The few, the brave - those of us taking driving lessons right now!

also, I wanted to say thanks - I am finding it very comforting that I am not alone in this. It really does make me feel better that others are having the same problems and that it's not just me!

also, I wanted to say thanks - I am finding it very comforting that I am not alone in this. It really does make me feel better that others are having the same problems and that it's not just me!

 

All this comedy is wasted on you, isn't it?  I wrote that whole bit about MI5 and being deported as a foreign agitator for stirring up trouble at the DSA, and all you want to talk about is automotive braking systems.  It's disappointing.

Don't worry, I had a good chuckle so it wasn't wasted!   

FWIW, my DI told me that a) you don't have to use the parking brake, as long as you're in control of the car - i.e., no rolling backwards or forwards, and b) you can steer hand over hand if you want to, rather than threading, as long as you're in control of the car.  However, the thinking is that these methods (parking brake, threading the steering wheel, etc) help to ensure you're in control of the car, which is the main thing examiners are looking for...

Precisely.  It's what ADIs have been taught to teach as the method that they feel is most likely to result in a novice driver maintaining full control of the vehicle.  The problem appears to be that some instructors doggedly refuse to acknowledge that for many experienced drivers trying to force them into an unfamiliar technique when they can already maintain full control of the car perfectly well is counter-productive and totally unnecessary.

(i.e. "parking" versus "emergency" brake

Both terms are used widely in the U.S., though.   Maybe localized preferences for terminology?

Really, I understand why there are different types of pedestrian crossings, but why do they need so many! And when will I be able to tell which is which from the car?

They've gotten carried away with it in the last few years.  Do you really need to know the operational differences between a Pelican crossing and a Puffin crossing, for example?   Drivers have never been expected to know the technical differences on regular traffic lights between timer-operated, pneumatic sensors, induction loop vehicle detection, and so on.   Pelican or Puffin, all you need to know is that you must stop on a red light, and may proceed on flashing amber if the crossing is clear - The same as for any other lights.

Don't worry, I had a good chuckle so it wasn't wasted!    

Oh, good!  I hate to waste good comedy. 

Okkkkay, so my third lesson is tomorrow--which means the butterflies have set in...now.  But, anyway, I was wondering, in general how much practice everyone is getting outside the lessons? My husband is a nervous person in general, and he is...hesitant to be the one to practice with me.  I COULD drive on my own with my US license, but I would rather have someone there to remind me to look right first. I'm thinking of hitting up a few of our braver friends..but would I just need a few times a week with someone else?
Of course, I might feel brave enough after the lesson tomorrow to try it on my own! I ALMOST feel brave enough (manual-wise) to try now...

Don't be afraid to drive alone once you have gotten some confidence from a few lessons. To get in the car by yourself while still on your US licence validity period is a priceless boost to the confidence if you can make yourself do it.

Although I failed my practical.... :\\\'(.... it was on a wrong move on a roundabout, and my examiner told me that everything else about my driving skills was great and would have passed me with flying colors -- I know this was because once I got over my early nerves, I was driving around London by myself for months, and even got to love it!

I started out terrified in my lessons and swore I could never drive alone just yet. The thing that got me over my fear was basically HAVING to get behind the wheel alone when a household crisis happened. If anything forces you to do it, you can do it, and it's an incredible boost to the confidence and skill level because........ when you have to think for yourself in silence and solitude, it's actually easier than when your instructor or anyone else is sitting there telling you what to do.

Yes, we are supposed to "do" roundabouts and reversing tomorrow--so once I have those down, I think I'll feel more confident.  I'm going to use the practice as a treat, I think, by driving out to places where I might be able to horseback ride!

You're right, though.  I KNOW I should practise, but it's convincing myself I won't do any damage while I do that's the trouble!

Just when I think I'm getting better I screw up.  Last week I was feeling pretty good about my lesson until we got to a very busy roundabout.  After waiting for a minute or two I pulled out into the flow.  But it all went pear shaped when instead of keeping it at 30 mph I slowed down (I think someone came up on my right side..probably entered in the right lane just after me...not sure).  My DI yelled 'speed up, speed up!' then pulled me over and braked hard...I really don't know exactly what happened.  I was so shaken I banged the curb when we finally got to our exit.  Lucky it was the end of the lesson.  I was having 'heart palpitations.' 

I think my reaction was out of fear when I'm in fast moving, heavy traffic where someone seems too close to me.  I had issues in the US too and pretty much avoided heavily congested highways where I didn't feel I had enough room to get out of the way if necessary.  Dunno how to overcome this fear.  It's deep-seated.  Only hope is if I'm lucky on the day of the test and don't get into the same situation.  My test is at 10:44 in the morning.  If it only takes 30-40 mins we should be safely back at the test centre before the lunchtime rush.

I think roundabouts are one of the most common fears for those of us who are not used to dealing with them. I know someone earlier in this thread failed because of one incident on a roundabout while all else was fine, and this happened to me too. My driving instructor even told me afterwards that it was because I was reading this thread too much and fixating on roundabouts that I convinced myself "we" (meaning anyone who learned to drive in the US!) "can't do roundabouts!"

The thing that really pisses me off is that following my fail, I continued to drive by myself and in fact happened to find myself needing to negotiate three major roundabouts on my route back and forth to a new location I was dealing with. They are doozies, large, busy, just like the one I failed my test on, yet I very quickly managed to deal with them just fine, every single time. However, I was choosing the starting lane I wanted to choose, rather than the one my driving instructor told me to. He had me starting in a right hand lane, then having to jump two lanes to the outside left lane to make my eventual turn.

When I was on my own, I just started in the left or middle lane, stayed in it all the way around, and then just slipped into my exit without having to do this dangerous left-ways lane hopping that I feel is more hazardous than just going all the way around together in one lane. It worked every time when I drove by myself and made my own decisions. I think if I had chosen on my test to do it "my" way, I might have had a minor markdown for questionable lane choice but I would not have received my major fault markdown for screwing up on the "hopping"....

Midnight, that makes very good sense to me.  I think if I didn't have to worry about changing lanes it would reduce my panic too.  Except for the roundabouts where you can't start in the left lane (because it exits immediately), probably it would work fine.  As long as the examiner doesn't fail you for choosing the 'wrong' lane then it might work for me too.  Definitely I feel safer sticking to the left lane even if there are cars in the right lanes.  I'm ok starting in the right or center lanes on roundabouts with traffic lights.  There it's just keeping to the lane markings.  I think I may just find out which roundabouts restrict the left lane to the first exit so I know ahead of time where I can't get away with starting out in the left lane.   

oh dear, this strategy may not work on the test...I've seen that 'incorrect positioning' in roundabouts is a major reason why people fail... :\\\'(

Yes, obviously it's a no-no to start in the left lane if it's one of those that immediately exit instead of keep you going around to your own exit. But when it's not, I take that one.

I think the incorrect positioning is when you are already on the roundabout but truly in the wrong lane to make your exit safely, such as being on the innermost lane yet needing to cut everyone up to jump to your exit suddenly instead of changing, changing, then finally smoothly winding up on the left lane in time for your exit, for example. But there isn't always time and space to change smoothly if you are stuck on the inside!

As with a few other things, such as use of the handbrake, I get the feeling this is one of those that requires something mildy unrealistic ......(read: bloody stupid and pointless....) in order to pass the test, yet when you do your own thing outside of the test nothing goes wrong.

I failed on a roundabout with traffic lights! I found, at least on that particular one, that the having to stop for lights made it even harder to then change lanes quickly enough to be ready for my exit, especially if giant buses and aggressive drivers were not letting me find a gap to even do so.  

AAAUEEEGGGGGGGHHHH! May I vent for just a tiny moment?

Ironically, since at the moment I happen to be posting here on this topic.......I JUST now looked at my e-mail and I got one from a friend -- his teenage daughter just passed her test.

Forgive my bitterness but I can't help wanting to whinge a bit over how a petulant, impatient, rather spoiled girl with no wisdom, road experience or understanding of the skills she's using manages to pass, while a grown woman with two decades of experience, skill, road-wisdom, etc manages to fail? Feeling mighty sorry for myself right now -- it will pass.....deep breath. Rant over.  :\\\'(

Midnight Blue, I think the key here for any of us who have been driving in the US for many years is that we drive in a realistic fashion, where as new drivers are being taught straight out to drive to pass the test, not as one would actually drive. A newbie may pass the test but every statistic shows they are the most unsafe drivers out there and cause the most accidents.

I'm in the middle of my driving lessons right now and my instructor is great, but I expect I'll fail the first time out. I'm learning to drive to pass the test and having to force down years of experience as a safe driver. On the one hand, I have always driven manual, so I'm not adjusting to the use of the car, and I drive here now on my US license every day. But driving to pass the test..whole other bag.

And oddly I feel like I'm driving in an unsafe manner when driving to pass the test.

Just like being 16 again, but worse!!!

Midnight Blue, I think the key here for any of us who have been driving in the US for many years is that we drive in a realistic fashion, where as new drivers are being taught straight out to drive to pass the test, not as one would actually drive. A newbie may pass the test but every statistic shows they are the most unsafe drivers out there and cause the most accidents.

I'm in the middle of my driving lessons right now and my instructor is great, but I expect I'll fail the first time out. I'm learning to drive to pass the test and having to force down years of experience as a safe driver. On the one hand, I have always driven manual, so I'm not adjusting to the use of the car, and I drive here now on my US license every day. But driving to pass the test..whole other bag.

And oddly I feel like I'm driving in an unsafe manner when driving to pass the test.

Just like being 16 again, but worse!!!

Jennyfu, you are so right, and thanks for this!!! 

It's true, driving in a manner that will pass the test, and driving in the way we do in perfect safety daily, are two different things, even though they kinda shouldn't be.

Even this girl's dad said he basically fears for her out on the roads now, as her lesson in truly safe driving is only just beginning, sure enough.