First lesson

The real annoying thing is the mirror signal mirror crap. 

Erm..... I'm supposed to have my first driving lesson on Saturday and am already sweating on driving on the "wrong" side of the road... what is the mirror signal mirror crap... 

what is the mirror signal mirror crap... 

Before you change direction or speed you check your mirrors to make sure there is no one behind you or along side who might be affected by whatever you are going to do.  Simple enough I think; do Americans no check their mirrors then?

Before you change direction or speed you check your mirrors to make sure there is no one behind you or along side who might be affected by whatever you are going to do.  Simple enough I think; do Americans no check their mirrors then?

Ah ok, I thought it meant something else. Thanks for clarifying. Yeah that comes naturally to me, although I do think this was emphasised a bit too much while preparing for the theory test here... probably 'caus the number of two-wheeler's are more here than the US... don't know.

Before you change direction or speed you check your mirrors to make sure there is no one behind you or along side who might be affected by whatever you are going to do.  Simple enough I think; do Americans no check their mirrors then?

Honestly most of the time no I don't.  Just a quick look at the interior mirror or I signal then look.  They make it an exercise here that you must do it or you will fail.

I think the saying is "Mirror, signal, Maneuver" (except I can't spell maneuver...)

So my 2nd lesson was yesterday and I did much better.  Still had two serious though.  I was driving like I wasn't on a test when I committed the serious.  Silly me    Anyways my instructor said I should get my license before january.  Here's hoping!

So finished my 4th lesson.  Still trying to do parallel parking without assistance.  Hill start was a breeze as I was already familiar and so is turn in the road.  Still yet to do reverse around the corner or bay parking.  My main problem is check mirrors before signalling, mainly when stopping on the side of the street.  I see many more lessons in my future.   

Before you change direction or speed you check your mirrors to make sure there is no one behind you or along side who might be affected by whatever you are going to do.  Simple enough I think; do Americans no check their mirrors then?

In the US, I would signal and then look in the mirror.  I have no idea if I was taught that way, or if I was taught to look in the mirror first and I started doing it backward out of bad habit, as my last driving lesson prior to moving to the UK was 23 years ago. 

So finished my 4th lesson.  Still trying to do parallel parking without assistance.  Hill start was a breeze as I was already familiar and so is turn in the road.  Still yet to do reverse around the corner or bay parking.  My main problem is check mirrors before signalling, mainly when stopping on the side of the street.  I see many more lessons in my future.   

 It really is humbling   Hang in there! It will be over before you know it.

In the US, I would signal and then look in the mirror.  I have no idea if I was taught that way, or if I was taught to look in the mirror first and I started doing it backward out of bad habit, as my last driving lesson prior to moving to the UK was 23 years ago. 

Same here!  No I remember we were taught that way.  There's nothing wrong with doing it that way unless you're taking the UK test.  I can do it the proper (UK) way 95 percent of the time but not when I'm told to pull over! 

So finished my 4th lesson.  Still trying to do parallel parking without assistance.  Hill start was a breeze as I was already familiar and so is turn in the road.  Still yet to do reverse around the corner or bay parking.  My main problem is check mirrors before signalling, mainly when stopping on the side of the street.  I see many more lessons in my future.   

Sounds like your doing fine... hang in there... your just learning to pass a test, not learning how to drive.  The only thing that helped me remember to check my mirrors was to think 'before i do anything at all check my mirrors'... so the instructor says 'turn right ahead please' --then in my head i would think 'mirrors' basically, whenever the examiner opened her mouth to say anything, i checked my mirrors... haha.

Sounds like your doing fine... hang in there... your just learning to pass a test, not learning how to drive.  The only thing that helped me remember to check my mirrors was to think 'before i do anything at all check my mirrors'... so the instructor says 'turn right ahead please' --then in my head i would think 'mirrors' basically, whenever the examiner opened her mouth to say anything, i checked my mirrors... haha.

I think only electro-shock therapy will help me with signalling