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.

ferret sorry to hear you failed :( are you doing most of your driving in another car then? can you use that car for the test?

Ok am going to lurk here in the hope that it will embolden me to book some lessons. Even though we cant afford to run a car.

I cant go through another winter not driving. I just cant.

Hi, Bumpybecky showed me here.... my first lesson is Feb 5th at 10am.

I AM TERRIFIED.

i was just going to start a thread about driving test then saw this..i have just failed my fifth test and am at the lowest end of the spectrum when it comes to feeling gutted and useless..my nerves keep getting the better of me and I am this close to giving up..the problem is we need a car ever so badly..walking and commuting has taken its tol on us but I keep getting so unlucky when I do my test although my driving in general is good. I wish someone could just tell me what to do as I feel there isnt much more I can do..a good instructor I do have but I dont get to do any practice other than with him as nobody to help in this area. I now have to resit my theory test to be able to do more practical tests and this is not helping my self confidence or my spirits. Oh I just feel palin rotten to be honest..( sorry for dumping this onto you all)

Welcome falsemessageoflethargy. I know what you mean about getting to the stage where you just HAVE to do it. We've been muddling along on public transport for so long, but it's really starting to properly affect what we can and can't do now. I hope you manage to sort your finances so it's doable. It's bloody expensive. We're only finally able to do it thanks to help from family.

Good luck Scorps!! My first lesson (both times round!) were nerve wracking. This time I just did a 1hr lesson to find my feet and get to know the instructor a bit. The next lesson (2hr) was much more productive and I settled into it a lot more. You will be fine!!

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time Gypsymummy :( Are you failing on similar things each time? Is it worth booking a lesson with a different instructor to see if you can get an independent assessment of your driving? What has your instructor said about it? Are they being proactive with getting you through the test?

Update from me: Had a 1hr lesson on Saturday and got to drive from my house for the first time. Worked mainly on the turn in the road, which is harder than it looked. It's the clutch again that's causing my problems. Getting the hang of using the biting point to move and slow down doesn't feel very natural, but I'm hoping it'll sink in soon. I can't be doing too bad as he's asked me to book my test already! I'm able to do quite a number of hours per week and there is a bit of a wait for tests, so he said to get it booked. So I'm booked in for Weds 9th March at 11:11!! That's only 5 weeks away!!!

Got another 2hr lesson tonight, so more turns in the road I expect...not sure what else!

justalittle - how did you know which instructor to go with out of hundreds out there?

I opted to go for an independent instructor, as I wanted to know exactly who I was booking my lessons with. Rather than just booking with the AA or BSM and not knowing who was going to arrive on the day.

I think one of the advantages of learning to drive later, is that I know the sorts of people I learn best with and I'm confident enough to make sure I'm getting what I need from the lessons. I know when I had a couple of lessons as an 18 year old, I was nervous of saying the wrong thing and went with the cheapest guy I could find! And unsurprisingly, he was crap!

This time, I just looked over the websites of all the local driving instructors I could find. And this one instructor just seemed like my sort of person. He's not got the best, flashiest site out there. But you could tell the site was him on a page. I emailed him with my requirements, we spoke on the phone and he was happy for me to book a single 1 hour lesson to make sure we gelled and to assess my driving.

He's lovely, and I'm sure I made the right choice of instructor.

Thanks justalittle thats really helpful - I had the same experience as you at 17.

Has anyone on here just done automatic - not that I'm considering it.

Yeah, I wish I could go back and give that original instructor a piece of my mind now! Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

I hope you find someone that works for you.

I'm learning manual. What makes you want to do Auto?

I just wished I had carried on and got it out of the way.

I would think about it because I dont find the driving itself difficult (or didnt at 17 - god knows what it would be like now) but its the clutch control that takes time to click.

Yeah, I do too. Although I don't think I'd have got very far with that particular instructor!!

Yeah, tis the clutch that's causing me most of the problems here! But I figure once I've cracked that, I can drive any car. Finding a suitable car seems to be a big enough minefield without factoring in only being able to drive an auto! Just my thoughts.

I'm 6hrs into lessons (I think) and changing gear is already simpler, it's more just the control at low speeds that I'm needing to practice on. But that will come.

My 2nd lesson isn't til Thursday, and I've ordered myself a book off Amazon called "How To Drive" or something like that, as I'd already forgotten what to press to start the car!
I think I know now..... Clutch down, into first gear, bit of acceleration then slowly release the clutch til the back of the car goes up - then look around, indicate if there's anything coming, take the handbrake off - and it should move! :o

I've picked an independent instructor too - he seems nice and explains things really well, I just need to get the hang of remembering it (although I think the book will help).

That's right Ruby!

I've had another 2hr lesson. Which I found quite tough, and stressful! The test centre round here isn't in actually in Milton Keynes per se, it's actually in a town to the south. It's part of MK offically, but is a lot older and is therefore a proper town rather than just straight lines and roundabouts! So it's a very different drive to that I'm used to, both as a driver and a passenger. I very rarely go down there, and everyone I know hates driving it!! Bloody stupid place for a test centre if you ask me!!

But that's where it is, so that's where I'll be driving for the next forever I think :(

Lots of mini roundabouts and traffic, yuck!

I stalled in the middle of one mini! Not good. Then I got cross with myself and stalled again! LOL! Even worse! Got a talking to from my instructor, not for my driving, but for losing it a bit. Oops!

I just struggle to trust the car, and even though I'm in 2nd and doing about 12mph, I cannot seem to convince my foot to come off the brake! So I slow too much and stall! And then I also struggle with pulling away quickly when I have stopped or stalled. I worry about putting too much gas on, because the car revs, and I don't think I trust the clutch to control it!

I don't think this poor clutch has let me down at any point, but I really don't seem to trust it as far as I can throw it !

Hi everyone, i've been lurking all week on this thread too scared to post incase i shot my nerves to pieces lol!
But i sat my driving test today for the 2nd time (1st time 10yrs ago when i was 17, so im saying to myself it doesn't count )
I PASSED today with only 4 minors! SO it CAN be done, i started my lessons again in October and after many sleepless nights, and a freeking shit lesson on thursday there, where i seemed to have forgot to drive i passed.
The test itself was fine, the one manoeuvre is so much better than the two you used to get. I got turn in the road (was dreading reverse round corner ) and that was simple enough, i just checked mirrors, drove as i knew i could, approached roundabouts and junctions at walking pace and sang to myself :) I also took my instructor with me in the back of the car, and that seemed to help my nerves! So you can all do it!!!!!!!

Ooo well done Lisa - congrats!

I had lesson number two today - I was worried that I'd forget everything I learned in the last one, but it all came back and my feet remembered what to do even though my brain didn't.
I spent most of the lesson driving round in a square doing left turns - there was a bit more traffic around than last time but I'd started getting used to it by the end. I did accidentally go into 3rd gear instead of first at one point - I was wondering why the car was making a funny noise!

I had to do a lot of steering round parked cars too, as I seem to live in the world capital of inconsiderate parking.

I'm quite looking forward to next week's, I'm hoping the same thing happens and I remember everything from today's lesson only I can do it better! :o

well done ruby!! You'll get there, i was like you back in Oct and today im car shopping :)
I found those lessons at the beginning the hardest, driving round in circles, starting, stopping etc!
here here to inconsiderate parking!! Good Luck with lesson number 3!

wooo hooo! well done Lisa :):):)

Haven't posted in a while, but loved reading thhrough all the latest comments, and well done everyone!

I started my lessons again (after 10 years) at the end of November, and my test is booked for March 10th. I'm really quite worried about my nerves, because like many of you, they get the better of me.

Oh and falsemessageoflethargy I am learning in an automatic, and absolutely love it. My instructor told me he is always fully booked in his automatic, and he himself prefers to drive one.

I'd recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it, I've seen plenty of auto's for sale and at a good price (my budget is £700) and you often find they have fewer owners and mileage.

Good luck everyone!

I haven't been on this thread in ages! Well done Lisa

I've got my test at the end of Feb and scared I keep losing concentration if I relax too much so need to keep the fear to a reasonable level but not too scared!

Well done Lisa.

Had an awful lesson the other day, as I was in the middle of a family feud just beforehand. Was booked for a 2hr lesson, but by the time I'd got to the end of the 1st hr I'd made so many daft mistakes and I was close to tears. My lovely instructor already knew I'd had a stressful day, so suggested that we could call it a night and just leave it at a 1hr lesson. I could have kissed him.

So that was a bit pants.

Had another one today, and got off to a shaky start. I think because of the problems last lesson. It knocked my confidence a bit, and he had to tell me to get over it and move on. The rest of the lesson was a lot better, and I managed a parallel park with his guidance.

Another 2hr lesson booked for tomorrow, which I'm hoping will be a bit more successful.

I'm still struggling with clutch control when I'm pulling off, even though I'm getting a lot better at clutch control during manoeuvers. I managed to stall twice just pulling out of my road today! I don't think can be giving it enough gas, but I'm doing nothing different from when I'm pulling off from the side of the road. So I don't get why when I pull off from a junction, I always stutter and sometimes stall. What's the difference?!

It's starting to annoy me now, because I feel like I'm not a beginner any more and should be able to do this.

I'm also struggling with knowing what gear I'm supposed to be in when I'm doing junctions. I always seem to be in 2nd when I should have done it in 1st, or I'm in 1st and he'll tell me I should have stayed in 2nd I just don't seem to have the brain capacity to make that call, along with slowing down, changing gear, watching for other traffic, and actually making the turn! It's too much. My head feels like it's about to explode.

Any got any tips?!

hmm i have to say i was never great at "guessing" which gear i should be in!!
I must say i drove manual 10yrs ago did well but failed the test! Since then and since the Fibromyalgia kicked in, i did it this time in an automatic, 11 lessons later i'd passed my test!
I bought my first car on friday an automatic citroen c3, and drove it home yesterday and since then have been driving on my own or with DH and DS in car!IT CAN BE DONE ladies!!!!

just you need to give more gas - you might be bringing up your clutch too quickly in order to get going faster but by doing that you need to put "gas on" as my instructor says.

At junctions, I brake, speed goes down to 20mph, go into 2nd, slow down to 10mph as I get closer and then start to turn. If I need to stop, then go down into 1st. If you're still moving - 2nd. I only go to 1st if I have to stop - you'll feel the engine start to judder if you're too slow so quickly move into 1st.

No idea if that makes sense

That makes perfect sense Iggly - I had my third lesson today and it was more practicing and junctions. I got the juddery thing a few times (although once was because I hadn't quite got the handbrake off properly!).

I think I'm getting better - my instructor had me starting from outside my house today, instead of him driving me somewhere quieter before I got in the driving seat.

I've ALMOST mastered the steering round corners, I did a few nice smooth gear changes that my instructor complimented me on - and I've got REALLY good at driving up and down the narrow windy road a couple of streets away!

I remember after my first lesson my calf muscles were killing me as I was all tense on the pedals - today it's my right arm that hurts, I must have been gripping the steering wheel for dear life!

My main problem is coordinating the handbrake with the clutch and the brake and then the accelerator when I stop at junctions- I can never quite get a proper grip on the handbrake and have to stop myself from looking at it.

I'm learning all the hard stuff first though - my lessons are in the dark, I started off on a hill, the roads round here are all steep and narrow with tight corners, and there's always some nob or other inconsiderately parked in the blind spot at every single junction!

Just wait til I get onto NORMAL roads in the daylight where people can actually park in sensible places - it'll be EASY! :o

Thanks Iggly, I think that's part of the problem...need more gas!

Although having been out in the car with my mum this week, I've realised that times I stall at at junctions are when I'm not using the handbrake (i.e there wasn't enough of a pause to warrant it, as by the time I'd stopped it was time to go again).

I'm so used to setting the gas, find the biting point, release the handbrake and come up on the clutch/down on the gas.

If I take the handbrake out of the equation, it all goes shit shaped.

I think what I'm doing is finding the Bite whilst I'm still on the footbrake, but when I come off the brake to give it some gas my revs drop and I stall before I've had a chance to!

Does anyone know what I'm supposed to do in that situation? I.e I'm stationary at a junction, in 1st, with my foot on the clutch and on the footbrake?

In other news, we now have a car ! A dark blue, 04 reg Ford Ka! My mum has just taken over my late Grandfather's car, and passed this one on to us! We're so excited! And dying to get out in her. But will have to wait until next Sunday when BIL is coming over to take me out. At least it's not too long til test date, and I can go out in her whenever I like! Can't wait!

ruby I don't envy you!!

just have you done your manuevers yet? When you do, you'll learn how to stop and start the car using your clutch and that'll help with stalling.

Practise in your car somewhere safe. Drive in 1st, then put your foot down on the clutch and ease off the gas - you'll stop but don't take your foot off the gas completely. Then lift your foot off the clutch slowly and you'll start moving. When you stop at a junction, put your clutch down all the way - so the engine doesn't stall even if you're not giving gas. If you feel the car judder, it means you're about to stall so quickly put the clutch down and give it gas.

No idea if that makes sense. I have a lesson tomorrow so I'll find out if I was talking rubbish!