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Learning to Drive...
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
So, I emailed a driving school about starting up lessons again (previously had 20+ hours of prof tuition) about 3 weeks ago.
I can't bring myself to phone up and book my first lesson and I keep putting it off. Any advice?
I can't bring myself to phone up and book my first lesson and I keep putting it off. Any advice?
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Why are you still nervous if you have already had 20+ lessons? I would suggest get someone else to do it.
I really need to get my licence, but I'm procrastinating. I'm stuck.
not good if you're on a budget though
Ilora - I am still uneasy now in a car and I had a serious accident when I was 14, so 7 years ago now. Just get back into it. I have had a car (y reg) since July and have been paying tax and insurance on it and have still not took any lessons or drove in it so I am going to sell it now. Too much money to be sitting on a driveway! My parents say it is laziness, but I still do feel anxious in a car even as a passenger.
But bite the bullet and do it now. The longer you put it off that harder it is going to get. (I should really listen to my own advice here)
I've been recommended my mates instructor, who I contacted VIA email and he was happy to take me on. I just can't bring myself to pick up the phone and book a lesson.
I learnt to drive in a private car park round the corner before i took lessons, so all lessons taught me were techniques, maneuvers and stuff. If someone else could take you out for half an hour you might feel better about getting back into a car. Then can't you arrange a lesson over email?
You won't regret it, i don't know what i'd do if i couldn't drive, it's amazing!
I just don't know what's stopping me pick up the phone. Arrrgfh.
Weren't you in a head on collision with some women trying to kill herself?
If so I'd be afraid too.
don't do it, if you don't have the intention to learn. If you are not calling you don't want to motivate yourself for it, and you clearly do not grant it a lot of value at the moment.
priorities will shift, and (maybe) soon you will call them up, because you want to resume your driving lessons.
I had a load of lessons (about 10) when i was 17, went on holiday then just didn't ring my instructor and book any more, then i started learning again when i was 19 but hated my instructor - he was the original slimy git. In the end, when i was 20, mum said to me that if i wanted to drive, i had to do it NOW and she would pay for a load of lessons for me. I did it quite quickly, in about 8 weeks, passed my test second time and i wouldn't be without my car. It really helped that i a) had a really good instructor who i got on with fantastically and b) i had something to work towards, in that my mum had said when i was in london i could use her car - plus, living in Norwich is a bit crap without a car cos the public transport up here is shockingly bad.
So yeah. You need to find something to motivate you, and find an instructor you get on with well, it helps so much.
I was going to say something else to go with that, but my brain has melted
ETA: Oh yeah, and i don't know anyone who didn't hate learning to drive. It sucks, it's really crap and time consuming and can be a bit dispiriting... but it's so different once you've stopped learning and start driving for yourself. I used to hate my driving lessons (not anything about them, just having driving lessons) and now i'm perfectly happy to drive all over the place.
At the end of the day though see it as a challenge to overcome and take it one step at a time. Once you have your licence and your confidence in the car grows you won't regret it.
Be honest with your instructor about how you feel and make sure you get on well with them, just change if you feel things aren't working.
Good luck with whatever you decide anyways
Yes, definately!
If you're not really motivated to do it and you aren't desperate to be behind the wheel for the freedom / fun etc then perhaps you aren't ready. If you can get a lift to places of public transport isn't a bother in your area then maybe you aren't ready? I dunno, just that fact that you're putting it off would suggest that in some small way you might not be ready.
This is so true. I really enjoyed my lessons and passed first time! When I was allowed on the road myself I felt really nervous. If I had to drive somewhere I'd never been before I would panic. It took a couple of years before I was truely at ease. I've been driving for 6 years now and I really enjoy it!
If that's not inspirational, don't bother learning. Noone's forcing you to.
I was in a car accident too, which makes me a very nervous passenger. In fact most of the time i refuse to go in other peoples cars, so my incentive was that if i learn to drive myself i can have independance without having to be a victim of other peoples driving.
I passed my test first time after about 12 lessons and havent looked back since. Practice and experience are the most important parts of driving and i feel completely safe with my driving (its just some other people on the roads that make me fear for my own safety :banghead: )
I think Illora has phone phobia and driving anxiety. You might feel better after the first lesson? See if you can get someone to book it for you.