again before I get the chance!

You are doing the right thing ! When I passed I forced myself to go out and drive round the block every day, or to the shops and back.

after about a month it was second nature. Just keep practising ! Well done !

It took me a few months to stop finding driving terrifying and stressful - I can’t imagine how much cortisol much have been flooding my body and my shoulders were agony! But I got to the point to where I just get on with it and it is fine - I would prefer not to drive but that just isn’t an option and I have done motorways and a couple of horrible town situations that even experienced drivers hate. I have not yet driven in really heavy rain or done much night time driving but that will change of course (passed in March). Sometimes I still can’t believe I finally learnt to drive - feels so normal for so many people but I only did it in my 40s. You will get there and you are doing the right thing by getting on with it

it Will get easier the more you do it like anything, start off with short journeys and that will help build your confidence. I used to put a green P on my car for a while to let other drivers know I was a new driver. Like everything you get better with practice. Some days I’m still rubbish at parking it will take me a couple of attempts others I do it first time.

I passed in my mid 30s and on my second outing I managed to shut my thumb in the car door when I got to the supermarket! It was a bloody affair but we only had one car so I had no choice but to drive it home.
Due to the one car situation I didn't drive much for the first year or so and when I did get my own car we'd moved to a very hilly city. I did put a P plate on and probably kept it on for much longer than you should but it did help, most people do give you extra space, especially on hills.
The fear does pass but it's never going to be something I love doing and if I can walk I will, good for me and the environment. Although work is too far away so I drive every day.