Had my first driving lesson today....

Who knew I had SO many bad habits!?!?   

Seriously, it was almost embarassing as I've been driving for more than 8 years and I felt like a 15 year old driving student again.

If you took your UK test..how many UK lessons did you have?

Well i'm from the UK, but i had 14 lessons ! Thats with no prior driving experience, let alone a licence.

 

If you took your UK test..how many UK lessons did you have?

I think i had 10 lessons, but i was also driving around every day on a provisional, which gives you more pracal experience than you could ever get with lessons.

I probably had about 10 lessons or so -- and that's after having driven for 25 years before moving here. For me, I noticed that I could break myself of those habits pretty quickly. Yes, at first it is astounding, but it didn't take long to catch on. I just felt I needed more lessons to gain confidence and to be completely familiar with the test route.

Who knew I had SO many bad habits!?!? 

But are they really bad habits, or just those persnickety things which the U.K. system expects you to do in a certain way for the test?   

But are they really bad habits, or just those persnickety things which the U.K. system expects you to do in a certain way for the test?   

for me it is definitely the persnickety things!!

I am going for 10 lessons and I have my test already booked.

Casual driving would be more beneficial for overall confidence but I just haven't convinced anyone here to let me drive them around!  Lessons are really just to learn how to pass the test.

The 10 and 2-feed the wheel business will be my downfall!!

I'm learning to drive manual for the first time, and so far have only had lessons from my husband. He's a very good teacher, and taught most of his younger siblings how to drive. I will probably take a few lessons before the test just to make sure I'm doing all the right things to pass (although my husband is consciously making me do those things now). If I was only taking lessons, I would definitely take at least 10, but if I already knew how to drive a manual car, maybe a few less.

I took upwards of 25 lessons to be extra certain, and then took the test 3 times before I passed... don't get me started! - One of the tests was bull, the examiner found out I was American and made up a major fault that didn't happen, instructor was in the car and thought he was crazy. 

I was a driver in the states (both manual and automatic) for more than 8 years and had never been in a crash or got a ticket.  I consider myself a good driver.  Also had my motorcycle license in the US.

It was definitely the persnickety things they make you do over here that caught me up.  Much more interest in the particulars of how you do something than whether you are actually a safe and competent driver.  The number and frequency of which you are supposed to do mirror checks ACTUALLY disorients you and you could miss what's going on directly in front of you.

BUT.. if you follow the rules to a T and dress really cute, you will most likely get by 

After my lesson today, I will have had about 10 lessons. I have been driving since 1983, already knew how to drive a manual, and have been driving here since August. My test is scheduled for Tuesday and we shall see.

I am taking my instructor along with me just so if I fail, I will know EXACTLY what I did wrong. He has not had a student willing to take him along before and he is thrilled to see the test in action.

My weaknesses seem to be mirrors and roundabouts. Oh and stopping too close to the car in front of me. And prob a gazillion other things. 

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you! 

Oh and stopping too close to the car in front of me.

tires 'n tarmac! did you get that tip?

good luck!

Hee hee. It's just one of the multitude of things that run through my head when I am on my lessons. The minute I relax the old habits creep back though.

One of the things that I adore about my teacher is that he recognizes that fundamentally, I am a safe driver, so he tells me when I do things right and encourages me when I get frustrated.

He also likes to point out that if I do everything slower, I will burn up my 40 minutes with less chance of faults. Like walk to the car very slowly. Check the lights/under the hood slowly. Burn as much time not driving as possible. Hilarious! 

Oh, that's a good idea

He also likes to point out that if I do everything slower, I will burn up my 40 minutes with less chance of faults.

LOL! I love that advice!!

My intructor gave me useful tips about when to schedule the test. Avoid rush hour, avoid school pick-up times, etc. The best time is mid-morning, apparently. You'll have less traffic on the road and the examiners aren't tired and fed up.