Driving

Well done, my drivings going great, had about eight lessons so far, none this week though because my driving instructor was away. Taking the theory test in about two weeks, and got a car sorted out (VW Polo, either a 1.0 or 1.4 depending on money available at the time) so i can go to all the museums/airshows etc i’ve wanted to go to.

As I said on MSN, congratulations Dan!

Have my sixth lesson tomorrow, not looking forward really, I was awful last week, mind you I had a hangover, hope tomorrow is much better! We did meeting traffic and emergency stops last week, think its roundabouts tomorrow, got my Theory test on the 10th of next month, wish me luck!

Good luck with the theory, watch out for the pesky hazard perception! 😉

Hey well done on the pass.

LBA good luck for the theory.

My status…. er been out on the 50mph road near me a couple of times, got over taken at 45mph, went slightly over the 50, but managed to slow down for the speed camera, so far haven’t been able to go out since as the car has either been 8 miles away (with the ‘instructor’, who has been too occupied to assist) or he’s naffed off down the country and left the car here!

Haven’t attempted to reverse yet.

Some numpty in a bus decided to overtake me as I was just about to turn right! Luckilly I saw him in my mirror and stopped. I mean, I was on the right of my side of the road, indicating right and opposite a road (the one I was turning into) how much indication of my intentions did I have to give!

As I said on MSN, congratulations Dan!

Have my sixth lesson tomorrow, not looking forward really, I was awful last week, mind you I had a hangover, hope tomorrow is much better! We did meeting traffic and emergency stops last week, think its roundabouts tomorrow, got my Theory test on the 10th of next month, wish me luck!

Any updates on anyone here who has been learning?

I passed this morning 😀 10 hours of lessons, less than 2 months after I turned 17, passed 1st time. On a bit of a high at the moment! Ah the airport visiting possiblities are endless….

Woohoo! Congrats Dan, the world is now a smaller place for you, and the distance between your house and STN, even smaller! 😀 I’m approaching my first anniversary! 😮

The “R” on the gear lever stands for ‘reverse’, not for ‘racing’. I thougt it was important to communicate this to you 😀 .

Tillerman.

Any updates on anyone here who has been learning?

I passed this morning 😀 10 hours of lessons, less than 2 months after I turned 17, passed 1st time. On a bit of a high at the moment! Ah the airport visiting possiblities are endless….

Went to Letchworth last time, racin’ down the A1-beast.

Don’t know, I have the Focus cds, the ones that you can get from BSM (I bought them in Game) I’ve got the Theory, Hazard Perception and Practical ones. I also got the DSA Theory book yesterday.

Oh well, couldn’t avoid it any longer, mother in law left with the kids and we headed to the nearest industrial estate for a lesson.

I can now steer quite well, and I turn corners/bends in the road, did a couple of u-turns and didn’t hit the pedestrian, car or bus! (but the dead squirrel had nothing to do with me!)

Though I do think that maybe I am a bit heavy footed, seemed to brake a bit sharply at some points and the accelerated a bit rapidly occasionally. But I managed to reach 25mph!

Oh we are very aware of the potential problems, all he’s going to do is teach me the steering and how to handle a car, then apparently we are going to go up and down the road near us, as it’s a 50 limit and can be a quiet road.

Even he has said that I will need an instructor to teach me the rest.

And he has been told, first time he shouts at me and I get out!

We did well with the insurance, allbeit third party… I’m on it till the end of the year, for once my age is doing me favours!

I’ve had my provisional a few weeks, but have only had one informal lesson with the other half, this involved driving in perfect circles round a car park. He’s wanting me to get used to steering before I have to worry about the clutch and gears (we are using his automatic). He has now had me put on his insurance for the rest of the year so I can actually go out on the roads.

Great that your partner is willing to teach you – hope it doesn’t put a strain on the relationship! My brother-in-law attempted to teach his wife many years ago – needless to say she still doesn’t drive! 🙁

I don’t want to cast any aspersions on your partner’s driving style, but I would suggest you do have some lessons with a qualified driving instructor so he can iron out any “bad habits” you may pick up from your partner. The instructor may also see where your weaknesses are and be able to help you.

All said and done – enjoy it – it’s a very useful skill to have. 🙂

Its an excellent idea to get used to the steering before you worry about the clutch and gears, my dad took me to an empty car park some months ago, where we spent about an hour just doing figures of 8s, practising push pull, when it came to go round my 1st corner yesterday, I just did it naturally, despite not doing it for a while, for some reason I can do push pull perfectly when turning left, but struggle when turning right! Of course, practising steering, I also was practising low speed control and clutch control. Apparantly we are working on clutch control next lesson, looking forward. (Not!).

I spent a couple of hours last night on the BSM Theory and Hazard Perception CD Rom, managed to pass my hazard perception, and get as high as 32 on my theory, not bad considering I havent read any books or anything!

I’ve had my provisional a few weeks, but have only had one informal lesson with the other half, this involved driving in perfect circles round a car park. He’s wanting me to get used to steering before I have to worry about the clutch and gears (we are using his automatic). He has now had me put on his insurance for the rest of the year so I can actually go out on the roads.

I have minimal driving experience. My dad doesn’t seem too willing to teach me some stuff.
I have done a few beginner rounds on his van, though…

Is there anything to keep in mind that can impress the instructor?

Good driving is a place to start! ;).

Nice one! Glad you enjoyed it. My steering is pretty bad, was improving through the lesson though. Strangely enough, i haven’t stalled yet!

Thanks mate! I did indeed enjoy it, I may be going out tomorrow, not confirmed though.

It just started tipping down when my lesson started, was actually quite a good thing, any that knows/has a new Astra, will know about the incredibly daft self centering indicator and wiper stalks, at least it meant I got used to the wipers!

Just talk to him, find out his interests etc. Mine used to go to airshows, so we were talking about aircraft like F15’s etc, although when i mentioned my favourite aircraft was the Beaufighter he seemed a bit stumped!

Is there anything to keep in mind that can impress the instructor?

Nice one! Glad you enjoyed it. My steering is pretty bad, was improving through the lesson though. Strangely enough, i haven’t stalled yet!