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.

blackfly ....what a nightmare , dont give up ,keep on driving....you will get that full licence soon
Mrsrigby it sounds like the dvla have got you and another person mixed up , and think your one in the same? .Hope you get it sorted soon.

sugar ...i have a nervous bladder when i sit driving tests ....the thought of an examiner is enough to make me want to pee..
First point of call at the exam centre is always the loo .

Had an intresting lesson today...country roads at 60 mph ...scary ! instructor kept shouting look out for stray tractors/cows/sheep ect.
THINK I SQUASHED A HEDGEHOG !

I also had a lesson on how to fill up with petrol ....the instructor forgot to put some in before he came so let me go into the pertol station and do it ....
Not sure thats covered in the test ...lol

Just had another lesson , guess what ?
I didnt practice any manouvers ....but did go to petrol station .
I am actually getting pissed off about it . Wasted 10 minutes of my lesson time, was spent sitting waiting in que for petrol .. IF i dont pass test on tuesday im looking for a new instructor.

Drloves, what!? on your behalf! OK, it can happen to him once, but two lessons in a row! Come on, Mr, just go to the petrol station before the lesson, OR take notice of the time spent there and extend the lesson! Too cheeky, IMO. Do you have any chance of doing some driving on your own (without the instructor, I mean) before the test?

Sugar, ohhh I hate that, I do that too. First time, awful, second time, perfect Gah! My instructor's car has the reverse on that side, next to 1st, and in my last lesson I put reverse twice when trying to put 1st... he was not amused

MrsR, how annoying and incredibly frustrating that must be for you. I cannot imagine why they're being so useless! Hope you manage to resolve that soon.

I tried doing some parking manoeuvres today, which up to now had been the ones I've done better than the others, and they didn't go very well. So I guess I have some more practice to do

Waves to all

Mr

Gauchita , no chance of private practice ..i cant get put on dh`s insurance ,because the company wont insure people who havent held a full driving licence for over 2 years !

Parking manouvers is something im begining to hate..... thought i`d cracked it , until last test ... did a bay park perfect on reaching the test centre .But when i had to do one with the examiner i compleatly cocked it up and failed the test .(i took two trys at it and still couldnt get it right,so failed by "Lack of control " .
Funny , thing i got all the bits i did wrong on my first test right ....
Lessons tonight at 7 o clock .... good luck with your next ones everyone !

We`ve had ONE pass so far on this thread - from turkey ....we need to get more passes ! .

Lesson tonight went ok (ish) .....but NO PETROL STATION yay !!!!
Drove down the duel carriageway at 60mph ! (was bricking it).
Question : Has anyone else noticed that there is a phenomenom ,... licenced drivers just have to overtake you .
Even if your driving at the speed limit .
Its starting to irritate me.
Especially if ive just indicated to turn right...they still got to get past.
. It seams a bit dangerous imo.

Sugar ...its your confidence thats needing a boost !
IF your instructor says your ready for your test then you are ready !.
Have every confidence you will pass in two weeks with flying colours !

Drloves, spot on there, they HAVE to overtake learners, it's as if having the L automatically means we're going to cock up at some time and they're not having it Because they were never learners, of course, they just got the license and started driving perfectly well from day 1 Yay on no petrol station stops!! Was that the last class before Tuesday's test?

Sugar, I think we (learners) might never feel 100% "ready" but if our instructors say we are then it's just a matter of confidence, as Drloves said Having said that, if you feel very very very nervous and not confident at all when the time gets nearer, maybe in that case it is better to re-schedule it. You can see how you feel next week and then decide maybe?

I did some driving today but no manoeuvres, just coming and going with DH

Waves to all!

Gauchita , ive got more lessons on monday and another two on tuesday before the test .

Im hopeing i sort out the bits im still iffy aat (too long waiting at junctions , roundabouts and manouvers)....i so want to pass this time.

THIS IS A MANTRA FOR US .......
we can drive , we can drive ,we can drive.

now repeat 100 times before bed ...

Hello ladies,

very nice reading all your updates!
I had a bit of confidence crisis this Monday after driving so nicely last week.
The lesson was a dissaster from start to finish. I kept stalling the car, couldnt do any of the manouvers and then I almost had a real car crash. I was coming from a side road into a slightly busier road and failed to stop before joining. I dont know why, my brain just kept telling me to go! Normal me thinks its sensible to stop before coming onto main road. Anyway, because I didnt stop I joined just before the car that was travelling on the main road almost hit me from behind. SCARY!!!
Today was a little better, but had to brave a four lane right turn when there were no filter lights, which meant I had to be in the middle of this junction, hoping noone will hit me..
I also got my own on all these tw*ts who keep overtaking. It`s called police and there was nothing better than seeing them being pulled over for speeding!
Gauchita: On my left turn today (while waiting at lights) I had those two guys ask me twice if I am turning left (they were going straight). They were of course smoking weed and I just hoped that they would be stopped sooninsh. They seemed totally out of it

I passed my test last tuesday woohoooo you can do it honestly was so nervous spent all morning before throwing up i was so shocked only 7 minors so im now driving about on my own freedom goodluck everyone

well done 2boysandbean !

Morning all!

Drloves, hope you have a good lesson today, everything crossed here for you tomorrow

2boys, yay, congrats! Happy driving

Sugar, can't blame you for the toilet runs, every time I think of the test my stomach turns into a knot! =S

Londongirl, sorry you had a hard lesson the other day, that must have been scary for you. It's weird how sometimes you think of doing something but then your brain commands otherwise

I have a test date 16 September, but will try and look for a cancellation for it to be a bit sooner.

I ran into the idiot of the week on Saturday. Road with parked cars on both sides, a bend, a car behind me, as I was driving down after the bend I see a car coming, I slow down and stop on my left. We were both trapped as he didn't have enough space so I had to go first. In a nano-second I look through my central mirror and the guy behind me gives me a look and opens his arms as if saying "what the hell are you waiting for?". I swear this all took 2-3 seconds!!! I move off and the driver who was opposite us just smiles and thanks me. Of course I took the next left just to get rid of the a**hole behind me. I know it's silly but his attitude made me fume. It's not as if I had stalled and was struggling to start the car, I just stopped, checked all mirrors to know whether it was safe to move off and moved off!

I got my car on Saturday Will go for a ride with my best friend and the babies today

Waves to all!

Can I just say I was so nervous before mine didnt sleep for 2 nights and spent the whole morning throwing up before my 11am test I was also 16 weeks pregnnat so had a touch of runs because of everything but you will get through it I think what helped me is I had a really lovley female instructor who made me feel so at ease so it was like going out driving with a friend rather than a strict lesson I think if you feel happy with your instructor it makes learning a lot easier. Good luck too everyone you can do it :D

I also cant spell pregnancy brain

Hi everyone !
This morning i had a lesson first thing, it was horrendous and i ended up in tears . I did everything wrong .

Sat test today at 5:37 ,it was absolutely mental , the roads were sooo busy !Was so nervous i was shaking!
But i PASSED ! Couldnt believe it , i asked the examiner if she was sure and to check !

OH DRLOVES!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

I was thinking of you all day!! Wondering what had happened and didn't dare ask

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Oh, you so deserve it after what you went through in the last two, so happy driving!!!!

So happy for you

Thanks Gauchita !
(its me , drloves , ive name changed to celebrate passing).

Im so happy to have passed , but im gona keep posting on this thread , because you all supported and encouraged me to keep trying when i felt like giving up .
Will return all the help you all gave me ,promise.
I wouldnt have passed without you (especially the advice too check mirrors,and take paracetamol to calm the nerves !)

If i can pass , anyone can pass !
KEEP DRIVING xxx!

Thanks , you are next to pass SUGAR ! .

I need to buy car , first before i get out and about LOL .
Will start pass-plus soon ! ,so i`ll tell you what its like .
Think ive to phone the police station and go for a "classroom lesson" with them .Once thats done then its back to my instructor and hello motorway! .

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!Congratulations and Well done droves really pleased for you! Glad you're staying on the thread too!

Congratulations 2boysandbean too!

Gauchita, your test date same as mine!

Hope alls going well everyone else! Not checking back here as often as I'd like, because of these pesky school hols