Learning to drive driving you mad?

[ShowOfHands]

So here it is, a learning to drive thread.

I think there are a few of us. I predict much swearing. Is it only me that goes one step forwards, only to go 8 steps backwards?

I'm SOH, have been learning for the grand total of a fortnight. DH is teaching me. My aim is to be driving by the end of September when dd is supposed to start nursery and they change the driving test again.

I live rurally (very rurally) and rely on dh for lifts everywhere. Even a supermarket trip is reliant upon him being home from work. And as he's a police officer, he's never home on time, works long hours and as a consequence, we're fairly isolated.

I am trying to focus on the new lease of life for us.

I don't have a provisional licence yet (still waiting for it) but live on private land with tracks of about 3 miles so am driving round a farm atm.

I'll kick off the swearing so there's no illusion of standing on ceremony. How the buggery feck do you look in 3 mirrors, one windscreen, at the speedometer and not cry all at the same time? Answers on a postcard.

Gypsy, it depends on how you feel, really. If you feel you can drive and that the problem is the mental block of the test, then you could get another date and keep practising in the meantime. Depending on the area the waiting time is between 3 and 8 weeks so that'd give you time to practice anyway... over here it's 6 weeks.

Droves, hi! Hope the driving is going well I think if I fail I'm going to do what you did and book it straight away, otherwise I'll lose "momentum" and put if off indefinitely

I drove a bit yesterday in the test centre area, it was OK, no major catastrophe I have mastitis so I'm feeling a bit poorly, but I've already started a course of ABs, let's hope they kick in soon.

Waves to all

I'm sorry gypsy
Corner reversing is so disorientating isn't it?
My brother passed 5th time, there was nothing wrong with his driving (afaik) was just those awful nerves.
Have you tried rescue remedy? I've heard a lot of people rave about them for calming driving test nerves.

Hope you feel better soon Gauchita, and good luck, will be thinking of you!

Nice to see you again Droves- hope you're still loving the freedom!

They've just closed a test centre here and the waiting time is 11 weeks now. If I fail I'm wondering whether to go to my dads and try to take a test there.
Has anyone taken an unfamiliar test route? Or taken a test on the Isle of Wight?
Or am I being totally stupid, and should just wait the 11 weeks? (sorry!)

Hmm ignore my last bit- typing it out made me realise it was stupid!
Will wait, or even take one in the next town if desperate!

Thanks Gauchita and TheBountyMuncher..I do seem to be calm during the test and you would never think i was nervous but for some reason I always mess up on the same thing: the left reverse! First test it was JUST that and only 2 minors! but then things changed and so 2nd test it was that + another serious to do with a roundabout issue, 3rd that + speeding! and in all i only get 2 or 3 minors. I think of the three my best result was actually my first!
i intend to book another test and take regualr weekly lessons till the test..in our area it takes two months to get a date unless you sit glued to the intenret and fish for cancellations which has happened as i did on my 2nd test get a much earlier date.
Oh well..i am only worried I am getting paranpid about left reversing!!!!!!! otherwise I really am adamant about getting that darn license

oops sorry that was meant to be paranoid!

Sugar, yes, it's this Wednesday Hope your car is fixed soon and you can drive around in no time

Bounty, DH saw my state the other day and went to boots and got me that, it's a spray, fingers crossed for it to take the huge edge off
Oh, WRT the test centre, sorry to hear yours is closing, bad timing indeed. If I fail on Wednesday I'm definitely booking my next in one of the neighbouring centres, there's one which apparently has very friendly examiners and no roundabouts in any route! I almost killed my instructor when he told me only last week! Besides the waiting time is only 4 weeks there. What are the other centres like in your area?

Gypsy, I second sugar, practise it as much as you can, I'm sure you'll get the knack of it. I'm doing lots of parallel parking these days as I'm getting them all wrong lately.

Hello again.
I had my mock theory today and drum, rolls failed (2 serious).
What is surprising I made no single mistake on roundabout, reverse parking or corner.
I collected non serious faults (not looking into mirror BEFORE indicating) and for judgement (apparently stopped too close
to a car, when letting another car through)and letting the cars through too many times .
The "examiner" was grumpy arab guy, I think he was just hungry due to a fasting...
I did buy how to pass a driving test audio book (it`s self hypnosis) and sprayed myself with "calm spray" and I think it might have worked.
Instructor is confident I can pass, but we should see.
Test two weeeks now!

Thanks sugar. "Actually" TM I don`t understand why do I need to look into mirror before indicating specially if I am not going to do the turning for another 10 metres.
I do look into mirror before turning, just not before signalling.
My instructor seems to think it should be disposed of too .
Do you happen to know?

gypsy, is that sweep or sharp corner?

Hi all and thanks for the words. londongirl007: my main problem i think is not ebing able to anticipate how much steering i do need when doing that left reverse..although i do tend to get things right many times i gather it is pure luck rather than celever planning
i will practise till i can do it blindfolded! i hate it when i see some people do it with such ease and i wonder if i am thick or something..!!
best of luck to those of you with tests coming up..may the Auto force be with you!

Londongirl ...you do need to look in the mirror before signling , and i would also look in the mirror again just before you turn , before you look both ways at the junction your leaving.
Its to make sure there is no -one (like padestrians, bikes or motor bike) trying to sneak by you .If there was it would be very dangerous if you didnt look.

- hope that helps!

Droves/Sugar, thanks!
It makes more sense now, although it is dissapointing that my new instructor couldn`t give me explanation.
Tbh, I am not very happy with him at all, but only 4 more hours + test with him, so have to be stuck...

Gypsy, what works for me is:
Stay 1/2 m away from the curb.
sharp corner, my reference point is the white line then do 1 and 1/2 steering to the left.
sweep corner, my reference point is when the distance for the end of the car starts going away from the curb. Then do one steer to the left.
Remember, you always think of what you would like the BACK wheels to do, if you want to go closer to curb stear to the left, away from curb, steer to the right.
Give it a try and see hw it goes, it might help you.

Haha gypsy,for that I rely mostly on sheer luck too!
I'm very hit (literally!) and miss with my corners.

I'm freaking out a bit now, 2 weeks until my test and my instructor on holiday for 1 week.
I still haven't mastered that roundabout either!

good morning. I asked my instructor last week about the mirrors, and he said I can use them if I want, he just teaches people that way. May try with mirrors tomorrow.
I thought I had the parallel park sussed until last week. Again he uses the magnifying glass thing, and when I've got full lock on I'm supposed to wait until the kerb is just about going out of the bottom corner before straightening the wheel (does this make sense?). Did that last week and I was still too far from the kerb. He thought I'd done it wrong, so did it again, and it wasn't me. He couldn't work out what went wrong either.
Droves, its actually a 2.2 tdci, so its got a bit of oomph to it.
I've got another lesson tomorrow, which includes a mock, god knows why cos my test isnt for another 7 weeks, but hey ho.
Gauchita, I tell you what, I'll have a crap lesson tomorrow, so it will balance out you passing your test, deal? good luck

Hi all!

Mariew, that's sweet of you but I don't want you to fail your first mock either so let's work extra hard and pass, both of us

Bounty, your test is on 16th September, right? Good luck with that roundabout There are a few nasty ones here, both tiny ones and huge ones, the only thing we can do is practise practise practice

London, I second what the girls have said re. mirrors and signals, hope that has helped

Gypsy, you've been given some good tips here for those reverse manoeuvres, hope it helps

Sugar, Droves, hi!

Right, I had my last lesson today... and I passed the mock, I did speed twice but corrected them right away and as I didn't make any other serious mistake my instructor put them as minors.

That's that now! OMG, it's tomorrow! I apologise in advance if I come on here before 1pm tomorrow and write utter nonsense I hope you can bear with me!

Waves to all

Good Luck Gauchita- will be thinking of you!

I'm nervous, can't help it. I have a knot in my stomach even though I'm not thinking tragic thoughts as in the past few days I'm just incredibly nervous! DH is at work, DD is asleep and I'm sitting here trying to find something good on TV and the thing I chose was TopGear

Anyone around?

Hi Sugar!
Thanks for replying It's at 2.27 but my instructor is picking me up at 1.30. The knot in the stomach is not leaving, I know it's silly to be this nervous but I can't help it.