To think some people just cannot learn to drive?

[Edenviolet]

I can't drive. I just cannot do it.

Tried manual lessons in 2003. Was useless. Gave up.
Tried automatic in 2011. Still useless. Kept getting migraines as got so stressed before/during lessons then got a stomach ulcer (apparently from the stress).

Tried again last year (and still continuing) and after seven months I am still nowhere near test standard. It can't be the instructors as have changed each time I restarted lessons so it must be me!

Iam seriously starting to wonder if some people just can't drive?? I seem to have a combination of anxiety and no coordination/awareness.

At least I've got over the feeling of "if I drive faster the lesson will be over quicker" as that really didn't work and resulted in a few scary lessons.

Is it possible, can some people just not be taught? AIBU to think that there must be others like me and a reason for the inability to be able to drive?

tiggy if you aren't particularly quick on the computer you will fail that part, evenif you have been driving (without incident) for 40 years. To get the maximum points (and pass) you have to click numerous times, when one click would do.
The hazard perception is nothing like real life driving situations.
I do agree with you about the practical though.

That's exactly how I am daisy

I cab read road markings but sometimes I just can't see what everything is doing..they make no sense and people just seem to know but I don't. I can't see it

Glad I'm not the only one giles - I think my instructor is losing the will to live because of me... I think I'll ask him to drive next time we the Roundabout from Hell again - maybe I'll start to get it if I can just observe, without the stress of driving.

Google Earth-ing problematic roundabouts/junctions can be really helpful. Sod's Law though - the Sainsbury's roundabout in Chester is newish, and is not actually depicted

Yes mine too

I'm not an idiot. I do t understand what I'm. missing and why I'm. missing it.

how does everyone else manage to see it

I came to this site by accident! But l'm so glad to find it as l've tried many hours to learn how to drive, but no luck so far! I always thought it's just me till l saw others' posts in here. I started to think that l've learning difficulty which it scared me & made me to hide it from othets! I never told anyone that l'm getting driving lessons because l knew people will ask me about it & it was so embarrassing to tell them after all these hours & paying lots of money, l still can't remember that l must always check the mirrors before doing anything! This is because we constantly see people going for driving lessons & after a while they come to say that they have passed their test & then you'll see them having their own car & driving it! I've thought about it a lot & l really want & need to drive! I watch people when they drive to learn from them, whenever l can, but still can't do it! Our brain has been wiered differently; some people are good with their hands & learn things manually, some are not. The instructor is very important. You may have a good & skilled instructor e.g be patient & teach well, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are good to teach everyone! Each person is different & needs to be thought differently! As l said our brain has been wiered differently; mainstream teaching doesn't always suits everyone & a good instructor must know that & find a way to deal with individual. And of course practice is so important! So glad to know it's not just me to have this problem, therefore, l can deal with it much better! :))

OP I felt exactly like you.

I started learning in 2004.

I finally passed in 2016 after hundreds of hours of lessons and 13 practical tests!

Keep going, you'll get there. Driving really opens you up to freedom and independence.

I saw a hypnotherapist a week before my 13th test, and it was brilliant. The test I passed went so much better than the last 12.

It's not hopeless, I promise you. You'll get there!

@Celestia26 feel much better! I might go for hypnotherapy! Thanks & congrats 👍

Achali Thank you!!!

I really recommend hypnotherapy. I did it as I thought I had nothing to lose, and was planning on giving up if I didn't pass number 13.

I think you get to the point where you know how to drive, but it becomes a mental block. I definitely don't test well, and every failure just seemed to make the next test worse.

The hypnotherapy seemed to break this cycle, and 'reset' my unconscious responses to driving and the test itself.

Best £50 I ever spent!

Driving is a complex skill, doing it well requires confidence, and our roads are now incredibly busy, so it’s hardly surprising that it doesn’t come easily or naturally to everyone.

My suggestion for people who are struggling is to practice, practice, practice. Go out when the roads are quiet, eg industrial estates in the evenings or early on weekend mornings or residential streets mid-morning and just drive around as much as you can. It really is the only way to improve.

Good luck!

Keep going Edenviolet, I wish you all the very best.
To answer your question, I was finally diagnosed with cloudy lenses, meaning my eyesight ( whilst within legal parameters at the time ) meant clear vision, especially at night due to much reduced night vision , was compromised.
It explained to me at least why I felt very nervous; quite literally what I saw/ experienced was different from an instructor ( testing me on the number plate test ) who put my driving skills down to anything other than sight.
I’m NOT saying this is your issue, but given the often derisory answers on MN regarding non drivers just want to put on record that some of us do have problems which aren’t immediately apparent, but which do have ( albeit subtle) medical explanations.
That said, I hope and wish you have a good outcome!

I really want to know how to drive! I have become obsessed with it, but at the same time it's so expensive & also l'm so scared to come to this conclusion that it's not for me! I wish l had someone to take me for driving! 😔