nervous drivers don't give up..

goodies

Hello all...long time lurker posting here today half crazy with excitement. Just home from motor tax office after lodging my application for full driving licence. Passed my test after 3rd attempt in Rathgar. I have been trying on and off for years and really really thought at aged 40 I would never see this day.
I have been incredibly nervous and jumpy and found co-ordinating all the aspects of driving extremely difficult. My primary reason for posting here today is to suggest to anyone out there who is struggling like I was to try an automatic car. I felt it freed me up to concentrate on the road and hazards etc and finally the whole lot came together. I know there are people out there who will disagree and say if you can't drive a gear stick you should not be allowed on the road but I disagree. I just want to bring my kids to school and this is my operation freedom.
My other bit of advice is to keep trying different instructors until you find a good fit. I went through 6 and finally found someone who understood my little quirks. anyway good luck to all.....

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Galadriel

Congratulations, that's great news! I've been learning to drive on and off for 10 years, I am also very nervous, I can't wait until the day it just feels natural, still don't think that day will ever come but I won't give up just yet!

Mint Sauce

Congrats, the excitment wont go away for a few days at least.



Drive safely.

Nozebleed

yeah well done...go up the mountains and pull a few skids to celebrate!!

diarmuid05

Well Done,

So many otherwise good drivers fail on the day because or nerves.

Haruki

Congratulations goodies. Funnily enough i'm just back from the motor office too, lodging my application for a learner permit:) so it's all ahead of me, and its really good to hear things like this. As for the whole automatic thing, each to their own is what i say, whatever works best for you...happy days.

goodies

Thank you all for your good wishes...wonderful day for me. Galadriel please do not give up...I was waiting too for that feeling of it coming naturally but I am not sure if it ever is a good idea to be totally relaxed and a little anxiety is no bad thing. I think you just have to keep at it going out as much as possible and believing in yourself.

Next step now is going out alone which is so so scary!!!

booksale

tks for your encouraging post.

in my own country, it's extremely common to use automatic cars. automatic cars are good for city driving. stopping and starting in city just make your feet sore. i would have bought an automatic car here if i am not a poor student.

Jamie-b

Congrats!!! It's brilliant that you didn't give up- you are an inspiration to people- I know a few in their 40s, mainly women, who say its too late for them to start but everyone gets their in their own time. With regards to the automatic- who cares??? You have the freedom and skill to drive around safely, that's the main thing. I would love an automatic- simply learned on a manual and that was that. And if you go on holidays you're sorted- everytime I look up car rental places abroad everything is feckin automatic and I'd be afraid of them!

ADIDriving

Great post. Great advice. Great result. Glad you passed.

spurious

My mother didn't start driving until she was 50 and it gave her a new lease of life.
Myself, I was content with a full licence on two wheels until 46 - hopefully I'll have the full licence for four wheels soon.

It's never too late.

cloneslad

congratulations.

I hope nobody here says that people driving automatics shouldn't be allowed on the road. If you are nervous about gear changes and clutching etc, then you won't be concentrating on the road.

Better to be comfortable with your driving and aware of your surroundings, which the automatic car has allowed you to be.

Good luck and enjoy it.

starlit

Congrats OP! I'm still a nervous driver but despite that think my driving is starting to come together t.g thought I never get to that point! Yet I am no where near ready to do a driving test. I rather just learn to drive and then prepare for the test when I am good and ready.

Thanks for advice OP, great to hear your insight and other posters too! Glad to know that people can be in the same boat as myself being a nervous driver! Once you get to grips with the whole driving experience and learning all the aspects of driving it will come more natural and the nerves will gradually go away.

Hopefully I can get myself to test standard within a year just hope I don't give up on the driving wholeheartly as I have come so close to doing so in the past few months but luckily I haven't given up! I'm going to keep trying despite my nerves!

leahyl

goodies wrote: »

Hello all...long time lurker posting here today half crazy with excitement. Just home from motor tax office after lodging my application for full driving licence. Passed my test after 3rd attempt in Rathgar. I have been trying on and off for years and really really thought at aged 40 I would never see this day.
I have been incredibly nervous and jumpy and found co-ordinating all the aspects of driving extremely difficult. My primary reason for posting here today is to suggest to anyone out there who is struggling like I was to try an automatic car. I felt it freed me up to concentrate on the road and hazards etc and finally the whole lot came together. I know there are people out there who will disagree and say if you can't drive a gear stick you should not be allowed on the road but I disagree. I just want to bring my kids to school and this is my operation freedom.
My other bit of advice is to keep trying different instructors until you find a good fit. I went through 6 and finally found someone who understood my little quirks. anyway good luck to all.....

Thanks so much goodies for your words of encouragement! I have my test on Wednesday and i am soooo nervous it's kind of ridiculous! Had a pre test lesson today and it didn't go too bad except for the reverse around the corner which i can't seem to get the hang of. The day went from not bad to very bad cos my dad (who's the best in the world in fairness - comes with me to work every morning and drives the car home and then comes back in the evening and i drive it home!) has no patience and nearly ate the head off me cos i made a few mistakes! Then i asked him if he thought i would pass and he said "you've got your work cut out for you"! I can assure you i am NOT that bad! It's just i get so nervous and if i do one thing wrong it completely throws me. Anyway went driving with him later on and we went and practised parking (backing into spaces which i'm also horrible at) and it wasn't too bad. Need more practice though. I'm dreading going back to the test centre after my test and having to back into a space if it isn't suitable to drive into:( Ah well i know it's not the end of the world but i would really like to pass it cos i've been driving for a year and 4 months now

Thanks again though - your words have made me feel better:)

goodies

Best of luck with the test wednesday Leahyl! I think there is a reason why we need instructors rather than our experienced family members....seriously so many slammed doors and arguments with my husband and my instructor never made me feel so bad. Even went out tonight to do some more practice runs on routes I might need and even with my shiny new licence there were still moments of non domestic bliss.

Forgot to add in my original post my other big bit of advice if you are very nervous is try to get a test later on in the day. My first 2 were early ones 9 and 9.15 and never got a good run at the day to practice. This time it was at 15.45 and I did 2 hours on the route before so by the time it came to the test was nearly sick of the area and knew the conditions...

safe driving everybody

Gusc

goodies wrote: »

Hello all...long time lurker posting here today half crazy with excitement. Just home from motor tax office after lodging my application for full driving licence. Passed my test after 3rd attempt in Rathgar. I have been trying on and off for years and really really thought at aged 40 I would never see this day.
I have been incredibly nervous and jumpy and found co-ordinating all the aspects of driving extremely difficult. My primary reason for posting here today is to suggest to anyone out there who is struggling like I was to try an automatic car. I felt it freed me up to concentrate on the road and hazards etc and finally the whole lot came together. I know there are people out there who will disagree and say if you can't drive a gear stick you should not be allowed on the road but I disagree. I just want to bring my kids to school and this is my operation freedom.
My other bit of advice is to keep trying different instructors until you find a good fit. I went through 6 and finally found someone who understood my little quirks. anyway good luck to all.....

Good on yeh Your determination got you there in the end. gusc

magochre

Well done and congratulations Goodies,

I understand your sense of achievement entirely. I'm in my mid-forties and yesterday went to the motor tax office to apply for my full driver's license having passed my test the week before. Part of me still can't believe it. I initially learnt so I could help my elderly parents with shopping and lifts etc. I saw no reason before that to learn as I like walking and really was too nervous to face it. It goes to prove it is never too late. A real bonus in all of this is I really enjoy driving. Like you, though, I believe it's wise to have a healthy level of anxiety to stay alert when in the car. We're controlling moving machines and there is a huge responsibility attached to that and not one to be taken lightly. It still catches in my throat when I think of myself as being in control of a moving vehicle :eek:, but that's closely followed by a gorgeous sense of delight .

I need to take it handy and, hopefully, gain in experience and skill with continued practice. It has been invaluable learning from two excellent qualified instructors and I don't want to fall into bad habits.

I was so so nervous doing the test and made mistakes as a result but all the lessons, pretests and practice got me through despite that. I wish everyone about to take lessons or the test the very best of luck. If I can do it, you most definitely can.

And I wish us all years and years of safe and happy driving.

Faith+1

magochre wrote: »

I understand your sense of achievement entirely. I'm in my mid-forties and yesterday went to the motor tax office to apply for my full driver's license having passed my test the week before.

Congrats Magochre. It's the best feeling in the work when you exchange that puke green permit for a shiny Pink Licence!

Gusc

goodies wrote: »

Hello all...long time lurker posting here today half crazy with excitement. Just home from motor tax office after lodging my application for full driving licence. Passed my test after 3rd attempt in Rathgar. I have been trying on and off for years and really really thought at aged 40 I would never see this day.
I have been incredibly nervous and jumpy and found co-ordinating all the aspects of driving extremely difficult. My primary reason for posting here today is to suggest to anyone out there who is struggling like I was to try an automatic car. I felt it freed me up to concentrate on the road and hazards etc and finally the whole lot came together. I know there are people out there who will disagree and say if you can't drive a gear stick you should not be allowed on the road but I disagree. I just want to bring my kids to school and this is my operation freedom.
My other bit of advice is to keep trying different instructors until you find a good fit. I went through 6 and finally found someone who understood my little quirks. anyway good luck to all.....

Well done on passing the test at the third attempt.
Gusc

magochre

Thanks Faith+1,
Yes, the pink version is much prettier. It arrived today though cutbacks are affecting everything now, I didn't get a little plastic with it!

Faith+1

magochre wrote: »

Thanks Faith+1,
Yes, the pink version is much prettier. It arrived today though cutbacks are affecting everything now, I didn't get a little plastic with it!

Yep things are that bad they can't afford to give you a 2 cent plastic cover!

I wouldn't worry about damaging it though, We're supposed to be getting new credit card style licences in the next year or two.:)

magochre

That's good to hear, Faith+1, at the moment I'm keeping mine in one of those little resealable bags you put loose pills and what not into. Not fitting for a spanking new full driver's licence. Might look out for a vintage silver cigarette case and pop it in there for the next few years!:rolleyes:

goodies

Oh well done Magochre!! I am so delighted with myself still and was exactly the same as yourself in that I enjoyed walking and before kids started school I really got away with not needing to drive. Have had a funny sort of reaction all week as I actually am still quite nervous on my own. I have about 3 well learned off routes and happy enough to do them. But have not been able to chance deviating off them although I know exactly same principles apply. I reckon when I do my routes about 20-30 times I will try more. Could not believe myself last night being able to go to supermarket late
without dragging out my husband and kids. Such simple delight.

I could not believe I didn't get the plastic cover even though the provisional I sent in had one on it which they could have just popped on ....I tell you a rant about the state of the country followed in my head...

magochre

Thanks so much Goodies and it's great to hear you're venturing out alone more and more with such a sense of satisfaction. It's a wonderful feeling isn't it? I wonder will the thrill or novelty I feel ever fully leave.

I can relate to your nervousness, though, and your comfort zone routes, I feel exactly the same and it's going to take me time to build up confidence in trying new routes. Somtimes, I come home from work a slightly different way or take detours to usual places just to push the boat out a bit. Plenty of time though, it took me this long to learn so I'm not in a rush. I'm motivated though and that's a genuine surprise and pleasure. I hope you continue to be too