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.

Well let me know, no problem at all good luck!!!

Ooh good luck Sugar, not that you need it- hope you enjoy it (don't know if that's possible, but you might!)

And thankyou Gauchita, I somehow missed your message yesterday

Hope Sugar is going and enjoying the ride No news is good news they say

Bounty, hi! How are you feeling? Hope the nerves are under control

I hope so too

I'm ok, nerves still taking over
I wish I could just forget and put it out of my mind for a while, I'm a bit obsessed- boring my poor mother to distraction!

Hope things are good with you, and you're enjoying your freedom!

Oh I sympathise with the obsession I kept having dreams about it, visualising how it'd go, what the examiner would probably say, I kept thinking there'd be idiot drivers everywhere the list goes on. Bless your mum for lending her ear

Nursery starts again tomorrow (DD goes two afternoons a week) so I'll be able to take her and not ask DH

Anyone else gets stressed out when parking at supermarkets?

Hmm that should have read "not ask DH to do it all the time"

Sugar, yay! So glad it all went well I was thinking of you and kept checking MN on my phone in case you needed help How's the car? Do you like it?

We stopped at Asda around lunchtime and parking was hell for me. Hope you get a quiet parking lot now Motorway slip roads are scary! I was holding to the wheel as if my life depended on it the other day

Right, off to enjoy the day a bit.

Waves!

Can I join too please? I am 32 and I didn't learn to drive at 17 because of the environment (more fool me) and my bf at the time drove. I also wanted to focus on a-levels.

I live in a small town so am desperate to pass too. I've been learning on and off for 5 years and am on the 6th instructor as have moved around a bit. The last one chipped away at my confidence but this one seems alright.

Thank god for this thread!

Ah sounds like a great day Sugar!

Hello Posh!
Glad you've found the right instructor. Seems wrong that there are so many bad ones.
I had one once who told me not to go round mini roundabouts, just drive over them- the madman!

congrats on the new car sugar !

London girl . your driving instructor sounds like a complete twat ...good thing about the test is that your dont have to have him there if you dont want .
Try not to worry about your test , you can do this !

Bounty we all get obsessed when we have/had a test coming up , its the best way to focus .
You are right , its around the mini roundabouts , drive straight over them and its a fault unless there is an obstruction preventing you doing it properly .

posh welcome to the thread !

Gauchita

KEEP DRIVING !

sugar- congratulations on the new car! Have you ever been on a motorway???

If I dont pass the test, I will certainly be changing the whole motoring school. BSM admin itself sucks and I couldnt get a refund after my old instructor left me.

Hi all!

Sugar, sorry you had a bit of a hard run today. Nobody tells us that once you pass it doesn't stop being bl**dy scary, do they! I sympathise, but your DH is right, next time you won't make any mistake as you'll know exactly what to do.

Posh, hi! Welcome to the thread Finding the right instructor is important, so glad to hear your new DI is good, patient, everything we learners need How many lessons are you having weekly/fortnightly? I'm 29 and just passed my test last week

Droves, how's the driving going? All used to your car now?

London, I'm shocked to hear a BIG driving school would have such $%£*%$ DIs, they're supposed to be worried about their "reputation" etc Hope this Thursday's class (if you decide to take it) goes well. I know this depends on each person's personality, but if he keeps on drilling your brain this Thursday, maybe you can politely but assertively scream tell him to STFU give you a bit of space

Right, I took DD to nursery today on my own. It was OK but then when I had to come back completely alone I was a bit nervous I decided to go to Boots and Tesco as well, taking advantage of some baby-free time. Boots car park was OK but Tesco's was bl**dy nerve-shattering. It was packed, cars flash by next to you! I had no problem in going round and round until I found an easy suitable space but I had people behind me so it was stressful. I was sweating! My hands were sweating, not a nice experience I even thought of calling DH to come and rescue me as I was in the town centre, but he was in a meeting.

Off to pick up DD now and make dinner.

Waves to all!

morning all !

Yesterday i had major issue with my car {sob} .
It stalled just as i was emerging out of a junction to cross a major road (very busy) ...(Bad ,i know !

I had 3 of the younger kids in the back and then the car cut out mid road cross ! .
I swear ive never been more frightened in my life ...thankfully the oncoming traffic in both directions saw what had happened and stopped before us.
Eventually i managed to get the car moving again , but once i was clear of the road i had to pull over and stop ,i was shaking so much.

So the car is booked in to the garage for a check up ...drove it this morning , very slowly ...the school route has no major roads and is mostly 20 zones. It seemed ok .

Its also doing a strange thing with the radio...
The radio switches are on the steering wheel
and suddenly the radio will go really loud.

I think its got a problem with its electrics.

Was supposed to start the pass plus course this week ....

Oh, no Droves, poor you! You must have been scared to the bones! Glad to hear everything was fine, the other drivers were nice and waited for you and you're all fine. I can imagine how you were left, though, after that. Hope the car is fixed soon

Sugar, my car has a tiny engine, I knew that when I got it, but its clutch is a PITA, it's really really high up, so biting point is about 1cm away from complete clutch release. Uphill starts are nerve-shattering for me, more often than not I end up either stalling or putting the handbrake on and revving like a madhat I end up sweating like I've been running!

I took DD to a playgroup today and after that nipped into the supermarket to get some milk. The trip to the playgroup was OK, but I was a bit apprehensive of the supermarket car park after yesterday's crazy Tesco so I ended up parking waaaaaaaaaay back where there were lots of spaces and walking with DD on tow I agree, when will this be easier?

Mariew, how was your mock test the other day?

Bounty, London, how are you?

Waves to all

Well my little car has had its check up , and it turns out theres nothing wrong with it , its just me thats doing stuff wrong .

Think i need to have a few refresher lessons

I failed my mock last week. 3 minors and 1 major. It wasn't a proper mock though because he made me do all the manouvers instead of the one I will be doing with the new test. I got the first, turn in the road, perfect and absolutely stuffed every other one up. Ive been so angry with myself and my instructor ever since thats why I havent posted anything. The most annoying thing is I did them all the night before in my dh berlingo van. I keep saying I should do my test in that.

Anyway I had another lesson today, mainly manouvers. I still cant get the corner reverse, but I did all the others. I even reversed into a bay between two cars, which I never thought I'd ever do. I did a 20 minute free drive, where I went from one side of town to the other, which I was enjoying until he kept telling me I was leaving it too long before switching lanes. Though I love the 2 white vans that let me move over a couple of times and left me plenty of room.

He has another learner who has a test a week earlier than me which he wanted us to swap, but I dont think I would be ready in time, it would mean 5 weeks away instead of 6.

I've got homework this week too. I have to think through each manouver and write down when I turn the wheel, which way and the obs I have to take. As if I haven't been doing exactly that same thing for weeks! And I still get it wrong.

Oh well, I hope everyone having lessons are doing well and those who've learned are enjoying the freedom.

dont be bulied into swapping tests if you dont want too ... its a bit if you ask me .. you`ll get the manouvers ! 5 weeks is enough time to nail it !