LEARNING TO DRIVE – MY EXPERIENCE

After almost three years of driving, I thought I would share with you my experiences. Can we please agree that learning to drive is not fun? It is probably one of the most frustrating necessities in life that one must endure as they pass onto the adulting life. Before I learned to drive I was excited, however my excitement quickly disappeared when I realised that I had a million and one things to remember, I had cars coming at me on the road and an instructor in my ear telling me to stay calm when all I was thinking about as I gripped the steering wheel to the point where my knuckles hurt that I didn’t want to die so young. 

This may sound extreme to you but I was so terrified the first time I began my lessons. So much so that my instructor quit on me saying that my nervousness was making me a danger on the road. Can you actually imagine? Anyways, I did not go back to learn until after a year, where I took an intensive course. I learn to drive from Monday to Thursday and took my test on the Fridays and to my amazement, passed!

Learning to drive
#terrified

What changed from the scardy cat girl to one who literally (to me achieved the impossible over a week) passed her test in a week and plunged onto the motorway a couple of weeks after? (that is a story for another time) mind you I literally spoke to myself throughout the test, my examiner pretty much spent most of laughing at me. But I needed to do it so I did, even if he thought I was crazy. 

Instructor

Learning to drive is hard enough so having the right teacher is imperative. My second instructor generally had more patience with me. But that was not what helped me. As well as having patience he showed faith in me. He was confident that once I relaxed I would be fine and enjoy driving. Well it turns out that he was not wrong and three years on I do enjoy driving and I’m up and down the UK all the time in my little Corsa.  

Confidence and Experience

If there is one thing that I have learned, during driving lessons you learn to pass, but becoming a driver that comes afterwards. Because you drive more often by yourself your confidence grows especially as you do not have the backup of the instructor’s pedals. Believe me, I know, the first I drove by myself after passing, I was so nervous my leg wouldn’t stop shaking. I was stuck at a traffic light for ten minutes because every time I went to start I just stalled. However, let us not get ahead of ourselves, while you learn you need to also exercise confidence, trust in your instinct and know the instructor knows what he is doing. you have the confidence and they have the experience to teach you. 

Intensive/Semi-Intensive Driving Courses

As I mentioned earlier I took an intensive driving course when I did my lessons. Would I recommend yes, but only if you have the time and the money. Driving lessons are expensive in general, so if you are about to pay for a grand for a two weeks’ course if not more, then you need to make sure you are ready to spend up to 3 hours a day driving for a whole week or two. However, if you are someone who would like to take your time then I would not recommend it. 

Overall I hope this encourages anyone who may be feeling a little down in the dumps about their driving experiences. It is a struggle we have all been through but you will get to the other side, which brings you more cost but a lot more freedom and flexibility, but don’t forget the cost. 

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