Driving lesson from Hell......?

Question

I've had about 12 hours of lessons now. Today was incredible, I was driving like a complete noob, I couldn't steer, every gear change made me kangaroo down the road, everytime I stopped at a junction I either overshot it or ended up miles too far back. Then I stalled an incredible 7 times at a junction (a record for the instructor!) The lights had changed 5 times before I finally got away. The lesson ended with me crying hysterically over the poor instructor!

So what do I do now? Do you think I can ever drive? Should I go for automatic lessons? I'm embarrassed to face him tomorrow. Has anyone else had problems like this while learning?

Waaah what a dreadful day! = (

Answer 1

Just take it easy, calm down, recompose yourself, and overall LISTEN to your instructor, if he or she isn't making you improve, ditch them and get a better one! Driving comes naturally to some people, to some it doesn't but that doesn't make them necessarily bad drivers. The best way as far as I'm concerned to learn to drive, is to understand basically how a car works. For example, a clutch, if you imagine 2 friction discs, one is spinning and is powered the other isn't, when you place the powered one on top of the stationary one it spins at the same speed, if you slam it on, it will stall the power source because you've suddenly doubled the torque required to turn the discs and the power source can't cope with that, if you do it gently and progressively though, the two will synchronise with each other and engage smoothly, Letting the clutch out too sharply is why you are stalling and kangarooing, think about this next time you stall the car, remember the friction discs. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Answer 2

The day before my test I stalled the car, missed all the gears, coudn't do the left reverse or parallel park for love nor money and generally lost the ability to drive. I went home and sobbed. Then the day of my test dawned and suddenly I could do it all again. I've had lessons that have left me in bits thinking the world would be a better and safer place if I quit trying and lessons that the best rally driver would've been proud of!! It's all part of the learning process. My instructor said that everyone has days when they can't do it. She thinks it happens just before it all clicks into place and you realy do start to drive properly. As for the day before your test, if it all goes wrong it's supposed to be a good omen and I'll testify to that one cos two weeks ago, I passed!!!! So don't give up. Get back in the car, take deep breaths and try again. It will get easier, honestly. If I can do it, anyone can and don't even think about an automatic (I gave it serious thought too!) cos you will master the gears and you'll be thrilled with yourself for persevering. One last thing, when you stall don't panic, don't think about anyone behind you and just concentrate on you and the car. You can do it and once you have, the freedom is amazing! Good luck x x x x

Answer 3

Although you didn't indicate your age, I'm guessing you're an adult. As an adult, it's much more difficult to practice because you MUST be insured immediately while practicing as opposed to teens that get to practice "under" their parents insurance policy. I've experienced this problem with many adult students AND foreigners trying to obtain their license. You'll need to plan on more than the (3) lessons teens usually obtain. Yes, it will be expensive, both for the lessons and the insurance. Be sure the instructor is PATIENT and has a good sense of humor. There's nothing better than a good laugh while you're nervous! Change instructors if you don't feel comfortable. The key to passing the drive test is PRACTICE and that is what most adult students don't get enough of. Also, take a 10 min. break halfway through your two hour lesson to get out of the car and stretch. Bring a water bottle and enjoy the scenery! Good luck!

Answer 4

Twelve hours isn't a lot for learning something completely new. Just pick yourself up and start again. And again. Keep going, you'll get there. You have to trust your instructor, concentrate, and not worry about what other drivers are thinking; we were all learners once!

It's harder for girls - boys play with toy cars and are familiar with how they behave, and can understand why you steer the wrong way to reverse. I changed to a female driving instructor and got on a lot better. She was more on my wavelength and could communicate more easily with me.

I found I had to be taught everything, nothing came to me by common sense. Once, coming off a roundabout, I said that I'd gone round a bit quick & she said 'Try taking your foot off the gas a bit' Oh, yes!

See, you're not alone. Look at all the idiots who drive - you can do it, you'll see.

Don't go for automatic, they have their own problems. The only way to get familiar with gears is to keep practising. One day you'll find that it's easy.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Relax driving is very very easy just look at how many people can literally millions. What happened to you today happens hundreds of times to hundreds of people every day EVERYONE on the road has been exactly where you were [maybe not so bad because it looks like you had a really bad one today]. we've all done it made one silly mistake worried about it then made another and another your not the first and you definitely won't be the last to f*ck up royally. Just try to relax listen to your instructor and enjoy your drive. Good luck in the future.

Answer 6

Hi dont worry. I passed my test in june. But when i was a learner I'd had over 20 lessons and i was still stalling at lights and kangaroo jumping everytime i changed gear. My instructor told me its completly natural and it happens to everyone, one day you are driving like a pro the next you are driving like you have only just started lessons. If you stall at lights or whatever just relax and stay calm. It can be pretty stressful when cars start beeping at you. But dont worry, and keep at it you will get better and better. Keep at manual then when you have passed your test you can choose whether auto or manual is right for you. And you get a better choice of which car you want.Good luck

Answer 7

I had a few problems when I was learning to drive, on every lesson it rained, I don't think I could have driven unless my wipers were on. On one particular lesson I was doing high speed driving on a by-pass near where I live and It started thundering and lightning really badly and I was terrified of thunder at the time so I had to pull into a layby and my driving instructor had to take over as I nearly crashed the car when a massive clap of thunder came.

This didn't happen to me, but I was with my dad once when we came to a slightly banked roundabout and on the flowerbed in the middle of the roundabout was a learner with his instructor surveying damage that had been done. Apparently the instructor told the learner to go straight ahead at the roundabout and the poor learner took him literally.

I think you'll be OK tomorrow, just relax when you get in the car and remember that instructors are used to bad days with learners.

Answer 8

Try a car with an automatic transmission, this way you don't have to worry about shifting gears. I was really bad starting out too. But I graduated and even got a job as a driver for the Los Angeles Auto Auction!!

Answer 9

It doesn't sound like you have a very good driving instructor, he should have solved all these problems with you ages ago. Don't worry, it's really not your fault. Why don't you ask your instructor if you can just take it slow tomorrow and go round and round a car park or something to give you confidence and teach you that driving really is fun!

Answer 10

first off relax, driving is not the be all and end all. and when you pass you'll probably laugh and feel sorry for all the learner drivers you see. driving is all about nerves. you have to have patience and confidence (but not overconfidence). you have to relax and when you do that everything should fit into place. you cannot be a perfect driver. everyone who passes does not automatically become perfect, its only when they drive on their own and practice then they improve and enhance their skills.
has anyone in your family got a car that can take you say to a car park? you can probably practice your gear changes and clutch control and this will give you more confidence.