Driving Lesson Nerves - how did you cope?

adamc260

Sharon87 wrote: »

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 was exactly the same and even went into my test thinking 'Oh god please don't make me do reverse around the corner at this junction' etc etc.. But I was the same, once I was in the car for a bit I started to get more confident.

Just go and do your best, you need some nerves going into a test just to remind you that it is important and you should do your best!

Just try make some small polite conversation with the test instructor that may calm your nerves.

Let us know how it goes!

angeltreats

I was never a nervous driver, even when I first started learning, and it came naturally to me (to this day I'm still bloody good at parking). But when I went for my test the nerves really hit me and I was an absolute wreck. I got into the car with the examiner, the tears started to come, I managed to hold them back and we set off, but for 25 minutes or however long the test lasted I sobbed the whole way. I made absolutely loads of stupid mistakes, and when we pulled back in at the test centre it all got the better of me and I absolutely bawled. Turned out I had 12 minors (for stuff I would never ever have done normally) and I'd passed. Really couldn't believe it! My driving instructor drove me home and I cried the whole way.

(And as soon as I got home I was fine, dried my eyes, got into our old car and drove straight to the shops.)

KierNet

mikey72 wrote: »

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

You should be a competent driver to pass your test, if you are nervous when someone is sat next to you, what are you going to be like on your own?

Lots of practice is whats needed, think I had 32 lessons with my instructor, and I think I worked it out at nearly 200 hours with my mum to get used to the road. I didn't bother with any of the test stuff with my mum though.

kat10

I passed on the second attempt first time I was so nervous I thought that I had failed on my parallel parking and ended up messing the last 5 mins of the test up. Second time I was recommended bachs rescue remedy spray by my driving instructor used it several times before the test to help calm my nerves. Don't know if it worked or not to be honest as my leg was still shaking and when she said that I had passed I nearly started crying.

mikey72

KierNet wrote: »

You should be a competent driver to pass your test, if you are nervous when someone is sat next to you, what are you going to be like on your own?

Lots of practice is whats needed, think I had 32 lessons with my instructor, and I think I worked it out at nearly 200 hours with my mum to get used to the road. I didn't bother with any of the test stuff with my mum though.

You can stand on one leg can't you.
Bet you're nervous standing on one leg on the top of a 100ft pole.

Most people are fine when someone is sat next to them in the car, they're probably still ok with a car full of people.
What's that got to do with sitting an exam?

gpc273

A couple of posters have said how they went to different test centres due to the low pass rates. The pass rates are only based on the people who take their tests at that test centre.
And the lower pass rate test centres tend to be in the poorer areas. Low wages etc equals less money to pay for quality driving tution.

TagEHeuer

I was pretty calm, I failed first time with 1 serious, passed second time with 0 minors/serious. So it all went well, I'm generally a calm person which helped. I can remember look at these kind of threads with worry, and wanting reassurance. But it really isn't as bad as people make out! Good luck with it!

TrickyWicky

mikey72 wrote: »

You can stand on one leg can't you.
Bet you're nervous standing on one leg on the top of a 100ft pole.

Most people are fine when someone is sat next to them in the car, they're probably still ok with a car full of people.
What's that got to do with sitting an exam?

I agree. I'll admit I was a bit nervous after passing and ended up taking a drive around a few quiet neighbourhoods, practicing my parallel parking etc.

My very first drive after passing the test was to the petrol station of all places. We'd run the car on the drive a few times to keep it sweet and run it low on petrol. So.. with the needle on the red line we set off to the petrol station to put in the last £5 we had. OH was terrified, I was scared stupid too.. we got to the top of the road and the petrol station was on the left :rotfl: We went around the block a few times and then called it a night. My point is that for the first few days it was still quite scary. You get to drive once or twice a week with an instructor who basically holds your hand and points out everything to you and then suddenly nothing.. you're on your own.

Squiggybank

Never ever give up.

I have just passed today on my 5th test. Finally I managed to hold it together and not do something silly. I was still nervous some people just are (plus I don't have the confidence of youth) and to make it worse i had an external examiner sat in the back, but you just have to try.

People kept telling me I could drive my instructor said there was nothing more he could really teach me but I just kept making a silly mistake that would cost me my test. You just have to learn from it. Follow the route you took see where you went wrong etc. I was so nervous but in the end I practiced and practiced and eventually this time my nerves held out.

Good luck to everyone with their tests it's horrible very expensive but you CAN and eventually you WILL do it! :-)

Sharon87

Updated post 1