I have my Driving Test in just over a month...

MrRight

Well, this is my first post on these forums. I found the website looking for tips on how to master a Hill Start, funnily enough

Basically, I have my Practical Driving Test at the end of April, and just don't know how to weigh up my chances of getting a Pass. I'm 17 years old, and have been learning to drive now for around 8 months.

I have had around 25 lessons - with, incidentally, no external practice with family members etc, so I do feel that waiting a week before doing a lesson makes the whole process of quickly getting into the 'zone' on a lesson, so to speak, particularly difficult. This is probably the cause of my worries, in relation to my lack of practice. Despite this though, I am fairly sure that my general driving is competent enough, it's just my pre-match nerves are over-shadowing any feelings of confidence.

I feel, now especially, that it may be too late to go out with my Parents, due to the fact that my Test is rapidly coming up and I don't want to pick up any bad habits etc; you get my drift. Therefore, I'm getting pretty apprehensive over how I'm going to come out of the test a fully licensed driver.

I have a few mates who have recently passed, and they've gave me some advice on things to look out for, and things to do. But I'd like to ask some of you guys on here if you have any advice on how I can go into the Test confident enough to achieve a pass, and of course how I can kill off some of the anxiety I'm feeling

Thanks guys, appreciated,

Dave

Wats_in_a_name

I've only had 4 lessons so I am not exactly an expert!

What I do is find the bite point hold it there, handbrake off, lift of clutch slightly then accelerate away while remove clutch.

My instructor took me to a steep quite road and we did hill starts without using the hand break.

Just finding the bite point quickly. Was great practise and helped me a lot.

SherryD

Its hard to say what your chances are, for some people 25 lessons would be more than enough others would need more practice. If its only a month and you're going to be having lessons anyway it can't really hurt to try go out with your parents. At this stage you'd know what you shouldn't be doing so I doubt you'd pick up any bad habits. You could always go out once with them and see how it goes, you don't have to continue if you don't like i.

MascotDec85

Any time spent practising is time well spent. If you can get out with your parents try to do so. If you feel it's not helping, just say thanks but not thanks.

You've over a month until your test so you'll probably have 4 or 5 lessons still to take. These lessons alone could give you the confidence you need going into your test, It's 4 or 5 hrs, in a car, to perfect the things you need to pass. However, you can still practice when your at home by imagining driving scenario's and going over them in your mind's eye so that you know them inside out.
Knowing something inside out will inspire it's own confidence, you know what you are supposed to do so you don't worry about it. It's only when you don't know that doubts can start to take over you, remember that.

No doubt your ADI will do a pretest with you. Ask him to do this with a couple of weeks to go so that you've time to work on any aspect that might need it. What has your ADI said about your progress so far?

If you have a read through a few of the threads on here you'll find some good advice. If you've any questions just ask

MrRight

MascotDec85 wrote: »

What has your ADI said about your progress so far?

TBH mate, he told me to book my Test 3-4 weeks ago, partly because he feared the waiting list would stretch even further. He believes I've made pretty satisfactory progress considering I have not been practicing in my own time - I've also took on board what you've said about going out with my parents, it's something I do feel would probably benefit me in the run-up to the day.

My ADI feels my main weakness is the 'smoothness' of my driving - which I know is quite an unnecessary weakness to possess at this stage. My clutch control used to be very poor early on in my learning, especially when moving off. But that's something I've hopefully managed to just about perfect. My main concern, however, is that I tend to have very abrupt gear changes, especially when I'm changing from 1st to 2nd gear. I don't know if you have any advice on how to rectify this?

Honestly, any suggestions and advice is much appreciated.

MascotDec85

MrRight wrote: »

My main concern, however, is that I tend to have very abrupt gear changes, especially when I'm changing from 1st to 2nd gear. I don't know if you have any advice on how to rectify this?

Honestly, any suggestions and advice is much appreciated.

The key to a smooth change between all gears but between 1st and 2nd in particular is down to timing. That's not staying in 1st so long that you've built up a lot of speed and the timing of your foot movements on and off the pedals. You also need to be gentle with the gas.

So you move off in 1st and you are ready for 2nd.

Right foot up, left foot down
2nd gear
smoothly - left foot up, right foot down (gently)

So, as one foot goes down the other comes up. Both feet and pedals should work in harmony with each other. Your right foot doesn't need to really need to apply much pressure to the gas pedal and any pressure you ever apply to that pedal should be done gradually and smoothly for 2 reasons; smoothness of the drive and fuel consumption.

greenie

I agree with Sherry and Mascot..I think it's worthwhile to have extra practise in between lessons with your instructor but...this is a big but..if your family member or whoever sits in the car with you is nervous with you driving then get somebody else because that can freak you out. It's good to have experience driving with someone other than your instructor so you won't feel weird on the day of the test with a stranger.
The gears problem could be going into 2nd too late. As Mascot said, it's all about timing. I was like that at the beginning..especially going from 2nd to 3rd. I was always staying in 2nd too long and then going into 3rd would never be smooth. If you go into 2nd pretty much once you've started moving you'll notice the difference. I think feeling comfortable with the gears comes with the more experienced you get.
Good Luck with it:)

SherryD

greenie wrote: »

I agree with Sherry and Mascot..I think it's worthwhile to have extra practise in between lessons with your instructor but...this is a big but..if your family member or whoever sits in the car with you is nervous with you driving then get somebody else because that can freak you out. It's good to have experience driving with someone other than your instructor so you won't feel weird on the day of the test with a stranger.
The gears problem could be going into 2nd too late. As Mascot said, it's all about timing. I was like that at the beginning..especially going from 2nd to 3rd. I was always staying in 2nd too long and then going into 3rd would never be smooth. If you go into 2nd pretty much once you've started moving you'll notice the difference. I think feeling comfortable with the gears comes with the more experienced you get.
Good Luck with it:)

Definitely!

Don't worry about picking up bad habits in a month though I think its very unlikely.

MrRight

Hi again, folks

Well, I didn't have a very pleasing lesson mid-week, pretty poor TBH However, I had half an hour out in the car tonight with my Mum in an Industrial Estate. I just practiced a few manoeuvres, and got a feel for driving another car. It actually went really well, much better and helpful than I thought

Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully; I'll build from here, grow in confidence and get that pass I'm looking for :cool:

greenie

MrRight wrote: »

Hi again, folks

Well, I didn't have a very pleasing lesson mid-week, pretty poor TBH However, I had half an hour out in the car tonight with my Mum in an Industrial Estate. I just practiced a few manoeuvres, and got a feel for driving another car. It actually went really well, much better and helpful than I thought

Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully; I'll build from here, grow in confidence and get that pass I'm looking for :cool:

Ah good for you MrRight...:D

MrRight

Excuse the cheek folks, but I'm delighted to post that I passed my driving test this morning.

I managed to get a pass with 5 driving faults - 2 for my positioning, 1 for steering, 1 for cutting a junction, and 1 for speed - which I'm pretty, pretty pleased about.

I took all of the advice which was given to me; I practised, practised, then practised some more, and more, and more. And, well, it's paid off.

MascotDec85

Nice one mate, very well done

daveharnett

Congrats mate. Now for the part where most people fall down: keep learning!:D

Alanstrainor

Congrats man! Well done.

greenie

Brilliant! Well done:D

prash

Anybody take their driving at Naas ? I heard its one of the toughest tracks in the country after rathgar. I am due for a test in 2 weeks and would really appreciate some advice.

Cheers