Struggling and on the verge of giving up

Rubberlegs

You will get there, OP!! I was 35 before I learned to drive, out of necessity. I was a wreck, used to come back off lessons with a stiff neck, and pounding head, from gritting my teeth! It took a long time to get comfortable with the gears, moving off in traffic, and don't talk to me about hill starts. I can remember shaking out, afraid to let down the handbrake, with cars building up behind me. I found it very hard as well, to negotiate the controls of the car, and know what was going on around me on the road. There is no way I would have gone out in my partners car, and to be honest I didn't want to drive with him, as he has no patience. I was lucky to have my Dad to practise with though. As others have said I ended up getting a 1l Polo, and going out as much as I could. Eventually it all falls into place, and starts to come naturally. Don't give up, and best of luck!

J_R

I can't tell when to move into 3rd gear, I'm unable to coordinate myself coming up to junctions (I can't look, judge, change down gear, slow, react etc). As As for roundabouts, I get stuck because I can't move off quick enough so I wait until there's a huge gap before I move onto it. I cut out but I don't know what I'm doing to make me cut out.

I can't get any practice with anyone between lessons so I'm at the point of giving up altogether as I feel I'm never going to get anywhere. (I've never driven a car without dual controls and I don't feel confident enough to do so).

Is there any hope for me? I'm trying very hard but I feel stuck![/QUOTE]

Hi,

I look in my mirrors but don't take in what I see,

Have you ever seen an "Hourglass" or an arrow speeding around in circles on a computer screen ? It means the computer memory is too busy to accept and act on any new input as it its memory is fully loaded occupied with some other program. The same thing is happening to you. Your brain is feverishly working on controlling the car, anticipating what you will have to do and the consequences if you can''t etc etc

I still struggle with moving off when I've been at a red light, I can't do hill starts,


That is the result of not being taught properly and is due completely on your incompetent instructors (all three)

Being nervous is in no way a hindrance in learning car control. Provided it is done one step at a time and each step explained - same for any learner. If you had been taught how to move off correctly from the start, hill starts would be no problem whatsoever as they are exactly the dame except as you re asking the car to do a little work you musy give it a wee bit more gas.

I can't tell when to move into 3rd gear, I'm unable to coordinate myself coming up to junctions (I can't look, judge, change down gear, slow, react etc).

If you had a proper instructor, after he had taught you car control he would have brought you to a quiet road (deserted dual carriageway ??( and covered this.

When you were fairly confident then and only then should he have brought you to busy roundabouts/junctions. Then your subconscious mind would be operating the controls and you would have had a few brain cells left over to watch the traffic/mirrors etc etc.

You are to be commended for sticking it out so long. But see if you could find an instructor who will actually teach. Not just give you the use of the car for an hour

Nervous pupils were my favorite, the more nervous the better. I found them easier to teach, they usually listened better and gave much more feedback, sometimes too much, some were inclined to babble a bit.

Your partners car is not a BMW by any chance ? I had young pupil (also very nervous) Turned up for a lesson one morning and told me the boy friend had just bought a new BMW. I told her it was an ideal car to practice on. She came bck next lesson and told me she could not drive it, the boyfriend says he is not allowed to put "L" plate on a new BMW. Did not say anything did not want to maybe spoil their relationship.

Thoie

Here's an easy to understand video about gears for anyone learning to drive (or who doesn't know how gears work).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOLtS4VUcvQ

MarkAnthony

Love those vids! How I learnt what a diff did