Starting Driving lessons..

I will be starting driving lessons next week..i just want my license and want to get it over with...i have passed the theory test and been driving a bit here for awhile...i am really nervous about taking them though...i found my first instructor from countrywide mean when i first took a few lessons here last year...i guess its the best thing for me to do though if i really want a license here...its cool that they are good for ten years...anyone else taking lessons or even better recently passed their test???

Happy driving!
Heck, you know, it might be an idea to talk with the company to ask for an instructor that's going to be sympathetic with the fact you aren't starting from scratch. My own instructor taught me from the principles that I'd been driving way longer than her and all she was to do was teach me how to pass the test and lose the bad habits I'd picked up.

If you're approached with that respect in mind, it makes it a lot easier. LOL...with my instructor, it was more a social thing...driving around for an hour gabbing like two school girls. Only occasionaly did I want to throttle her for telling me to look in the rear view mirror when swear I had.

Ah, but the secret there is that it has become so natural and spontaneous for me to do that, all I needed to do was un-adjust the mirror slightly so I had to strain just a little. She saw the body movement and was happy that I did look.

Another pointer I picked up was to imagine the instructor (and then test giver) had a bowl of water in his/her lap...and your job was to make sure none of it spilled. You'd be amazed at how much already experienced drivers just go for it...and jerk people around in the process.

Blondshania, how goes the driving lessons?  

I am soooo nervous about taking the test...I'll procrastinate as long as I can!  I think taking lessons is really wise though and I will do after I've been driving on my own a bit longer.  I've heard about intensive driving schools that you attend every day for a week or two (not sure which) and they guarantee you'll pass..sounds like something I need!

One question I have...you can drive over here for a year on your US license...how do they know when you've gone over that time span?

Good luck and dont' let the instructors intimidate you. I have had two different ones so far, and have decided that I am going to get a third, and have 'her' help me with passing the test in an automatic. I find that the male instructors tend to 'yell'  alot. I have never driven standard, and really feel I need to gain my confidence on the roads here before learning how to drive in a stick shift. It's stressful enough.    I took the theory and hazard perception last July, so I to just work up my nerve to book the practical. It's really so hard to feel so inadequate doing something here, that I have done for over half my life with no problem. ARGH.

I don't know how they know if youve went over the time on your US license..i had a lesson today..and i was so worn out afterwards...eek...it was a 2 hour lesson and we covered alot..i have to admit that i feel better about lessons now because when i tried to take some earlier last year..i had no experience driving in the UK really...and i had just moved over here...
now that i have settled a bit i feel better about lessons but can't wait to get them over with...i have only had 3 hours so far..she is booking my test now but says there is a 2 month waiting period...so hopefully i will be ready by then...

it helps feeling comfortable with the roads..best of luck..new drivers

I have to start taking lessons soon and am hoping to find a driving instructor who is mindful of the fact that I've been driving (Automatic) for the last 14 years in the US- does anyone know of any companies who have a reputation for being good with US to UK drivers? I'll be learning Manual for the first time, too and it has me terrified, to be honest. When I found out that my husband will be going on a business trip in March and that I should try to learn before so I can get to work, I burst into tears   Think it's stressing me out? hehe
Any info would be appreciated! Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Jen