Driving Lesson Nerves - how did you cope?

Sharon87

UPDATED**

So I've booked my first practical driving test for early February and I think I feel confident in driving, just need a bit more practise at certain bits, like parallel parking and reverse round the corner, as well as a few minor driving bits.

But I don't know how nervous I will be on the day. I'm always a bit nervous just before a driving lesson, but then when I get on the road I feel fine as my confidence in driving is growing.

I know a lot of people who have suffered from bad nerves during driving tests, which caused their leg to shake, and therefore not controlled the clutch properly. I was just wondering of everyone's experience on here, were you nervous and if you were did it affect your driving or how did you cope?


*** I forgot about this thread, was just looking at threads made by me and here it was.

Anyway, my original test got cancelled due to snow, so test was in March. I passed with 3 minors! For the first 5 minutes I was a little nervous, then after that I felt quite confident! Until my parallel park came anyway. I made a steering error, didn't quite get in the bay, so I corrected it, but apparantly didn't check my blind spot, but nothing was coming, so only a minor (phew). Then I was good with the rest and got back and passed. I had a song in my head for most of it, which helped calm my nerves I think.

I've driven a few times since passing for work, and that's an experience, the first time getting into a car (a people carrier of all things) and trying to find my way around London!

Notmyrealname

Absolutely terrified and made a real plank of myself in the lesson in the hour before the test. During the test I was a lot better. I've passed three tests in all - one car and two HGV. By the time I got to the third test I adopted the approach that I was taking someone out for a drive who was telling me where I had to go and all I had to do is drive as I was taught and follow the directions. We even had a bit of a chat as I did the test although whether you can do that with a car test examiner or not I don't know. I even fluffed the downhill start and said so immediately and he responded with "don't worry that wasn't much of a downhill".

mikey72

The examiner is used to nerves.
They won't fail you if it's nerves of being tested.

[Deleted User]

Once you get used to the screaming of the instructor/examiner/everybody else it`s easy:p


But once you and your examiner know you are and safe and ready worry about the important stuff not butterflies in your stomach, good luck!

TrickyWicky

I took my test the first time and was terrified. I hit the kerb, !!!!!!ed up my parallel park, got shouted at by the examiner for not pulling out of a junction quick enough (and my instructor was in the back of the car and agreed there was no way I could of pulled out as there was so much traffic), I failed to stop when told to (he wanted me to pull up and block someones drive - so I kept going down the road until I could find a space) oh and my 3 point turn became a 5 pointer. Needless to say I became a nervous wreck and almost pulled out in front of another car but hit the brakes just as the examiner was reaching for them too. Failed on that however due to the previous blunders I had already convinced myself I'd failed and the stress and nerves caused that serious blunder

So, the second time came around.. I was terrified so I did what my OHs friend did. I made a threat: "If I don't pass this time I'll be back to annoy you some more" I said to the second examiner. He laughed.. big mistake heh.

This time I took a club anthems CD with me to play in the car for the test. You're the driver of the car and although its a test you can play whatever music you like so I thought fair enough, he'll be an old codger so I'll take some of that "horrible electro music" hehe. Anyway pulled out of the test centre car park and I found myself barely able to breath and I was starting to panic (not that I said anything to him). Then I remembered my driving instructors comments: "If all else fails, tell him exactly what you're doing so he knows what you're thinking as a driver - give him a running commentary". So I did! I started telling him *everything* I was doing while keeping the music playing. Everything from a blind spot check to a gear change was commented on and yes, it really did make me feel relaxed. The poor sod got so rattled he actually asked me to stop the commentary and pick something else to talk about! So.. "club music it is then eh?!" I said. He really didn't like that idea so he started telling me about his career instead hehe.

Despite forgetting to indicate on a roundabout (until half way round), ballsing up a few other things and giving myself the odd scary moment the bloke quite literally kept looking out of the window and commented "What a nice day for a drive" . Anyway, long story short, he couldn't wait to be rid of me. We got back to the test centre and despite the scary moments (that he never noticed as he was busy looking out the window) I passed! Poor sod, I felt for him a bit as I'm a pro and driving people nuts when I want to.. he couldn't sign my certificate and get out of the car fast enough - for an old timer he moved like a rocket!

I guess my tips would be:

1. Stay calm
2. Take music to play (the cheesiest, most cringeworthy stuff you've got - see point 6)
3. Talk to the examiner, get to know him a little and realise he's just human
4. BREATH... IN... OUT... IN... OUT - repeat through the entire test
5. Talk the examiner through everything you're doing if you can't shake the nerves - you'll distract yourself by doing this and the nerves will soon vanish.
6. Tongue in cheek, at the beginning of the test threaten to come back repeatedly no matter how many times you fail and then be a tad irritating through the test
7. If you make a major mistake (or think you have) don't panic. Unless the instructor terminates the test early and asks to personally drive the car back, you're still in with a chance even if you think you're not.
8. Remember this: They tell you the test is very strict yet I made terrible blunders on the first one and until my 'serious mistake' I'd still got less than the maximum minor points. Things like parking 2 ft out from the kerb, hitting the kerb, not parking perfectly between bay lines etc are MINOR so just KEEP THE FAITH and KEEP GOING.

VfM4meplse

I coped by not using the pervy driving instructor I was paying handsomely, and got my Dad to teach me instead. Worked for me.

Road_Hog

Sharon87 wrote: »

Driving Lesson Nerves - how did you cope?

I always used to have half a bottle of whisky beforehand, always used to settle my nerves.

Sharon87

Road_Hog wrote: »

I always used to have half a bottle of whisky beforehand, always used to settle my nerves.

Hmm yes, I don't think I'd even be allowed in the car if I did that... lol

I have drove slightly hungover and full of flu before, and both times did better than I thought I would have lol. Well except going 2nd exit on a small roundabout even though the instructor said turn left, and me indicating left... twice, well I was full of flu!

I really hope I picked the best test centre, I had a choice between Borehamwood, Mill Hill and Hendon. I chose Borehamwood, less city driving lol, I do like driving on the country lanes and know them pretty well now lol.

Derivative

I was bricking it on my test, though I didn't manage to !!!!!! up too badly.
Had a chat with the instructor about University, what I plan to do in the future, current affairs, neutrino FTL travel came up and I rambled on about that for a bit.

To be honest - driving just came naturally after that. He did a good job of calming me down, though I did have the niggling feeling he'd seen something and thought "right, he's failed, might as well put him at ease for the rest of the test".

Top guy. I believe I had 7 minors. And the traditional 'stall on the hill out of the test centre', of course.

Strider590

mikey72 wrote: »

The examiner is used to nerves.
They won't fail you if it's nerves of being tested.

Yes, nerves are not grounds for a failure.

But... They can/do/will fail for over hesitation, whether it's caused by nerves or lack of confidence.

I think it'd have to be a 3 count though, if for example you fail to pull out of a junction when there is sufficient space, that's a minor hesitation. But pulling out and then dawdling (thus causing another car to brake), that's a potential fail.

gpc273

Strider590 wrote: »

Yes, nerves are not grounds for a failure.

But... They can/do/will fail for over hesitation, whether it's caused by nerves or lack of confidence.

I think it'd have to be a 3 count though, if for example you fail to pull out of a junction when there is sufficient space, that's a minor hesitation. But pulling out and then dawdling (thus causing another car to brake), that's a potential fail.

No its not a "3 count", it all depends on the situation when each fault is marked.