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Original poster

Help! Driving advice needed

14 replies

Sienna7657 · 01/06/2021 21:44

Hi all,
So I have been driving on and off for 2 years almost. Theory expiring in august 2021. I initially scheduled in dec for my practical but instructor said I wasnt ready. Then I rescheduled in April and again for june 2021.
My instructor keeps saying that I'm not ready. Says that I'm not focusing, my eyes are looking too far, I'm distracted and overthinking it etc.
The test that I booked for next week may not even happen because my instructor told me today that I'm not ready and he wont take me (I told him I booked the test in june 2 months ago, I paid for my lessons the whole of this week ).
Have I been mugged off?? Should I change instructors?

OP posts:

Original poster

Sienna7657 · 01/06/2021 21:45

I'm feeling the pressure as well, as a single mum I need to learn how to drive and family are very keen on me getting my license

OP posts:

legotruck · 01/06/2021 21:53

Have I been mugged off?? Should I change instructors?

None of use know this. None of us have seen you drive. How do you feel? What do you think? How many flawless drives have you had?

Aquamarine1029 · 01/06/2021 21:55

I would definitely change instructors to see if you get the same feedback. Not every instructor is worth their salt.

Tommika · 01/06/2021 22:07

I couldn’t say that he’s wrong and you might not be ready ...... but he could most likely be making you stay with him longer for more lesson payments.

The worst that can happen with taking a test is that you fail, if you really aren’t getting on with him then contact an alternative school - they can take you out for a lesson with another instructor giving you a second opinion.

If you do have a problem that you’re not focused then he’s not teaching you anything else - you’re just paying to drive around with him. If you were not ready for any other reason and need more lessons then he should be ‘fixing’ your faults

(When I learned to drive a car I had already been riding motorbikes for years and my instructor was partially qualified. His biggest problem up front was how to teach me to steer - I would begin the corner gently then have to turn the wheel hard as leaning over didn’t turn cars.
Before my second lesson he had discussed me with his instructor / mentor and had the solution of doing double lessons - a whole lesson spent driving around every corner in an industrial estate followed by a lesson of driving out on the country roads.
Between him and his mentor they decided that I didn’t need to learn to drive but I did need to be converted for the machine, and to have a car drivers eye rather than a motorcyclists eye.

Your instructor needs to identify what you need. Postponing tests for 6 months and onwards because ‘you aren’t ready’ sounds like bollocks - unless you really aren’t paying attention and are a danger on the road during your lessons

Original poster

Sienna7657 · 01/06/2021 22:08

I feel useless. Every lesson he always has something bad to say, he has lost his patience with me and is saying that I'm looking way too far ahead and not what is in front of me.
I think only once he has said that I have driven decently. The rest of the lessons I had with him have always ended up him criticising the way I drive.
He knows my test is next week and hasnt taken me to the test area, not taught me parallel parking or bay parking.

OP posts:

legotruck · 01/06/2021 22:09

he could most likely be making you stay with him longer for more lesson payments.

This is really unlikely. Particularly now when the demand for lessons is absolutely huge. It would be a really weird and unnecessary thing to do.

Original poster

Sienna7657 · 01/06/2021 22:10

Maybe I'm too old to get my licensce. My dad always said I would be a hopeless driver. Am going to be 36 in 2 months :(.
My instructor said I should have gotten my license when I was around 18 and maybe I am too old now

OP posts:

legotruck · 01/06/2021 22:11

@Sienna7657

I feel useless. Every lesson he always has something bad to say, he has lost his patience with me and is saying that I'm looking way too far ahead and not what is in front of me. I think only once he has said that I have driven decently. The rest of the lessons I had with him have always ended up him criticising the way I drive. He knows my test is next week and hasnt taken me to the test area, not taught me parallel parking or bay parking.

He sounds like a dick. Definitely look for someone else.

I wouldn't take a test if you can't even park though. It seems like a bit of a waste of time. Do you not know anyone who could take you out a few evenings?

legotruck · 01/06/2021 22:12

@Sienna7657

Maybe I'm too old to get my licensce. My dad always said I would be a hopeless driver. Am going to be 36 in 2 months :(. My instructor said I should have gotten my license when I was around 18 and maybe I am too old now

Never too old.

WaterBottle123 · 01/06/2021 22:17

Your instructor sounds like a misogynistic cock
Womble. A bit abusive too really with the constant insults.

Take the test. If you don't pass fire the instructor and get a new one.

I passed at 34 with dyspraxia, you can do it.

Ieatmarmite · 01/06/2021 22:28

I passed my test when I was in my early 30s. My instructor said he reckoned 1 lesson for each year of your age - I think that was about right in my case. I'm suprised you haven't learnt to parallel park etc - I learned this quite early on and practised & practised every lesson. My instructor also took me round the test routes every lesson so that I knew where the difficult junctions etc were.

I had a couple of instructors until I found one that I was really comfortable with & felt that I could talk to & ask questions. I had a woman instructor at first who was very impatient and I changed after about 5 lessons because it made me nervous.

BackforGood · 01/06/2021 22:30

As a pp said, none of have any idea about how good or bad you are at driving, but I'm confused why you would be booking a test when he knows my test is next week and hasnt taken me to the test area, not taught me parallel parking or bay parking

Potentially he could be a really poor instructor, or potentially you might not be anywhere near ready. None of us can know.
Either way, it doesn't sound like he is very encouraging or patient.
It sounds like you need a new instructor.
That will also give you an idea if it is something you do need to work on more or if your perception of your ability is better than his.

Original poster

Sienna7657 · 01/06/2021 22:44

I told him in april that my test is in june. I have asked several times to teach me the maneuvers but he always says I'm not ready

OP posts:

legotruck · 01/06/2021 22:45

@Sienna7657

I told him in april that my test is in june. I have asked several times to teach me the maneuvers but he always says I'm not ready

Maybe you are not?

He will have lesson plans for you week by week and until you reach each stage you will not move on to the next.

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