Learning to drive!, Eek! Options

[Mata]

I had my first driving lesson yesterday. It turns out that I'm reasonably good at it so far. I got into third gear, managed a roundabout, reversed around a corner, and turned the car around. I got up to around 30mph too. I suspected that I was going to be absolutely awful, but it looks like I'm going to do okay at it.

Sues doesn't read my forums, so I'm safe posting this here:

She only got up to third gear on her fourth lesson. She's learning to drive at the moment too, same instructor, but she's had a bit of a headstart. The instructor told me not to mention that I'd got up to third gear, so I said I wouldn't, but I don't like lying so if she asked me a direct question then I would tell her truthfully.

When I got home Sues said to me...

'Did you get into second gear?'

'Yes,' I answered honestly.

[Faerieryn]

I'm learning to drive at the minute. I've had to cancel two lessons this week due to my life being very hectic but I'm supposed to be taking my test during the summer holidays.... I'm not a good driver if I'm honest, Mata you seem to have covered wverything I did between october and now in one lesson. Grrr!

[Moosh]

All that in one lesson?

My first lesson consisted of me driving round and round Wildwood Ring Road constantly changing gear. Although I did get up to fourth. I don't think I was reversing for quite a few lessons after the first one.

[CrazyFooIAintGet...]

Roundabouts! Reversing round a corner! Crazy stuff.

I learnt to drive in my second year of uni and got as far as failing my first test, but I gave up after that as I ran out of money. I'm a bit worried that when I eventually start learning again I'll have completely forgotten everything...

[LoLo]

Wow learning to drive over there is so much different than in my neck of the woods. I learned to drive when I was nearly 16 and it consisted of 1/2 a semester of lecture courses and written tests and then 3 2 hour driving lessons with a paid instructor. They picked me up in an automatic car, had me drive out into the country, do a three point turn, and then drive home. Learning to drive a standard was left to my mom, in a big empty parking lot.

[Cath Sparrow]

You all worry me the first driving lesson I had I was up to forth gear maybe even 5th...... And no I dont mean the instructor lessons.
Which I did have one the other week and have another next week I've apparently got to practice useing my mirrors more and use my clutch a gears less. My next lesson will be manouvers :s turn in the road yeh fine, reverse round corner ok, reverse parking.... I've not done (properly) since learning to drive.

[Mata]

How are the 'learning to teach' lessons going for you? I'm sure it's very complicated!

I think how much you do on your first lesson very much depends on the instructor that you've got, almost as much as your capability as a student. It's all pot luck though - at school there were always teachers who could make any subject interesting and others who could kill your passion in seconds, and I guess it's the same with driving. My guy seems okay so far.

[Yannick]

Yay for automatic cars. My uncle taught me to use stick when I was 6ish, but I've never actually done it while driving. American cars are easy. So are dirt bikes.

[Daria]

I can drive! Only it would seem, not when I am being tested.

[Hobbes]

I spent my first driving lesson going round and round in circles (left turns only) in a quiet estate - hoping desperately that I wouldn't see any other cars outside. I then feeling mortified when I stalled the car right outside a friend's house.

Mata, whereabouts are you learning to drive - will you be going in and around Oxford? When I took my test, I could choose to take it either in Oxford or Newbury. I chose Newbury simply because it was a lot quieter on the roads around there.

My instructor told me to expect between 30 and 40 hours of lessons before I could have a test. I don't remember how many I had, but even 30-something seems an awful lot!

Good luck with the new four-wheeled adventure!

[Mata]

I spent my lesson on the small industrial estate where I work. It was okay, but it was the end of the day so there were a fair few cars of people leaving work, not to mention a few huge lorries of stuff. I'll be sticking in the Oxford area, because driving's not tricky enough, so I thought I might as well throw in kamikaze cyclists too

I don't think the instructor is thinking that I'll need that many hours of lessons, but I'm not sure. We don't have a car to practise in, so those lessons are the only time that I'll be driving. Still... It doesn't seem too tricky so far. /famous last words

[Greeneyes]

I spent my first driving lesson going round and round in circles (left turns only) in a quiet estate - hoping desperately that I wouldn't see any other cars outside. I then feeling mortified when I stalled the car right outside a friend's house.

Mata, whereabouts are you learning to drive - will you be going in and around Oxford? When I took my test, I could choose to take it either in Oxford or Newbury. I chose Newbury simply because it was a lot quieter on the roads around there.

I remember left turns in a circle! For my first few lessons I was extremely nervous. First lesson consisted of me crawling along a road at less than walking pace, then cacking myself and crashing into a curb. Not helped by my first car experience being playing with controls on the driveway, dumping the clutch, and practically stalling myself into the garage door. I got over it more when my instructor made me put my foot down on main roads, and get used to driving faster.

I learned to drive around Newbury also, although one of my tests decided to take me into Hampshire, so that was nice. At least in the sense of no weird Newbury roundabouts and trying to park in the stupid driving test centre (which is basically on a hill in a bush).

[Cath Sparrow]

My lessons to teach are going quite well as I mentioned I had my first driving (well more habbit breaking than driving) lesson the other week that was pretty nerve racking but I didn't do as badly as I expected.
I think you may find you do mostly end up taking that number of lessons as the recomended number of hours for lesson was put up to 50hrs last September which included a work plan to work through (just wondering if you have one as I've only seen pictures so far).

[Hobbes]

I learned to drive around Newbury also, although one of my tests decided to take me into Hampshire, so that was nice. At least in the sense of no weird Newbury roundabouts and trying to park in the stupid driving test centre (which is basically on a hill in a bush).

Hehe... that last comment made me laugh

Funnily enough, the final part of my test was to reverse into a parking space at the test centre - something which had taken me several attempts in all my lessons. In the test I did it perfect first time. My instructor was watching through window from behind the Venetian blinds in the waiting room, and the look of amazement on his face was fantastic!

re: driving in the middle of Oxford - I suppose it is best to learn to drive in the worst conditions as you know you should be able to handle everything after that.

[EvilSpork]

The only reason I ever drove an automatic was because it was all that was available in the courses, standard transmissions are designated as something you learn on your own time. The first vehicle I got behind the wheel of was a standard and I've never driven anything else since (aside from the classes). Changing gears is the easy part, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 and 4-5 (and in some cases 5-6) are all the same, save for where the gears are located. Now try it on a motorcycle! All you have to do is pull in the clutch with the left hand and kick up with your left toe, surprisingly easier even though you're lacking a couple of wheels.

[leopold]

I remember my first driving lesson. 20 years ago! I started my vehicle with a crank handle and had to pull seven levers and hold down the clutch bar with my foot in order to engage forward gear

The car I learned in was a top of the range Fiat Uno with a 5 speed gearbox, which was unusual for the 80s. My first day was on a four lane dual carriageway, with roundabouts at each end of the stretch I was on. I had the car up to fourth and doing the requisite 40mph when my instructor asked if I'd done it before! Then I went onto the nearby industrial estate to practice some manoeuvres. Did I spell that right? Whatever. Anyway, that was all on my first lesson. And dual carriageways in the 80's were considerably quieter than they are now. The one I learned to drive on now links to a motorway, and is horrendously busy.

But so much for being a natural, it took me two attempts to pass my driving test!

[Mata]

And dual carriageways in the 80's were considerably quieter than they are now.

Except for all the sounds of neighing as your automobile scared the horses.

[leopold]

And the racket from other people shouting at me to take my god-forsaken contraption off the road, for 'tis a travesty of nature and surely the work of Satan himself.

Plus you should see the price of petroleum distillate. One shilling and ninepence for an imperial gallon, outrageous!

[gothictheysay]

That's very impressive! I was driving an automatic and it took me quite a few lessons to do all that you did in one. Congrats, and I hope the rest of your lessons go well