Anyone else just can't get the hang of driving?

[MrsIsland]

I've had 8 hours worth of lessons and still have no idea how to steer at junctions. I'm learning in an Automatic. I just feel so stupid and useless. I would quite happily give up but DH is encouraging me to keep going.

Anyone who is struggling. I hated learning to drive. I used to dread every lesson. It took me well over 150 hours of lessons before I passed my test. Failed 4 times and finally passed with one minor! I’ve been driving for 6+ years and I absolutely love driving. If I can do it, anyone can. Keep trying!

I was rubbish, OP, driving was a mental block to me for ages.
I had lessons when I was 17, probably about 30 hours, and the instructor woman regularly got annoyed with me as I was so poor and kept making mistakes so I gave it up!
Years later I booked an intensive course with another company. That must have been the equivalent of 20 or so hours. After that the instructor and I agree that I wasn't ready to take my test but the instructor lived near me and we kept in touch. I did hourly or two hourly lessons with him every week until I passed 2nd time about 8-9 months later. So that must be over 100 hours, easily. I honestly never thought I'd get the hang of it and now I love driving and drive all over the bloody place 👍😂

8 hours is really nothing. Try to keep it up until it 'clicks'. One day it will become 2nd nature. Junctions are tricky. Can you go to a quiet industrial estate and practise? With a family member or friend? It really does help if you have your own car.
I didn't have access to a car...and that slowed me down a bit.
Keep trying...it really is so worth it!
Wishing you the best of luck

From what you've said about steering it sounds like you need to get a better feel for the car outside of traffic. Are you driving in between lessons? If you have access to a car park with white lines marking the spaces, and can go very early in the morning and drive in and out of the spaces from various angles, you'll get the feel for the steering. Stick with it - it's like learning any new gross motor skill - it goes from "what am I doing?" to feeling natural all of a sudden.

@Wingedharpy

I've been driving 40 years OP and I still can't park straight. Stick with it - practice make perfect (or not, in my case).

Me too 😂

I taught dh to drive and he picked it up so quickly 🙄.

I use to bunny hop with take offs for months. We lived rural and there was no option not to get my licence so my parents made me drive everywhere from 16-18 yo.

I'd pull up to lights in town, know this big 4x4 would bounce like b-ball when the light went green, and people would actually stop and stare it was such a funny sight 😳

Not everybody is cut out to be a good driver. It’s actually a difficult skill and there’s no shame in saying it’s not for you. I know several non-drivers but they live in cities so it’s not really necessary.

@TimeForTeaAndG

Ignore the average number of hours, that's neither helpful nor relevant. You need as many hours as you need.

Driving is a skill that takes practice, some people get it easily and some don't. If you have difficulty with spatial awareness then it's obviously going to take more time and I'd ask your instructor to focus on quiet streets if possible where you can practice junctions and things without worrying about other cars.

The steering wheel represents the position of your wheels. When it's centred you are going straight and as you turn it the wheels turn to that position. The tighter the bend, the further round you need to turn the wheel.

In order to turn at a junction you need to draw a curve with the front end of the car from the position you are in to the point you want to end up. Once the front of the car gets to the end of that curve, you turn the wheels back to centred.

So although a junction is 90degrees (or whatever) you aren't jamming the wheels all the way to the left/right, you're following a curve.

I've drawn a little diagram, hopefully to make my point a bit clearer.

Thanks! I am a beginner and this was so helpful! ❤️

Always look a long way ahead to help with steering

@MrsIsland

I mean I don't know how much to steer or when to straighten the car up when going either left or right at junctions. I can kind of do it when the instructor tells me how much to steer and when to stop but I can never judge it for myself.

I was like this. I couldn’t even turn left without climbing the curb. You need to drive everyday, even if only for 10-15 mins, to practice and I promise it will improve. If it helps I often find lining up the middle of the road to my windscreen wipers helps when I’m unsure.

@CockingASnook

Not everybody is cut out to be a good driver. It’s actually a difficult skill and there’s no shame in saying it’s not for you. I know several non-drivers but they live in cities so it’s not really necessary.

Driving requires practice. If all drivers gave up after 8 hours of experience there would not be any cars on the road. It requires perseverence and the ability to not dwell on mistakes and a ‘have a go’ mentality. That’s something women aren’t always trained in appropriately by their parents.

Op, don't wait for lessons. Get in the car every chance you get with your husband and drive everywhere.