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.

Sugar, I've been having frequent loo trips due to nerves since yesterday afternoon In a way glad to know it's "normal". At the moment I find myself being terrified of the examiner him/herself, I'm scared of getting a silent, bum-faced ogre...

Deep breaths are helping, yes. I'll take it slowly, especially at junctions, I tend to go a bit harsh on them when I'm nervous. I'll be extra careful

Thanks for "talking" to me

Thanks Sugar!!

Hello

This is a great thread, can't believe I haven't seen it before!

I started learning last year but then had to give up as I just couldn't afford it. We moved to the countryside in May and I have been learning again since then, I am a slooooow learner so test booked for November.

I am definitely improving, I am fine with manouvers but I really need to do more as I cannot remember all the instructions... if you put me in a car now and told me to do a left reverse I would be screwed.

My main problem has been not having enough driving time. My dh only passed 18 months ago and so I can't drive with him and there is no one else nearby. All my hours are with my instructor.

The idea of the actual test terrifies me. I know I will be incredibly nervous and I just hope I don't blank out all the rules. Or make old mistakes. At the moment I have just managed to start slowing down more before corners and am working on reacting to possible hazards quicker.

My instructor often says things like "when did you see that van?" "What were you thinking there?" Usually it's, well I wasn't, it takes me a few seconds too long sometimes to get my brain in gear (no pun intended).

Anyway, so glad to see others in similar situations, my husband learnt so quickly (although he had people to drive with) that I don't think he can quite believe it is taking me so long.

Good luck Gauchita!

Littlesarah, i feel for you as i go the exact same phases and i am in a very sumialr situation as i have no parctice except with my instructor.
londongirl: thanks for the tips and yes i do keep forgetting its the back wheels i am dealing with when reversing!..bash me if you think my next question is daft but how do i tell a sharp corner from a sweeping one
i think my mental capacity has shrunk since having kids!i just can' seem to picture the difference in my head and i am very visual!
Gauchita: BEST OF LUCK!! will eb thinking of you!
i have gone and booked a test for the 3rd of Nov and will take regular once a week practise sessions till then in the hope it will work what with the new 10 mins independent driving looming!

I PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSED!!!

Oh my God I passed!!!! My examiner was quiet but very nice, and that made me SO calm.

I had 4 minors and overall it was a smooth drive, despite there being quite a bit of traffic. When he asked me to do a three-point turn I put reverse instead of 1st Fortunately I only moved 1mm, realised and corrected it. I was so calm that surprisingly that didn't put me off, although it could have been a major!

Oh I'm sooooooo pleased, I can't believe it, I honestly can't believe it yet. I need to let it sink in.

Thanks all for the extra-support these last few days and thanks, Sugar for the chat this morning

I'll be around to see how everyone is doing.

LittleSarah, so nice to hear from you. (I'm Naat, btw, from the June thread, I just namechanged a few months ago) I second what Sugar said about taking advantage of your practice, I couldn't drive much apart from with my instructor and I only had lessons every fortnight as I also was on a tight budget.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!
I'm so, so pleased for you!

Well done!!

congratulations gauchita.

Congratulation!!!
There is a hope for all of us .

London, definitely! If my nerves, as they were for the past few days, didn't take over and made me screw up, then anyone can do it!

Well done Gauchita! Isn't it a wonderful feeling? You never have to panic about your driving test again

Good luck for 4th November Gypsymummy, and hope everyone else is doing well - keep driving!

WELL DONE GAUCHITA!

So funny, I just went on facebook and saw you saying you've passed, I was thinking oooh, what's she passed? Has she been learning to drive too? And then I come on here and it's you! I'm sooo pleased for you.

Gypsy - Good luck for the 4th Nov! When I was struggling with the manouvers I was kind of pleased about the independent driving part but now I feel confident with them I kind of wish it wasn't changing. My instructor seems to think it won't be a problem, I hope not!

Sugarmouse - Glad to see it is possible without lots of extra car time. I do try and make the most of it but sometimes it is frustrating if you don't notice any progress and you know a. you've paid for it and b. you have to wait a week to try again.

But then again, I have made so much progress really. When I think back to those first few terrifying lessons, inching around, stalling, nerves shaking, well, at least I can drive now. Pretty much.

Yippeeee! congratulations Gauchita I am really pleased for you!
thanks a zillion SugarMousePink really thanks a lot especailly for the pics as well ever so helpful!
thanks Nyx I have had to change the date to the 8th of Nov cause my instructor has another test just an hour before on the previous date LittelSarah i will keep driving although just once a week till then!
Oh i reallllllllllllllllly hope I pass this time! and all those of you awaiting tests too!

I want to start learning to drive. Has anyone done 2 hour lessons instead of hourly ones? If so how many did you find was best to have a week?

hidetheelephant - Hey, I think most people like two hours but I found it too long and too stressful, way too much clock watching! Although that was at the beginning, I think I'd be okay with it now. I liked my 1.5 hour slots, and at the moment one hour twice a week seems to be working for me.

I think if you can have more than one a week it helps (if you are only driving with the instructor), I've only just started having two a week and I feel more confident, but you can learn either way. Depends on your budget and how quickly you are hoping to learn I guess.

Ideally I would like 1.5 hour lessons but cos I live outside the instructor's usual area he said he can only do 2 hours to make it worth while for him, which is fair enough I guess.

hidetheelephant- Hi. I have been having two hour lessons as my driving school only does those.
I used to Monday and Thursday (so total 4hrs a week) and it was quite nicely spread out.
I felt fine, but I found I started to lose concentration after about an hour and half in the beginning.
It is fine now and time just flies in the car.

Who else was having a test on 13th Sep?

I'm doing 2 hours, time flies now, but the first few times I had a terrible headache (and shakes!) afterwards.

London, I thought we had our tests on the same date, but mines the 16th- you first!