My first driving lesson

Adz said:
As qualified drivers it's great fun to reminisce about how awful we were when we started out. Passing your test is only the beginning - wait until you drive in central London at rush hour for the first time.

It all came flooding back to me when I tried to learn to fly an aeroplane. I said to my instructor, "you seriously expect me to land the plane, keep a lookout, use the radio, listen to you shouting at me, move the flaps, work the rudder, use the throttle, watch the speed, trim, maintain separation and monitor altitude all at the same time? That's impossible!".

What will happen is that (just like the flying and most other skills in life) basic things (changing gear, steering, etc) will start to become second nature. That gives you the spare brain capacity to worry about what other people are doing, navigate, change CDs, talk on the phone, etc :p.

Keep at it and have fun :).
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Dude, You can fly? That's awesome! :D

But yeah, I just need to stick with it, It'll come. :)
 
You cant be superman on your first attempt, getting nervous at the prospect of driving wont wear off but you realise how good it is when you're actually in the car. I still think "hmmmm, do i really have to drive there?" but once im in the car and on my way its just 2nd nature, also it costs lots nowdays :P
 
Adz said:
What will happen is that (just like the flying and most other skills in life) basic things (changing gear, steering, etc) will start to become second nature. That gives you the spare brain capacity to worry about what other people are doing, navigate, change CDs, talk on the phone, etc :p
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Exactly, eventually it'll just click and your subconcious mind will go on autopilot, you won't even have to think about it, the only thing I find that you have to keep at the front of your mind is observation, always be mindful of what is around you and potential danger. If you suddenly are in danger your mind should instinctively react, staying aware of what's around you just helps your mind react quicker.

Eventually you'll get hunches too, how many people have been on a motorway for example and thought "he's going to pull out in front of me without looking" just from what you've observed, and 9 times out of 10 the idiot usually does pull out without looking.
 
wannabedamned said:
Thats a very good idea, Only it would be my brothers car. And I'm scared of it. :p

he's just had a 1.6 engine put into his little Corsa. Maybe a bit too much power for an L plated car :D
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as long as he doesn't have a racing clutch you'll be fine. If ** really scared of the engine you wont put your foot down, thats the only time you notice a difference
 
My first lesson was just learning about the car and doing a little bit of driving, after a couple of lessons I started to pick up most things easily, but sometimes I'd forget stuff by the next week. A couple weeks in and I was doing clutch control without thinking about it, and my instructor was amazed that I was doing it, especially as he hadn't at that point told me about it properly. :D

Now though it's all second nature as everyone says and (for me) it's such a great thing to do and I love to drive when I get the chance...not had a chance since I broke/crashed my last car a few months ago. :(

I actually find myself almost being an instructor in my girlfriend's car as her driving has gone down hill a bit and I keep picking up on it and telling her off etc. much to her annoyance. :D

I passed three and a half years ago, girlfriend passed like 2 and a bit ago I think. :)

InvG
 
Sounds like you didn't do too bad to be fair, on my first lesson I must have stalled about half a dozen times as the clutch control wasn't anything like I'd imagined.

I've had 10 hours of lessons so far and I've just started maneuvers.
 
It took me ages to pick up even the simple stuff and I was still screwing it up on my test day :D You're not alone, different people learn at different speeds
 
I'm scared to book my first lesson cause I know I'll be awful but want to drive sooo bad. :)

I used to be very into cars and still am but nowhere near as much. I just know it's gonna take a load of lessons before I'll be half decent and I'm not sure I'll be able to pay ofr lesson after lesson.
 
skippi90 said:
I'm scared to book my first lesson cause I know I'll be awful but want to drive sooo bad. :)

I used to be very into cars and still am but nowhere near as much. I just know it's gonna take a load of lessons before I'll be half decent and I'm not sure I'll be able to pay ofr lesson after lesson.
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In that case perhaps think about doing 2 hour lessons... that way you're not wasting much time catching up on the previous lesson each time? I wouldn't worry about thinking you'll be awful - instructors are used to it and you'll probably find it's not as scary as you imagine :D
 
Solari said:
In that case perhaps think about doing 2 hour lessons... that way you're not wasting much time catching up on the previous lesson each time? I wouldn't worry about thinking you'll be awful - instructors are used to it and you'll probably find it's not as scary as you imagine :D
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I found 2 hour lessons to be the only type of lesson I could do. This was because I live in the middle of nowhere, and by the time I'd gotten into the nearest town to practice things it was almost time to turn around and go back home again.

InvG
 
Solari said:
In that case perhaps think about doing 2 hour lessons... that way you're not wasting much time catching up on the previous lesson each time? I wouldn't worry about thinking you'll be awful - instructors are used to it and you'll probably find it's not as scary as you imagine :D
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When I was at school, most of my friends had field cars or drove tractors so they all basically knew how to drive when it came to taking lessons. I just wish I could get some sort of similar experience before the judging begins. :p
 
skippi90 said:
When I was at school, most of my friends had field cars or drove tractors so they all basically knew how to drive when it came to taking lessons. I just wish I could get some sort of similar experience before the judging begins. :p
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They won't judge you at all, they see hundreds, maybe thousands of pupils in their careers, so I really wouldn't worry about it. However you drive, they are bound to have seen much worse ;)

Save a bit and negotiate a discount on a block of 2 hour lessons, matey :)
 
Solari said:
They won't judge you at all, they see hundreds, maybe thousands of pupils in their careers, so I really wouldn't worry about it. However you drive, they are bound to have seen much worse ;)

Save a bit and negotiate a discount on a block of 2 hour lessons, matey :)
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I've decided on my instructor already. He's a Spurs supporter, like myself and has taught a few of my friends so that should help me relax a bit.

Any tips for the first lesson?
 
skippi90 said:
I've decided on my instructor already. He's a Spurs supporter, like myself and has taught a few of my friends so that should help me relax a bit.

Any tips for the first lesson?
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Hah - same situation with me.. my instructor was a fellow Spurs fan :p No tips really as everyone is different.... Once you've had a bit of a run around an industrial area, getting used to the gears, you'll soon start to grin and begin to enjoy it. :D
 
Solari said:
Hah - same situation with me.. my instructor was a fellow Spurs fan :p No tips really as everyone is different.... Once you've had a bit of a run around an industrial area, getting used to the gears, you'll soon start to grin and begin to enjoy it. :D
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Excellent. Cheers dude. Made me look forward to my first lesson somehow. :p
 
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