The Official Learner Drivers Thread

[di marco]

My driving instructor informed me I am too difficult to teach... I am awkward behind the steering wheel... no surprises there! I haven't got anywhere with my lessons at all.. I can't even keep the car straight on the road, oh well..

My dad said to try again next year when I'm more mature.. :s but what difference is that gonna make! He's going to try teaching me he said, so I don't know, I will give it a shot again in the future!

Congratulations Babs! I have a medical condition too which makes it more difficult .. but on the dyspraxia site, it has specialist driving instructors and they let you learn in automatic cars so I might try that if getting taught by my dad doesn't work - I am determined to get it in the end!!

thats a bit out of order of your driving instructor! surely theyre meant to be encouraging you to do well not criticising you?! hopefully itll work out with your dad teaching you or with another instructor. dont let it put you off learning, youll get there in the end

[di marco]

I too have a medical condition, and was planning to learn in an automatic anyway. Dad reckons I should try a manual first to see how I get on with it but I don't know... got 5 months to think about it, I guess.

Good on you, Dave. You shouldn't let one instructor put you off. My old taxi driver claims that he used to be a driving instructor and said I'd never get a provisional as I'm disabled I'm sure there are people out there who have passed with far worse disabilities than I have. I'm sure you'll do better with your dad or a specialist instructor who would be better able to understand how dyspraxia affects you and have more patience to teach you.

even if you think youd be better in an automatic, it wont do any harm if you decide to try a manual first, and if you dont like it you can change to an automatic. your taxi driver sounds horrible, im pretty certain you wont be stopped from getting a drivers license

[.:SpIcYsPy:.]

I never liked the look of manual for some reason.. Mum knows how to drive both but she's been driving an automatic for some time now and I prefer it.. I think it will be quicker to learn too.
Is it true that you have to know the basics of a manual car even if you want to drive an automatic?
Thanks! x

[Abi]

There is no real difference between manuels and automatics when you get going. All you have to learn that is extra is clutch control, the rest is the same whether you have a manual or automatic. So don't decide to learn in an automatic thinking it will be quicker or "easier", because its not much difference at all. Once you've learnt for a while, you don't think about gear changes, you just do them.

Dave, just be persistent. You have to work at these things, and your instructor just doesn't understand that. It sounds like you are struggling to link what you see and what you do with the wheel, and that can only be fixed by trying and trying again. Maybe some hand-eye co-ordination exercises might help as well, i don't know.

[Abigail]

My driving instructor informed me I am too difficult to teach... I am awkward behind the steering wheel... no surprises there! I haven't got anywhere with my lessons at all.. I can't even keep the car straight on the road, oh well..

Never let anyone tell you you can't do something. Some people take longer than others to get used to controlling a car. My neighbour's friend took 11 years to pass her test. Persevere, you'll get there in the end. It will probably be worth having some lessons with your dad. If you don't feel like you're getting anywhere with your instructor then there's no point paying him good money when you can practice with your dad until you feel more confident.

I too have a medical condition, and was planning to learn in an automatic anyway. Dad reckons I should try a manual first to see how I get on with it but I don't know... got 5 months to think about it, I guess.

My old taxi driver claims that he used to be a driving instructor and said I'd never get a provisional as I'm disabled I'm sure there are people out there who have passed with far worse disabilities than I have. I.

This is all the medical conditions that could pose problems when driving. I'm not sure what disability you have but if it isn't on the list then you could ring the DVLA up and ask them.

I have to renew my license every three years until I'm 70 then every year after that because of my "disability."

[Abigail]

Is it true that you have to know the basics of a manual car even if you want to drive an automatic?
Thanks! x

Not sure about that but you can't drive a manual if you took your test in an automatic. If you pass your test in a manual then you can drive both.

[samantha nixon]

thought id come and join this topic lol, as my dad has started taking me out driving lol, I think its been going ok, except i got confused with the clutch and the brake and nearly crashed, but luckily i didnt

[Hollie-x]

thought id come and join this topic lol, as my dad has started taking me out driving lol, I think its been going ok, except i got confused with the clutch and the brake and nearly crashed, but luckily i didnt

Aww, at least you didn't (: Hope everything goes okay

Only a year and a bit till I can start (:

[CrazyLea]

For those of you who don't have me on Facebook... I failed my test today .
10 minors, 1 major - which was because I didn't use my handbrake when stopped on a hill; thus rolling back a bit. Wasn't too disappointed, especially as the thing I thought I'd fail on I did right (Reversing around a corner) .

Just annoys me that if that road was clear (which it usually is at 11ish, then I would have passed lmao!!!) Ah well, was good fun though But heck I was nervous in it.. I stalled twice, and my clutch foot just keep shaking lmao..

[DaVeyWaVey]

Ah never mind Lea. At least you gave it a go. Was that the first time you took your test?