Learning to drive - how long did it take you?

[Socci]

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I had a lesson a week (1 hour) for a year, it clicked about halfway through the year. I found that having extra 'lessons' with DH helped (not proper lessons, just driving to town and back)

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Took me about a year as well. Kept going out at weekends with dp to get practice. It takes a while to click and most people will feel the same as you do now, as you get used to it and know what you are doing it will suddenly click. Keep going, its the best thing I ever did. It gave me independance and now I can take DD anywhere

I was like that, suddenly I was in control of a car and I could hurt myslef, or someone else while driving it. I even had a really bad lesson just before I took my test, because it suddenly hit me that if I passed, I would have to control the car without the duel controls.
my instructor said that those kind of fears are very common with parents, the 17 years old with no kids are fearless, he said that we are more aware of the damage we could cause if we get it wrong.

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you will be, I was exactly the same as you, it took me about 4 months to get out of 2nd gear, my instuctor said I was like a jellybaby for months I took my test and passed first time. I have now been drive for 2 years and its the best thing I did. Went out yesterday with DH and he said that my driving has really improved and that I am not the same person who was scared to even sit in the passagers seat. Once it clicks you will be ok.

You will Socci. I've been driving two year next month and I have to go on dry runs and plan my journeys if going somewhere new. My DP takes me there a few times and then I go there with him to make sure that I know where I am going, but the more times I go out in my car on my own the more confident I am. Next month I am going to my town centre, for the first time ever. You will get there, good luck.

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over 70 lessons and 6 tests later i passed

should really have passed by about test 3 but i was sooooooo nervouse i kept doing really stupid things...

and i had 1 examiner who really shouldnt have failed me but did! ( i honestly dont think hed failed his quote for that day / week / month or whatever!)

I've had about 25 lessons this time around and still waiting for it to 'click'. At the end of the lesson I always think 'thank god I didn't crash today!'.

Doesn't help that there are so many idiots on the road pedestrians that just walk out without looking, a car full of teenagers who think it is a good laugh to swerve over to my side of the road and I have to slam the brakes on as I think I'm going to hit them - no wonder I'm a sweating nervous wreck at the end of it!

hi socci,
can't u have two hour lessons? It does take a bit to settle down which is why two hour lessons are better. Even towards the end it would take me 20 mins to adjsut to the car, then would drive about for a while, spend 45 mins doing maneuveres then do a bit mroe driving. It does click after a while tho.

btw, did u get lost in the end?

I was the same as NannyL - in fact, I'd started when I was 18 and failed a test after countless lessons, and then didn't try again for another 3 years and failed another 4 or 5 times but was determined to do it that time round. I had such bad nerves.

I agree with Kelly, a longer lesson does help because it takes time at the beginning of the lesson, to re-adjust to the car and to 'get going' as it were.

I passed my test, first time, three weeks after my 17th birthday.
I was very proud.
I'm only telling this, because I am about to let you into the secret as to how I passed.

The secret was - whilst I only had a few lessons - I spent atleast an hour every day with my dad.

He would drive me to the middle of nowhere - (we lived in the middle of Dartmoor - so not hard !!)
or to a quiet, unused car park.
And I would sit there, going backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards.

Belong long, my clunch control wwas cool.
I was not scared to change gear etc etc - coz thats difficult - often you feel like theres too much going on- looking, indicating, changing gear, keeping your eyes on the road - etc etc-

And I had alot of the basic confidence already there.
Thus, my lessons taught me road driving and specifics - e.g. reverse parking.

There we go - it helped me.
Get a trusty friend for hours of practice.
Then, it will "click" into place, so much easier.

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About a year with one or two lessons a week. I didn't have any practice in between though, just the lessons. It does click eventually - keep going! I also found having the right instructor crucial - my first one was fab, but he left, my second one was awful, didn't click with him at all and ditched him for a third who was also fab. I passed second time.

13 years so far. Off and on.

oh go for an intensive course if it's taking you years!

im starting lessons again soon.been putting it off as i am sooooo convinced i'll crash the instructors car!!started lessons before and found out i was pg so stopped.am TTC at the mo,so if i do get pg i wont be learning!!

I found the best way for me was to do an intensive course, which involved several hours a day, for a week (well, five days), and then I managed to pass my test first time. Mind you, I was still a very nervous driver, and didn't have my own car for years, so when I did get one, it was a bit like having to learn again. So once you've passed, do keep driving

I really think that the instructor makes a massive difference. I was always very nervous and had a years worth of lessons and several failed tests. I stopped for a little while and then started again with a new instructor. I had 20 hours of lessons with him and then passed really easily. He was just what my confidence needed I think.

18 months with a gap in the middle when I had dd. I think it takes longer the older you are (my excuse anyway). All my friends who had their lessons at 17 seemed to pass really quickly. I passed on my third test. I had 2 hour lessons and never really enjoyed them. Was desperate to pass not because I wanted to get out on my own but because I was so fed up with paying for the s*ing lessons. And to be fair, my teacher was nice and very patient.
It didn't click with me till after I'd passed. Then months later I found I had suddenly relaxed and was able to drive without it being such a huge deal.

Tried that MissChief. Am thinking seriously about hypnotherapy now!

oh sorry, kathy. I can recommend a great school if you did want to try again. I was really nervous and never thought I'd pass but thanks to great instructor, I did! Let me know if you want details.

Thanks MissChief! Actually I am booked to have my first lesson since having dd this afternoon.... will see how it goes!

good luck, you'll be fine