To ask when I will become less shit at driving?

[CaroleOfTheBells]

I passed my test two weeks ago and already had a car so could drive straightaway. But I'm shit! I drive to work and that's ok but driving anywhere else I make loads of mistakes. Today I didn't stop in time for a red light as had gotten confused about which direction I had to go (ahead was green, left was turning red) and stopped over the line. I've finally mostly stopped stalling but I feel incredibly nervous all the time. I keep accidentally going into forth gear too instead of second and I know I'm having some bad habits like coasting. I got into a terrible meeting situation last week where I misjudged the gap and had to reverse pretty much into a wall to get out of a large car's way while they shouted abuse at me (in my defense this car had moved out of their parked space and could easily have moved back and let me pass).

Does it get easier? I feel like I'm on the road just pissing people off.

You’ll get better as you drive more.
Do you have a kind friend or sister who is more experienced and could ride along sometimes to encourage & support you?

It gets easier with experience, and also realising that not all the errors are your fault, there are plenty of terrible drivers who've been on the roads for donkeys years!

Try not to overthink and question yourself when driving. Build up confidence on a couple of routes you know well, then start to branch out further.

Worst case scenario take some pass plus lessons to get your confidence back? It can be hard getting used to a car that isn't the one you learned in too.

I was a bit like this when I first passed. It's all learning and experience and I think it must take at least 6-12 months before you feel completely comfortable. It may not be for you but I put P plates on until I felt more confident. I know some ppl say it's s like a red rag but I found people to be more patient when I had mine on. Not that they should be worn as an excuse!
Are you able to go and practice on some quiet roads in your free time? Pass Plus course? Keep at it, remember all the reasons why you wanted to pass and the effort you made to get there.

Can you find a few more quid to get the IAM training? It takes you beyond the level needed to pass the test, which is pretty basic, and teaches you a system for driving. Last time I looked it was about a hundred quid. You would be matched with a highly-trained volunteer who will go out with you and help you improve. Some insurance companies will give you a discount once you’ve done the course.

I passed last year and I’m still quite shit. I’m mostly ok locally but make tons of mistakes when I go further afield to unfamiliar or busier places.

Thank you, I actually make a lot more mistakes with people in the car, I think I feel too much pressure not to! It's a shitty time to have passed - or maybe it's the best time as it's a baptism of fire with darkness early, rain, fog, ice etc. I need to spend a few more evenings just tootling around I think. I haven't gone very far yet but there is a thing to take my daughter too next week which is far away down a dual carriageway that I'm thinking I may need to use public transport for as I'm so nervous. I worry especially driving with her as I'm terrified of harming her!

I'm already wearing P plates. I get beeped a lot

It took me a good six months to get into it. I drove everywhere, especially places I didn't know, so I could practice. I did all the tricky manoeuvres regularly and got on the motorway with my other half in the passenger seat within a couple of days of passing. There is no point shying away from any aspects, you just have to do it, and in time you will find it becomes more natural.
We recently switched from an automatic to a manual and I thought I would never get into it, having not driven a manual since passing my test four years ago. After about two months it began to feel more natural.

Congratulations on passing your test. Also, congratulations for having a realistic assessment of your abilities and aiming higher - that probably puts you ahead of many drivers out there .
Keep at it, maybe be a passenger with an experienced driver sometimes and get them to do a commentary, telling you what they're looking at, anticipating and planning for and then do it yourself. Also, although you've passed your test, there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have any more lessons, especially if there's a complicated bit of road you'd like another opinion on lane choice and so forth.

I had L plates for a while. I felt better about making daft mistakes if I knew other drivers could see I’d only just passed my test, and I wasn’t deliberately being a shit or inconsiderate driver.

Honestly it takes about a year to learn. Everyone told me when I passed my test, that’s when you actually learn how to drive. It’s normal to be shocking after you passed your test, but you will find it easy peasy soon!

If you can, go out late at night when the roads are empty to practice. It really is just a case of the more you do it, the easier it gets. And it's a lot easier to practice if you're not worried about other drivers getting annoyed at you!

You only really develop your roadsense and intuition with driving once you are out there driving on your own - it will get easier. Every mistake you make you will learn from. Just take it slowly, and one thing I've learned is not to be intimidated by other drivers - if you get some impatient type driving up your chuff then don't feel you have to speed up to suit them. Remember, literally everyone makes mistakes driving sometimes - don't think for a second that all other road users are perfect drivers, they aren't. Your nerves will gradually decrease, your confidence will gradually increase and your mistakes will lessen. Just take it slow. If you are really struggling book a few more lessons. You will get there.

You learn to pass a test you learn to drive after that and it takes time - you’ll soon notice you’re getting more confident

Drivers really do get up your chuff don't they. Today I had one right up my arse and I felt like almost spitefully rolling back onto them. I do get quite intimidated I think, especially as I am probably a bit overcautious at times, especially at junctions.

It will get easier as you get more experienced. Try and drive about as much as you can, and in different situations, such as at night, in heavy traffic, in the rain etc. Take someone out with you to give you some confidence if you feel you need it for a while. When I first passed my test many, many moons ago, I thought I was the WORST driver in the world. Roundabouts were my biggest horror, but then one day everything just clicked together. It will for you, just keep on driving! X

I don’t think anyone has passed their test and not made a few mistakes within the first two weeks.

It’s just a practise thing. The more you do it, the more naturally it will come and the more relaxed you’ll feel which means fewer mistakes.

Just take enough time for each journey. Plan to leave a good bit earlier than you need to.

Do lots of practise drives where you aren’t actually going anywhere specific, just practising so no time constraints or having to take a specific route. Try and use the roads you’ll be on most often in a normal week.

get comfortable with all the controls and foot pedals.

Relax.

Two weeks is nothing! Go easy on yourself. I am a nervous driver, my advice would be to make a plan of small steps. Don't force yourself to do the dual carriageway with your daughter if you aren't ready. Work out what it is that is stressing you and practise in small chunks. For example, if you are worried about parking in a difficult car park, go when it's quiet and practice. I still break down drives into "safe" and "difficult" stretches, so for example if I go somewhere new I keep telling myself only 5 minutes til I hit the easy familiar roads.

There are lots of arseholes who will beep, shout etc, remind yourself that often it is because THEY made a mistake.

Good luck!

You're allowed more lessons, even though you've passed your test. get in touch with your driving instructor and ask for them to take you out a few more times, to focus on the aspects of driving where you lack confidence.

Do you have 'just passed' plates on your car? Add them if you don't. as other drivers might give you more space.

Driving instructor here. The key is to plan your journey. Leave home 15 mins earlier. Look at google maps so you can plan your route. Look out for road signs so you can see which lane you need early on so you can move in to it in plenty of time leaving you to concentrate on hazards such as traffic lights and people crossing. When meeting traffic scan the road ahead looking for movement down side roads and driveways and reflections in windows. Most of all relax. Drivers who passed their tests years ago are often the worst drivers due to picking up bad habits. As long as you drive safely you are doing great

It comes gradually.

Maybe if it's worse when you have passengers, you're distracted by them? You might need to impose a no chatting, radio etc. until you settle in to driving. And possibly leave off transporting young children unless there's another adult to mind them.

A lot of it is confidence. You need to be self-assured but not aggressive. It's a difficult line to tread and comes with experience.

I wouldn't worry too much about annoying other drivers. Some people will be annoyed, even if you were a perfect driver. There's a lot of angry drivers around. Decent people will have sympathy, as long as you're not causing accidents or near accidents.

I consider myself a pretty confident driver - will think nothing of driving round strange cities or routes I’ve never taken or in other countries etc. I was still pretty much as you describe for a good couple of months (I only passed about 3 years ago).

Honestly it does get better and you do get more confident. You just have to keep at it and accept that you will make mistakes (just as everyone else around you will on a daily basis!).

There used to be one particular roundabout on my way home from work. Always difficult to pull out onto, and people behind you getting irritated at any hesitation, I used to dread it. Now I barely even think about it

Get an automatic. I'm a much better driver for it

I remember my old instructor said you'll probably be at your best when you've had about 20k miles done!

I felt woefully underpreapred in the first few weeks..... But I drove loads in the first few months and those nerves disappeared

OP shot a red light because she was overwhelmed. Doesn’t sound very safe to me.

Seriously, how will you get better in your own? If I had paid to learn a skill and didn’t feel in command of it I would get more training.

*on your own.