Just been to Cumbria and back (cockermouth). A roads all the way there and back. A66/A1. Very nice drive never been before but it's a world away from the place I live in , industrial town. White van men tried there best to ruin the journey though. no people , no powerstations , no mines and power lines beautiful.
Its pretty nice up there. You want to go up to the West Highlands it is truly stunning up there. Im surprised no one as atempted a joke with the location you went
wouldn't worry about that, everyone stalls alot when they first start I get so pi$$ed off when trying to cross roads near a roundabout when people do that but noticed that I don't always incidate either. starting to get sloppy on my second test when I passed, at the end I had to drive into a parking bay at the test centre and when I got out of the car, was about 1cm away from hitting the wall. would have been gay to do enough to pass and fail right at the end I did have a mate who failed several tests. On one of them, the only thing he did wrong was to drive through a puddle and get someone on the footpath wet - couldn't stop laughing when I found that out
I had my first lesson today, months after I started driving with my father. My tutor informed me that she would look to put me in for my actual test after 4 or 5 lessons because all there is to do is just polish and refine the minor errors. Essentially I will be learning how to pass my test; not drive. I'll be taking my theory soon. But mechanically I can quite comfortably drive the car, however mirrors and use of handbrake were at fault so I have to ensure that I can use them efficiently. All good so far!
Truth. I used to stall all the time after I passed. Was difficult going from a diesel to a crappy 1.1 petrol. Others drivers didn't help either, pipping at me and screaming bloody murder every time I buggered up at traffic lights
On one of my first lessons i stalled on main road, right infront of a bus stop full of people Felt like a fool lol. Don't worry though, everyone makes mistakes when they learn.
I've been learning for ages and am generally shit. Still haven't booked my test yet and doubt I will for another 6 months at this rate. Doesn't really bother me though. My problem is that i'm always half asleep on my lessons and never actually think about what i'm doing lol.
My first ever driving instructor failed his test after about 5 lessons with him, that wasn't a good start thankfully my driving instructor after that was very good, and i aced the test. i think he may be the same one rich has. Have you had your lesson yet ian? i'd say my best peice of advice would be to not focus on the negatives. Your new. You WILL stall. You will occasionally go the wrong way around the roundabout. You WILL occasionally miss the turning and end up on the pavement after attempting to take the turning anyway. I'm not being defeatist when i say don't attempt to pick everything up straight away, because you won't. The beauty of it is, the more you get wrong, the better you are at the end of it all.
I had the first lesson today I was given the usual drill, checks etc, then the pedals, handbrake etc etc, then he told me to actually drive! After the lesson my main problem is braking, I cannot get the brake-clutch combo right at all when I come to a stop, I keep trying to apply the same pressure to the clutch and the brake at the same time, which is obviously not good, meaning I come to a shuddering halt. (and then when I stop, I forget to pull the handbrake up, turn the indicator off and get into neutral!) I am also crap at preparing the car, getting the right revs on the acc, and then getting the car so it reaches a bite takes painfully long. Other than that, wasn't so bad, steered round two roundabouts, pretty basic, but he thought my steering was ok, as were my gear changes (as in going up into second gear) Hate it when you have a trail of cars behind you though, I feel sorry for them, but they were learners once. Obviously wasn't as bad as I invisaged it, and only stalled when stopping, so no middle of the road drama, and there were times when I actually started to enjoy it But obviously still extraordinarily raw. Not a bad base to start on, but a loooooooooooooooooot of work left.
This is natural, as you are using muscles in your leg that you ar enot used to using, your instructor may have told you this. You will sort that problem out very quickly.
Seriously, dont worry at all about shuddering to a halt or being slow taking off. Unless your planing on being a racing driver then they wont matter at all, one minor in your test at most. And don't worry about those behind you either. They were all learners too at one stage, 99.5% share your pain.
My knee killed at the end of the first lesson, damn clutch! The best thing the instructor said to me was 'if you have a good day, that's a bad day, because you haven't learnt anything' Good advice there! I'll get it i'm sure, look at some of the tards that learn to drive and are out there, just seems so far away after the first lesson, spose i'll look back and laugh in 10 years time
That is what i would forget, god i am so nervous about learning to drive, i don't even have plans to learn yet.
Ian, you'll have the breaking situation sorted within 5 or so lessons, you've had one lesson, sounds like it went well. Keep going my friend, hopefully you'll learn to love it. I absolutely had an awesome time learning to drive. Remember, you're there to learn, if you were amazing at driving you wouldn't be learning! Yabba, for me the situation changed as soon as I sat behind the wheel. You'll start off real slow, with the basics, then your instructor will move you on when he feels you're ready. It's not designed to be unpleasant, dangerous or any other things you might be worried about.
When I got my provisional back in 2000 you were allowed to apply for and recieve your provisional licence at 16 but you weren't allowed to actually start learning to drive until you were 17. I presume that was to allow those who want to start learning the moment they turn 17 time to get the paperwork out of the way before their 17th birthday. I got my provisional in the October and my 17th birthday was in December. I don't know whether that's still the case but I can't see why not. How much does a provisional cost these days? Think mine was £23. How on earth did you get away with that?! Just nudging a kerb when reversing is enough to be failed on, I would have thought hitting a wall would be a certain fail no matter how minor the impact!
Okay I need some advice.. Ive taken 10 lessons so far 1 and a half hours each and each lesson he does something different like traffic lights or turning right out a junction and we have not done any manoeuvres yet. My mate who is born on the same day as me also does lessons and hes done basically the same as me but with a different instructor and hes done the majority of the manoeuvres.. He thinks my instructors taking me for a ride and he talked to his instructor about me aswell and she agreed with my mate. I dont enjoy doing my lessons in a bright orange estate either and at times the guy im doing it with can be a cock. Does this sound like a classic case of being taken by a ride by the driving instructor?
It sounds like your mate being a naturally better driver than you and you not being able to accept it
