Eeek I am scared about learning to drive Update

Wow This whole post could have been written by me! I started(and almost completed) my driving when i was 19 and gave up through fear, i tried to pick it up again a few times but i'm terrified of all things car/road related but as i am now single and at home all day with a baby i have decided i now need(and want which is the main thing) to drive. just need to update my lisence asap. good luck with it x

Hi Mrs Cee,

I'm a driving insructor and always give my recommendations for what books/DVDs etc to use when I see my students for the first time. You might be better off waiting to see what yours says before you go out and spend lots of money on them. Some stuff absolutely needs to be up to date but there are some books which haven't changed over the years and you can pick up really cheaply on ebay or amazon. I also loan out discs for free and that can save my students quite a bit.

I can guarantee you won't crash. I know you'll be feeling nervous but they will have complete control of the car so relax and let them lead the way for you.

Well done for getting back into it though. Its always tough after a long break, especially if you didn't get on too brilliantly last time. Just try to relax and above all, enjoy it.

Hi Flaming Nora

Thanks for the advice, just wanted to know, if I book a lesson next week it will be after work and dark, he won't make me drive straight away will he, I am assuming he'll take me somewhere with less traffic and explain stuff?

I certainly wouldn't expect a student to drive straight from home after not driving for so long. I expect he/she will drive somewhere nice and quiet and you can start driving again without so much pressure.

Don't be afraid to discuss your fears with your instructor. They'll be used to having nervous students and will be able to put you at your ease.

Just to add, one of the quietest time for driving is after 6.30pm so don't worry about the dark. You'll soon get used to it and you'll probably appreciate the fewer cars on the road.

I know how you feel.

I drove for 3 years but after a break of 8 years started a few lessons last year. Unfortunatly my instructor couldnt do saturdays anymore and I 'didnt get around' to arranging another. If confidence is an issue i'd def recommend having 2 or more lessons a week as I found with one I just wished it was over and dreaded the next one. I plan to chuck myself in at the deepend this year and book a week off and do an intensive course.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.......

DD xx

Thanks

I am also going to see if he has lesson available at the weekends too when its daylight.

Hiya Mrs Cee!!!

I hear you and feel your pain! I started last June at the age of 30 having no driving experience at all, even my Mum and Dad don't drive so I was brought up in a family of non drivers!

I was petrified too for all the same reasons as you - I seriously thought I was going to crash. I will never forget the elation when I finished the lesson in one piece and had spent 1 about 1 hour 45 minutes actually driving!!!!

I bought this -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-Test-Success-Tests-2008/dp/B001AI7DCY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1233059329&sr=8-7 as it has all the up to date theory questions (the exam questions changed in Autumn last year) and I found it v useful. (I spent a tenner ?)

I would recommend using the Hazard Perception test practise as soon as you can as I have found that my driving has been better now that can see a hazard forming! I have my test coming up at the begining of March. I am bricking it but am determined to pass.

Well done you from one learner to another!

Well done on trying again. I started when I was 17 and failed my test a couple of times and then I gave up for a few years. I had three different instructors in the end and I think in some ways this was key - if you don't like this new one, try another. I used to sweat buckets on my lessons and worse on my tests (had five in all I think) I was so worried. Don't worry about the crashing part, I think that's natural and you won't anyway if the instructor's car has dual controls. I would just explain to the instructor all your fears and worries and take it at your own pace. I would think he would take you somewhere very quiet on your first lesson - I remember mine was just familiarsing myself with the controls and then a few starts and stops to learn about the clutch etc.

You just need to build your confidence and knowledge, same as any other form of learning. Just concentrate on how wonderful it'll be when you have passed your test and you can whizz off on a whim! Good luck!

Thanks

Just need to pluck up the courage to phone and book a lesson now?

I put off learning to drive until I was 26, and passed my test on the 2nd attempt in Oct 08.

One of the hardest parts for me was stopping procrastinating and actually starting in the first place, so if you've booked lessons then great - I put it off and put it off for ages. I can pretty much guarantee you won't crash on your first lesson, the instructor has dual controls so he can take over if things go wrong. They won't, though ?

Your first lesson will probably be really nerve- wracking, but it really does get easier the more you do it. The only way to learn to drive is, unfortunately, to go and do it as much as possible. I used to try and think with every lesson and every practice with my H, it was little step closer to being able to drive properly, because each time I went out only made it easier.

Other tips:

* Make sure you are happy with your instructor - if you don't like their particular teaching style, change until you find someone who suits you. My first instructor was very nice but quite strict and old-skool. I think his personality actually put me on edge which in turn meant I made more mistakes because I wasn't relaxed. My 2nd instructor was very laid back and down to earth, as a result I was much more laid back and drove better because I felt more comfortable

* Practice outside of lessons as much as you can - I went with my H about 2/3 times a week, (plus the 2 proper lessons a week) which really helped. We had some absoutely magnificent arguments too, luckily my H is a patient man and was generally understanding when I would burst into tears at my 4th attempt at a parallel park.

I used this CD package to help me practice my theory tests - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-Test-Success-Tests-2008/dp/B001AI7DCY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1233059606&sr=8-7

Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Thanks ladies

Mr Cee is very up for taking me out in his car, however I am sure they'll be arguments because I'll be in control of his life and his lovely car ?

The instructor has been recommended through 2 people at work, who say he is very patient with nervous drivers, so we'll see, he hasn't met me yet!

Well done for sorting out your licence and booking. there is a forum here https://www.2pass.co.uk/ and the site is packed with stuff that will help you. This will help you with your theory http://www.dsa.gov.uk/mockpaper/theoryintro.htm ; the practice test is the same layout and nearly the same questions as the real theory test.

Mrs Cee, please try not to worry it's not that bad! I started learning to drive a couple of months ago and I found it very scary at first and still do at the beginning of the lesson. I've changed instructors to learn in a car that is more similar to my partner's car and my new instructor is even better than the last one. As someone else said (sorry can't remember who) if you don't like your instructor change to one you like.

All driving instructors cars should have dual controls now so the instructor will brake for you if you're about to crash in to something=which means you can't crash. He will take you somewhere quiet to practice - they have to know the best streets/estates where you can go to learn.

When you practice with other people I would advise that you find a big quiet car park or open space like that so that you can learn manoevres and also as there are no dual controls on that car there is less chance of you coming up to an obstacle and not being able to get out of the way! (At first as you will get better and more confident!).

You will need the up to date highway code (I think it changed in Sept 08). If you want the book that gives you all the possible up to date theory test questions that you might be asked I think that's about £12. I practiced for my theory test with those and they were fantastic. There is also a CDrom of the question database which is really good for practicing mock exams and the hazard perception part of the test. If you're learning with BSM they also give you a free mock exam.

I hope my rambling helped ? Good luck with learning, I might be asking you for moral support in a couple of weeks depending on how my lessons go!

Just to add to more of my rambling, I had my first lesson at night the other day and it's not as bad as you think. Not scary at all (after I'd stopped shaking).

Thanks for the advice, well I finally rang the instructor but got his answer phone so I am waiting a call back eeek!