Got my first driving lesson this saturday...

[Laurel]

....and I'm freaking out!

I've NEVER driven (okay so Ross took me out in an abandoned car park a couple of times but that was it)

Things I'm scared about:

- Gear change: How do you juggle, clutch, accelerator, gear stick, mirrors...and keep a hold of the steering wheel?

- Curbs: The driver is in the middle of the road, how do you know if you're going to hit the curb?

- Oncoming traffic: How do cars not hit each other's wing mirrors when they pass each other?

-Lanes: There are TOO many lanes in Swindon!! How do you know which lane to get into? Also, what do you do when it's busy and you want to get into a lane but there's no room to merge?

I've been doing homework and reading my practical test book and there just seems like so much to remember! How do you actually go out and drive without losing your mind!!

I'm so determined to get my license before this baby is due (november) and going on an intensive 3 month course....but now I've got it booked and saturday is just round the corner I'm beginning to feel nervous!

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!! xxxx

Laura x

[bazburn]

First thing its good to be a bit nervous, clever s***s crash....

Everyone wonders how to do all those things at once when first starting, but it is the riding a bike scenario, you think you'll never manage but then all of a sudden...

You will make mistakes ( as the Tortoise said getting off the dustbin.. )just accept it and learn from it...here endeth todays lesson

[Rusty]

Good luck with it

Advice is as follows.

• Take your time.
• Keep calm.
• Learn the highway code so you know what everything means.
• Practice practice practice - I di d2 hours a night for 6 weeks and passed first time.
• Look in the central mirror every 5s or so and before you make any changes to speed or before any specified manouvre.
• Don't change gear while moving the steering wheel.
• Don't speed!
• Do keep a good distance to the car in front, even when stationary, you should be able to see the road between you and the car in front.
• Listen to your teacher, like all exams you need to learn to pass the test, then you learn how to drive!

So much more besides...

[als2]

Best o luck Laurel, like the guys above have said it all seems VERY daunting to start with, the first lesson is prob the worst for all the questions you mentioned. Everybody learns differently and picks things up in a different way. For me, and when i teach folk to drive, i prefer them to understand how a car works and reacts. This for me this lays the foundations of understanding speed, cornering, braking, parking etc. (its just physics!!)
Wish there was a magic thing to say to stop you feeling nervous, but you just need to get on and do it!
And like rusty says, passing the test is just passing the test. THEN you learn to drive! Drive everywhere and all the time!

All the best Laurel (oh and do let us know how it goes!!)

AL

[S2 Ant]

Good luck with it Laurel. You'll be pleasantly surprised just how quickly you'll pick up all the juggling of things when you've had a little practise. It might sound daunting to start with but once you know what to do and when in relation to the other things it'll soon become second nature.

Sure you'll do fine tho !

[Dan]

- Gear change: How do you juggle, clutch, accelerator, gear stick, mirrors...and keep a hold of the steering wheel?

Take your time, do one thing at once. Take it slow for a start: both in terms of road speed AND in terms of your cockpit movements.

Try separating out your actions with a breathing gap.

When approaching a hazard (corner, junction, whatever), get your position right then get your speed right then select the gear appropriate for that speed. Drive through the hazard then deal with accelerating away and shifting up again. Take it all a step at a time, don't try to do everything at once.

- Curbs: The driver is in the middle of the road, how do you know if you're going to hit the curb?

That's just one of those things that comes from practice.

One way to practice this more intensively is to find a quiet, straight side road, wind the left wingmirror down so you can see the curb. Now try driving slowly along based on "gut feeling" and use the view of the kurb in the mirror to see how you're doing.

- Oncoming traffic: How do cars not hit each other's wing mirrors when they pass each other?

Again, this is something that will come with practice. If you start off driving on slow, wide roads you can wean yourself onto those 1.5 lane, national limit roads.

-Lanes: There are TOO many lanes in Swindon!! How do you know which lane to get into? Also, what do you do when it's busy and you want to get into a lane but there's no room to merge?

There is a saying, "British roads are built for those who know them" and it has some truth to it.

Try and work out where you need to be early so you've plenty of time to get over - that way you can avoid being unable to merge.

Look well ahead, make the most of what signs/lane diagrams there are.

Phew.

[dest]

I remember asking my dad when I was really young about knowing where the curb was, he said it is literally instinct, which it is!
You will soon know where it is without even thinking about it!

As for hitting mirrors with another car coming the other way, you definitly dont need to worry about that!
You have got to be VERY close to hit mirrors, Ive only ever done it once In 20 years of driving, and that was on a VERY narrow Cornish lane where the other driver just kept coming at me and wouldnt pull over:corey:

[Laurel]

Thanks for all the replies and great advice!! It is reassuring to know that my worries are normal for a first-timer! I had anticipated laughter and ridicule!!

I'm having 2hr lessons once or twice each week so I'm hoping that I'll get into the swing of things quickly! It's good to know that it's possible to learn in a short period of time!

Which brings me to my next question: How many lessons did you all take before taking your practical test and did you pass first time?

Thanks again xx

[S2 Ant]

I only ever had instructor lessons, never got any pratice from family in cars etc. Think i ended up having in the region of 18-20 lessons? Some were 1 hour, some were 2. Think thats right, i've been driving for almost 12yrs so its a while back to remember lol.

I also passed first time having convinced myself i had failed after a few minutes of the test, but was always told to just keep going cos its not over til its over

[als2]

back in the old days, it was just practical for me! 6 x 2hr over a week lessons and failed! silly mistake! took it 2 days later, passed!
oh my god! thats nearly 20 years ago!

[GT500]

6 one hour lessons inc the hour before the test.

Get your instructor to take you on the test routes for your centre. They usualy have a tricky junction in the test route that is always nice to know about before the test.

have fun!

[bazburn]

back in the old days, it was just practical for me! 6 x 2hr over a week lessons and failed! silly mistake! took it 2 days later, passed!
oh my god! thats nearly 20 years ago!

20 yrs, youngster... , 30 yrs for me and yes all the best drivers pass 2nd time...

Had a few lessons just so I knew what to expect but mostly just drove around with father...

[Colesy]

One tip:

Book your test for rush hour so that you are stuck in traffic for most of it!

[Laurel]

6 one hour lessons inc the hour before the test.

Get your instructor to take you on the test routes for your centre. They usualy have a tricky junction in the test route that is always nice to know about before the test.

have fun!

I'm going to be a guinnea pig this year because they are introducing a new part to the practical test whereby they ask you to follow road signs for 10 mins (e.g. Follow signs to the Swindon Outlet Mall) so the instructor wont know which routes to take me on as it's only being introduced later this year! That's a bit nerve-wracking!!


Colesy - why would being stuck in rush hour during my test be a good thing? I'm curious!!

[dest]

I did a one week intensive course, started Monday morning and passed on the Friday afternoon!