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Original poster

Learning to drive

18 replies

Miracle29 · 30/01/2018 11:07

Hi everyone. Just looking for some advice and support hope I'm not the only one feeling this way. I started driving lessons in 2014 and did 1 year with a male instructor. He didn't teach me a lot to be honest it was the same things over and over again he snapped if I got some things wrong and now I know taught me some bad habits.he kept telling me I was test ready then when I booked he's tell me to unbook as I'm not ready when i told him many tines i felt not ready. It got to the point i was nervous before my lessons and felt sick and couldn't concentrate I hated it so i left when I started my ivf treatment and decided to give it a break until I had my daughter. I've started again now with a lady instructor she's lovely and taught me much more in the 7 months but I still don't feel test ready. Everyone keeps telling me I'm taking too long to do my test and I should be ready by now. I just feel useless at it. I know how to drive but do have anxiety around big roundabouts and following sat nav ECT but I feel like I'm getting there but just taking too long to the point I'm thinking of just giving it up completely. People laugh and say havnt you done it yet. My cousin started 7 months ago and nearly ready for her test. How long did it take you? What was your test like? Thankyou.

OP posts:
BlownIt23 · 31/01/2018 19:22

Hiya,
Everyone learns at different speeds and in different ways. Persevere, it’s really worth it. If you feel you’re not ready why not ask your instructor to put you through a mock test, just out if curiosity.
Have you thought about learning to drive an automatic instead of a manual? That’d take the pressure off you a bit. Well done for taking the steps to learn in the first place, I applaud you Smile

Original poster
Miracle29 · 31/01/2018 22:05

Thankyou I've spoken about automatic but my partner isn't keen on them and we will be sharing a car for a while so Manuel would be best providing i can do it. Ive had a lesson today and we did some independent driving and she said I did well as i normally just wait for her to tell me where to go so I actually surprised myself. She said she wants to get me doing test in the summer. It's abit far away but I guess gives me more time to build more confidence as that's my main problem

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BlownIt23 · 31/01/2018 22:28

Absolutely! Take it at your own pace, trust me, you need to be able to relax and enjoy your driving so don’t be rushed or pressured into anything. Good luck Smile

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 07:44

Thankyou. I feel more confident after yesterday's lesson I just hope I'm not th3 one who gets to the point that I don't want to do it no more. I want to push myself to it Smile

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UrsulaPandress · 01/02/2018 07:47

Are you insured to drive your partner's car so you can get loads of practice?

HotelEuphoria · 01/02/2018 07:50

Took me 11 months passed on second attempt, took DS 9 months with a failed test in between, took DD 20 months, passed third time!

alwaysontimeneverlate · 01/02/2018 07:54

Hiya I think everyone learns in there own time don't let other people's opinions sway your learning.

One of my colleague took nearly 3 yrs of lessons, she's a very anxious person but is a brilliant driver, whilst I passed in 4 months ish.

You will get there. Keep going x

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 08:45

Thanks everyone. It just made me feel abit rubbish when people were telling me I'm taking ages or havnt you passed yet? I just see it as I'm getting more practice and will hopefully be a better driver. I wouldn't feel confident on the road in my own just yet so see as pointless booking my test. My last instructor knocked my confidence so much i was about ready to never drive again but I'm pushing myself yo do it

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sijjy · 01/02/2018 08:56

It took me 8/9 months to do my lessons and that was a 2 hour lesson every week. I was very nervous about everything. Every time I felt confident something would happen that would make me panic and destroy that confidence again. My instructor knew I was very nervous so gave me extra lessons after I was ready to take my test. He did that to build my confidence. All my driving ability was there it was just how nervous I was. My dh also took me out whenever we could fit it in around work.
I passed my test first time. I took Kalms for a few days before my test and I was nervous as hell. Had to keep wiping my hands on my test as they were sweating so much. I am so pleased I did it though. The freedom Driving brings you is amazing.

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 10:34

Sijjy you sound just like me. Slight things knock my confidence. To be fair I've cone in so much from where I was. Well done for passing first time. I want to do it for freedom and to take the kids school when it's raining ECT so I'm very determined to do it but the day of my test I know I'll panic. I have a hour a week and will most definitely save up and ask my instructor for more lessons before my test. Did any of you find the lesson before your test put you off abit or did it help?

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WTFIsThisVirus · 01/02/2018 10:38

Everyone is different, and there is a reason why the average to learn is like 40 hours. Some will take 10, some might take 200. Whats important is that you learn at your own pace and feel comfortable.

Also, eat 1-2 bananas 30 minutes before your test /lesson. helps with nerves :)

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 11:36

Bananas really? I'm trying that for sure then! I'll try anything to calm my n3rves before hand. I get nervous thinking of it. I don't want to tell family in doing the test either else I'll feel like rubbish telling people I failed if I do fail off course. I do know someone who took 6 tests before she passed I hope it doesn't take that long not to mention the cost

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sijjy · 01/02/2018 12:51

I found the lesson before my test very helpful. I made a few mistakes on that lesson but my instructor just said it's better you make the mistakes now. It kind of got them out the way.

sijjy · 01/02/2018 12:55

Also when I was practicing my test routes i downloaded a app called map my drive or something like that. You just turn it on when you get in the car. Then when I used to go out with my husband we used to follow that and go over the bits I found more difficult.

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 13:10

I'm using the sat nav on next week's lesson I havnt used it before but it's needed now the tests have changed but my instructor said they've helped alot of her students but can be difficult to grasp at first fingers crossed I get it

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Tinycitrus · 01/02/2018 13:24

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’ve passed on my sixth.(!) test

I started in my twenties, failed three tests and stopped. Started learning again in my forties with a fab instructor who was very patient, constructive and took time building my confidence.

The second time took a year of lessons and I passed on test number 3 Smile

Just keep going. Don’t stop.

gamerchick · 01/02/2018 13:26

It took me 16 months before I was ready for my test. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Roundabouts were also my biggest ball ache but it came. Just learn at your own pace and don’t think you should have got it by now. It takes as long as it takes.

Original poster
Miracle29 · 01/02/2018 13:35

Wow well done tinycitrus for carrying on that's fab. Thankyou all for your replies it's really helped and u feel alot better

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