Afraid of driving. Help?

FLA27

pollypenny wrote: »

I didn't know about that AA course. Just checked, it's been suspended due to over-subscription, sadly!

Oh no! Thanks Pollypenny, I didn't check that before posting. What a shame, I hope they restart it. I got a lot out of it and will definitely take refresher lessons with them if i do get a car.

I relate to a lot of the comments here, knowing i'm not alone is great. I passed my test on the fifth attempt, the first test booked after Christmas, few people on the road and an examiner in a good mood!

One tip for passing my test that I was given (by an Uncle) was to always look relaxed, sit in a relaxed posture, not bolt upright. If you look relaxed then the examiner will feel relaxed. I think that did actually help me out.

pollypenny

I've been thinking of having a few dual carriageway/ motorway lessons with a local guy. He's the parent of an ex-pupil and uses a Corsa, like mine.

I'm sure OH would poo-poo the idea though.

ecgirl07

Good luck OP. This year I bit the bullet and started driving lessons at the late age of 41. Years of city centre living and not being able to afford a car have been usurped by a move out of town and Scotrail being a bigger pain in the bum that learning to drive would be.

Although a confident cyclist I didnt think Id have the wit for driving but have actually loved it. Went into it with a positive attitude and have a great instructor that suits me - have had 32 lessons and putting in for my test soon.

I am looking forward to passing - like you things i do have to be perfect and Ive found it a frustrating process because the better you get it isnt good enough. You get good at something and its "now you have to add this level to it"

But i just comfort myself that all those folks on the road drive so I will too! And so will you- good luck this week!

angelil

Thanks

It was better than last time - in the sense of no freaking out at the wheel/crying etc.

However, there were parts of the test that made me feel that even though I've improved in the last 6 months, it was still not enough to pass. Really one of those limbo-type situations!

Sadly in France you get the result by post, and as tomorrow is a bank holiday, I'm looking at a Friday/Saturday result if I'm lucky. Fingers crossed, but I'm feeling more like I failed again at the moment.

trollopscarletwoman

ecgirl07 wrote: »

Good luck OP. This year I bit the bullet and started driving lessons at the late age of 41. Years of city centre living and not being able to afford a car have been usurped by a move out of town and Scotrail being a bigger pain in the bum that learning to drive would be.

Although a confident cyclist I didnt think Id have the wit for driving but have actually loved it. Went into it with a positive attitude and have a great instructor that suits me - have had 32 lessons and putting in for my test soon.

I am looking forward to passing - like you things i do have to be perfect and Ive found it a frustrating process because the better you get it isnt good enough. You get good at something and its "now you have to add this level to it"

But i just comfort myself that all those folks on the road drive so I will too! And so will you- good luck this week!

Good on you.

See driving as you do on the bike.

Self preservation and expect others to make mistakes well before they do.

Person_one

FLA27 wrote: »

Oh no! Thanks Pollypenny, I didn't check that before posting. What a shame, I hope they restart it. I got a lot out of it and will definitely take refresher lessons with them if i do get a car.

The IAM do a course that's based on police driving methods. It doesn't teach you to tear about at high speeds, or chase escaping criminals, just about driving more confidently, safely and smoothly by reading the road better etc.

http://www.iam.org.uk/drivers/motorists-courses

Definitely worth a look pollypenny, I used to think I was a good driver until I did this, I am now though.

angelil

Failed again, unsurprisingly.
Hoping there's such thing as fourth time lucky.

*max*

Quick google found this: http://www.agencemabulle.fr/Apprendre-a-depasser-sa-peur-au-volant-et-gagner-en-confiance_464.html

Maybe you could see if there is something similar in your area? this one is for people who already have a licence though, so maybe not suitable. If you google "stage de confiance au volant", you could possibly find something in your area. Check out your nearest "automobile club" too. Good luck!

I passed my test on first try 10 years ago, and never drove again (I moved to the UK the next day!). So I'm going to need something similar if I ever need to drive again.

hunnie

Hi Angel,
Sorry to hear you didn't pass this time but I do think it may be harder to do so in France! Keep trying as you definitely seem to be improving/gaining in confidence.


Quote " I come from a generation where it wasn't always the case for women to learn."


I find this quite difficult to understand by someone young enough to be posting on here.
My mother passed away last year at the age of 93 and learnt to drive in her 30's. She continued till she was 80+ . My parents were just working class and didn't manage to buy their own modest home till the 60's.


The thing was families only had one car, so the 'man of the house' did the driving. Most of my mum's female friends/relatives learnt to drive also but didn't keep it up as the husband did all the driving.


All my friends/relatives of my generation (in my 60's) learnt and still do drive.


Good luck OP hope you are successful in 2014

pollypenny

angelil wrote: »

Failed again, unsurprisingly.
Hoping there's such thing as fourth time lucky.

Oh, dear. I'm so sorry, angeli!