Negative driving instructor

spottycat

After my test we are visiting my sister in law for two weeks.
I'm going to tell my instructor I'm having a break and leave it at that.
I've already booked lessons with the other instructor in April, he doesn't know about my doubts I have at the moment but when I start over I'll ask if we can take it from the beginning and see where we go from there. A fresh start.

Strider590

Driving on the road alone is not all fluffy bunnies................ If you can't handle criticism, then your certainly not going to handle other drivers, there are drivers out there who are absolutely 100% psychotic and most people seem to react to these by driving excessively slowly, which only aggravates more drivers and serves to make you a target for peoples aggression.

bigjl

So if you make mistakes when driving it's the Instructors fault?

Ever though that he could be frustrated due to an over confident pupil continually making basic errors after 6 months of lessons?

Why is it normal these days to require a scapegoat for you own inadequacies?

The OP sounds like a driver that doesn't pay attention.

People are killed everyday by such drivers.

bigjl

spottycat wrote: »

After my test we are visiting my sister in law for two weeks.
I'm going to tell my instructor I'm having a break and leave it at that.
I've already booked lessons with the other instructor in April, he doesn't know about my doubts I have at the moment but when I start over I'll ask if we can take it from the beginning and see where we go from there. A fresh start.

I have a prediction. After a few months you will be of the same opinion with the new instructor.

The new instructor probably thought if he told you what you wanted to hear them you would book more lessons with them.

Why would he be critical of you when to do so might limit his income?

Tiddlywinks

OP - you are employing the instructor... he's not doing you a favour. If you don't like his style then just sack him and go elsewhere.

Your posts here just go to show that you lack self awareness - you have a serious confidence issue... something that can also be reflected in how you drive.

Take control, make some decisions and get a grip.

Ectophile

Strider590 wrote: »

Driving on the road alone is not all fluffy bunnies................ If you can't handle criticism, then your certainly not going to handle other drivers, there are drivers out there who are absolutely 100% psychotic and most people seem to react to these by driving excessively slowly, which only aggravates more drivers and serves to make you a target for peoples aggression.

I don't tend to hear much criticism from other drivers. Mainly because they are in a different car from me, so I can't hear them. If somebody starts tailgating me, I will drive exactly at the speed limit, and not 1 MPH more. If that aggravates them even more, that's tough - not my problem. If they overtake me, then they are not my problem any more either.

If you want to drive well, you should be calm and concentrating on the road. If your instructor is constantly criticising you, you'll get frazzled, angry, hurt and confused. That will only make you drive worse, making the instructor criticise you even more, leading to a downward spiral.

A good instructor is calm at all times, and offers helpful advice in a measured manner. Their job is to build up your confidence so you can drive better.

Strider590

Ectophile wrote: »

I don't tend to hear much criticism from other drivers. Mainly because they are in a different car from me, so I can't hear them. If somebody starts tailgating me, I will drive exactly at the speed limit, and not 1 MPH more. If that aggravates them even more, that's tough - not my problem. If they overtake me, then they are not my problem any more either.

If you want to drive well, you should be calm and concentrating on the road. If your instructor is constantly criticising you, you'll get frazzled, angry, hurt and confused. That will only make you drive worse, making the instructor criticise you even more, leading to a downward spiral.

A good instructor is calm at all times, and offers helpful advice in a measured manner. Their job is to build up your confidence so you can drive better.

Well this is what I do most of the time and where the conditions allow, I don't need to be tailgated to make any change to my speed.

What I really don't like is people doing 40mph in a 60 limit. A Swedish friend of mine tells me that in Sweden drivers should expect to be fined for this, but in the UK we seem to think it's acceptable.

almillar

spottycat - you certainly need to build up confidence on the road - your current instructor isn't helping you do that, and you'd be improving with practice alone at this stage, without him in your ear.
Do the test, if you don't pass, do change instructor.
But I would repeat what others have hinted at - on the road, you'll need a thicker skin than you currently have. I can see you stalling at a junction and getting honked at and finding it very stressful...

dktreesea

Your current instructor is a greedy s0d. It doesn;t take 50 lessons for most people to learn to drive.

AdrianC

dktreesea wrote: »

Your current instructor is a greedy s0d. It doesn;t take 50 lessons for most people to learn to drive.

True, it doesn't.

But is "greedy instructor" the only reason you can think of for 50 lessons?