Learning to drive at 44

raquel.ar · Saturday 1st August 2009 16:41:38

Had 5 professional driving lessons. Mistakes made so far:
1st lesson: - tried to pull the handbrake when my instructor asked me to change to second gear (WHAT???)
- when my instructor asked me to stop, i tried not to look at the handbrake when pulling it up, he said I was like stevie wonder (hehe) and told me to look, there's no problem in looking to put handbrake
- stalled many times in turning to junction

Next lessons- getting better in changing gear but instead of 2nd I've put to 4th
- alway wrong in positioning car when turning left or right at junctions
- didn't change gear to second when turning right and in uphill road (left it to 3rd) so the car struggles even when I press the gas very hard.
- still not perfect in the position of car when driving, quite far from the kerb, nearly in the middle of road
- instructor told me to turn left at the next road, I saw a car going left, followed it but the car was going to the army barracks on the left, my instructor was patient with my mistakes but I can see that he feels frustrated sometimes

Will post some more later.

AdBot · Saturday 1st August 2009 16:41:38

hoylake · Saturday 1st August 2009 19:00:43

Don't worry one iota Raquel.

Patience is the badge of our tribe, [misquoteing Shakespeare].

Most of the faults you've mentioned we see often. Never had the Stevie Wonder one though.

raquel.ar · Tuesday 4th August 2009 19:41:11

Thanks for your comment. It's encouraging to read messages like that.
I've done my 6th lesson today and still not perfect in stoppint at junctions to turn right.
Need more practice. Patience, patience, patience. That is the word.

Don't worry one iota Raquel.
Patience is the badge of our tribe, [misquoteing Shakespeare].
Most of the faults you've mentioned we see often. Never had the Stevie Wonder one though.

evondoll · Tuesday 4th August 2009 20:13:32

All sounds very normal to me...doubt your instructor is feeling frustrated with you (if he does that would be a real worry).

Patience is the word...you will get there and it will be worth it! It's very early days and it sounds like your doing well. Looking forward to reading more of your blog as you go along

Evon x

hayzy · Tuesday 13th October 2009 12:01:13

Just had a 59 year old lady pass 1st time just took a little longer im sure you'll be fine.

vizzo · Saturday 14th November 2009 17:57:29

Keep updating us raquel

Zipper · Sunday 7th February 2010 02:56:16

- tried to pull the handbrake when my instructor asked me to change to second gear (WHAT???)

Don't worry about making mistakes raquel, we all do and as a learner you are actually expected to make them!
Here's a couple of mistake by others for you to laugh at, it might make you feel better...

When I was taking gliding lessons, I once yanked up the air-brake lever instead of pulling the tow rope release - instead of releasing from the tug plane and banking gracefully away to soar like an eagle, quick intervention by the instructor was needed to stop us and the still-attached tug plane from making an ungraceful descent to earth.
As my confidence grew I never repeated that mistake although the "banking gracefully" and "soaring like an eagle" bits still eluded me.

When I take students into central Darwin City I find there's often a tendency to follow the car in front as if attached by an invisible tow rope - a normal response to a stressful situation when learning something new.
Once when I took a student into Darwin for his first city drive, we had to stop behind other cars as a crane unloaded stuff at a construction site.
While we waited I reminded the student about the invisible tow rope syndrome and we discussed exactly what we would be doing when clear to go.
The vehicle in front turned abruptly into the construction site - and guess who tried to follow, it was only seconds after my little talk.

Passwithus · Saturday 18th September 2010 11:29:45

Don't worry about mistakes. We all make mistakes and this is how we all learn. You can never know, may be one day you become a driving instructor yourself. Just relax and enjoy the experience.

email@passwithjohn.co.uk · Monday 6th December 2010 09:11:27

If you know how to drive you would'nt be taking driving lessons......mistakes will happen just remember your a new driver........enjoy your instructor will put it alright for you

Barry500 · Tuesday 28th December 2010 17:19:03

Keep going I taught an 80 year old a couple of years ago, why at that age do you think I want to learn she said.

Just so she could take her husband down the pub, no it's because he was no longer allowed to drive because of medical reasons.

She passed second time, and she is still driving to this day.

So your NEVER Too old.

absadi · Wednesday 29th December 2010 02:39:23

Never too late

HewittsDriving · Tuesday 18th January 2011 22:17:54

Don't expect to be able to drive straight away raquel, remember you are learning how to drive a car safely for the rest of your life, driving isn't just about changing gear smoothly and not looking at the handbrake, it takes time and some learn quicker than others, there is nothing you can do that your instructor hasn't seen before, the handbrake for gear is done more than you can imagine, as long as you learn something after each lesson then it can only be classed as progression. Enjoy your driving and good luck

on board training · Wednesday 19th January 2011 00:01:06

Hi,

Original post Aug 2009 and last active Dec 2009 - all going well through test now.

Brian

graham121150 · Tuesday 20th September 2011 20:39:51

Had 5 professional driving lessons. Mistakes made so far:
1st lesson: - tried to pull the handbrake when my instructor asked me to change to second gear (WHAT???)
- when my instructor asked me to stop, i tried not to look at the handbrake when pulling it up, he said I was like stevie wonder (hehe) and told me to look, there's no problem in looking to put handbrake
- stalled many times in turning to junction
Next lessons- getting better in changing gear but instead of 2nd I've put to 4th
- alway wrong in positioning car when turning left or right at junctions
- didn't change gear to second when turning right and in uphill road (left it to 3rd) so the car struggles even when I press the gas very hard.
- still not perfect in the position of car when driving, quite far from the kerb, nearly in the middle of road
- instructor told me to turn left at the next road, I saw a car going left, followed it but the car was going to the army barracks on the left, my instructor was patient with my mistakes but I can see that he feels frustrated sometimes
Will post some more later.

Hahaha.... I did the hand brake one when going into 2 gear while I was learning to drive.
Was not on 1st lesson it was on the main road after 10 or so lessons...........I have been a driving instructor for over 23 years. now. Sometimes things just take a while

Graham

EmmaLearner · Monday 17th October 2011 16:36:42

My instructor told me to put the car into 5th gear and cos I don't regularly use 5th, I accidentally put into reverse and the car made a big screechy noise lol

Driver Training Today | Driving Instructor and Learner Forum

#1 Saturday 1st August 2009 16:41:38

Learning to drive at 44

Saturday 1st August 2009 16:41:38

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#2 Saturday 1st August 2009 19:00:43

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#3 Tuesday 4th August 2009 19:41:11

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#4 Tuesday 4th August 2009 20:13:32

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#5 Tuesday 13th October 2009 12:01:13

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#6 Saturday 14th November 2009 17:57:29

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#7 Sunday 7th February 2010 02:56:16

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#8 Saturday 18th September 2010 11:29:45

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#9 Monday 6th December 2010 09:11:27

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#10 Tuesday 28th December 2010 17:19:03

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#11 Wednesday 29th December 2010 02:39:23

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#12 Tuesday 18th January 2011 22:17:54

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#13 Wednesday 19th January 2011 00:01:06

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#14 Tuesday 20th September 2011 20:39:51

Re: Learning to drive at 44

#15 Monday 17th October 2011 16:36:42

Re: Learning to drive at 44

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