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

That was exactly what hit me in my impressions of London after twenty years away! I too thought where have all these cars come, and the same goes for all the parked cars making narrow roads in which a high factor of mutual etiquette is now needed on those sidestreets.

Definitely.  Twenty years ago I was visiting London fairly regularly, but stopped doing so in the early 1990's.   I've only been back a few times since then, and each time it seemed to be more congested than the last.   

My last visit to London was well over 5 years ago, so no doubt it's even worse now, but when Google street views became available I took a look around some of the old neighborhoods, and was amazed at how many front gardens have disappeared, replaced with concrete slabs to squeeze in as many cars as possible.

Definitely.  Twenty years ago I was visiting London fairly regularly, but stopped doing so in the early 1990's.   I've only been back a few times since then, and each time it seemed to be more congested than the last.  

My last visit to London was well over 5 years ago, so no doubt it's even worse now, but when Google street views became available I took a look around some of the old neighborhoods, and was amazed at how many front gardens have disappeared, replaced with concrete slabs to squeeze in as many cars as possible.

The people who now live in my old childhood home have paved over their front garden for this purpose. It breaks my heart a little, as when I grew up there, my dear ol' dad had created a beautiful traditional English garden of roses, daffodils, crocuses, lily of the valley, mint that my mum made delicious mint sauce from, and we had a lovely lilac tree by the gate. All gone now -- concreted over to accomodate three family cars.

The odd thing is, there is parking along the pavement, still unrestricted as far as I saw recently, and there was always a "driveway" to the side of dad's front garden for one car, at least, to be parked off-road.

I say all this while also being someone who sees the need and empathizes with anyone who wishes to have the convenience of their own vehicle; I certainly do. But there lies the rub....

The HUGE and very visible increase in the amount of vehicles on the roads, in people's driveways, on every bit of street parking space, really was one of my big shocks in the category of "Things that have changed while I've been gone."

Heard a quip that there are now more automobiles in the UK than there are people in California.  Sad really, that was one of the things I loved about being there in the old days -- less traffic.

How's it going everyone? I'm doing pretty well so far. Started my reverse around the corner manouevre, which isn't too bad. My overall driving has GREATLY improved since I started lessons. I don't guess I really ever knew how to drive a manual properly until now.  I'm finding it difficult to remember to signal in the proper place at a roundabout (and for some reason I keep signalling right when I am going straight through instead of left... I guess it's because I am turning the wheel to the right a bit.) But I'm navigating the crowded streets much easier, and not as terrified as I once was. I even enjoy all the sharp little corners in the nearby village now. 
Theory test on Saturday.... wooohooo! I'm doing ok with the CD-Rom, but plan to practice more this week.

How's it going everyone? I'm doing pretty well so far. Started my reverse around the corner manouevre, which isn't too bad. My overall driving has GREATLY improved since I started lessons. I don't guess I really ever knew how to drive a manual properly until now.  I'm finding it difficult to remember to signal in the proper place at a roundabout (and for some reason I keep signalling right when I am going straight through instead of left... I guess it's because I am turning the wheel to the right a bit.) But I'm navigating the crowded streets much easier, and not as terrified as I once was. I even enjoy all the sharp little corners in the nearby village now. 
Theory test on Saturday.... wooohooo! I'm doing ok with the CD-Rom, but plan to practice more this week.

Good on ya! Keep at the signaling through roundabouts. It is awkward but it is worth getting down pat as it really does help the traffic keep moving through the roundabout. But it does sound like you shouldn't have any trouble with your test. When is your road test?

Good on ya! Keep at the signaling through roundabouts. It is awkward but it is worth getting down pat as it really does help the traffic keep moving through the roundabout. But it does sound like you shouldn't have any trouble with your test. When is your road test?

I haven't scheduled it yet. I'll talk with my instructor after I (hopefully) pass the theory test on Saturday and see if he thinks I should go ahead and schedule it. I am sure it will take a few weeks to get in. I'm hoping to take my first practical test (hopefully the only one I will take!) before Christmas. We'll see!

I'm finding it difficult to remember to signal in the proper place at a roundabout (and for some reason I keep signalling right when I am going straight through instead of left... I guess it's because I am turning the wheel to the right a bit.)

Good luck! I had trouble with the roundabouts signalling as well.  I think it's one of those things that is MUCH easier if you've grown up around it and absorbed the rules that way.  Otherwise, my instructor pointed out that, at least on the test, they should say "take the third exit on the right" or something of that nature, so at least you know how to signal for the test.
How did your instructor explain it to you?

Good luck! I had trouble with the roundabouts signalling as well.  I think it's one of those things that is MUCH easier if you've grown up around it and absorbed the rules that way.  Otherwise, my instructor pointed out that, at least on the test, they should say "take the third exit on the right" or something of that nature, so at least you know how to signal for the test.
How did your instructor explain it to you?

Well, he just tells me "take the second exit" now instead of telling me if I am going left or right. He points out the junction signs before the roundabout and tells me to look at the sign to determine which direction my exit is going. He also explained the roundabout like a clock face - from 6 to 12, you will be in the left hand lane and from 12 to 6, you will want the right hand lane. So if I look at the junction sign, I can tell where the exit is on the clock face and figure out which lane I need to be in. I guess that might get more complicated with multi-lane roundabouts, but all the ones around here only have one or two lanes, so I will have to figure out the more complicated ones in the city later on. I'm sure it will be easier by then.

I guess that might get more complicated with multi-lane roundabouts, but all the ones around here only have one or two lanes, so I will have to figure out the more complicated ones in the city later on. I'm sure it will be easier by then.

The multi-lane ones here are usually really well signposted, and the exits are written on the lanes themselves and indicated on the signs before you get there--I find them the easiest because I can just follow whatever is written in front of me!

I think it's one of those things that is MUCH easier if you've grown up around it and absorbed the rules that way. 

Not true. It is only easy once you've been driving. My kids and ex grew up with the roundabouts but until they started driving they never paid any attention to rules of driving. So they went through what all new drivers here do.

But if you want to see a roundabout that must be an absolute nightmare, even for experience raod users, then check out Swindon's Magic Roundabout....You can even get a T-shirt " I survived the Magic Roundabout"
http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=115&ss=289

Here's a animation clip which show how it works. Just amazing..


BUT if you really really want to have fun on roundabouts, wait till you go abroad and hit  Paris's Arc de Triumphe

So, I had a good lesson last night and did great with the parallel parking - just have to do some practice on the manouvers this weekend.

Now the only problem is that I practiced my hazard perception mock exam tonight and I failed both times!  Now I'm worried about my theory test. I was so focused on getting the multiple choice part right that I didn't spend as much time with the hazard perception. Some things are hard to see in a small video until they are right in front of you, so I keep scoring ones on some of the videos. Guess I will have to practice it a lot tomorrow and Friday night.   

Now the only problem is that I practiced my hazard perception mock exam tonight and I failed both times!  Now I'm worried about my theory test. I was so focused on getting the multiple choice part right that I didn't spend as much time with the hazard perception. Some things are hard to see in a small video until they are right in front of you, so I keep scoring ones on some of the videos. Guess I will have to practice it a lot tomorrow and Friday night.   

Have you tried doing two clicks when you see something? Not a really fast "double click", more like a "1-1000", "2-1000" sort of timing. I had a REALLY hard time w/ the hazard perception until I started going "click....click" and then my scores shot up.  I think my original click was often just "outside" of the box they were scoring, and that method also helped me develop a sort of rhythm to the exercise.
Of course, I still had NO IDEA what exactly they were testing me on (children? animals? parking cars? light on the road?)....

I passed the first challenge! Now off to practice the parallel parking, etc. with DH tomorrow! Only one more test to go and I'm homefree! (Granted, it's the toughest test... but I'm sure I can do it, if not the first time, then I'll try again!) 

I passed the first challenge! Now off to practice the parallel parking, etc. with DH tomorrow! Only one more test to go and I'm homefree! (Granted, it's the toughest test... but I'm sure I can do it, if not the first time, then I'll try again!) 

Good on ya!  You got the right outlook to taking the exam. You have a date for that yet?

It may be hard but, and I have said this before, just remember how many really dumb people are out there and think if they can do it ...

I'm doing fine on mock theory tests, but that hazard perception thing...yeesh! I'm supposed to click when I see a pedestrian safely on the sidewalk fifty yards in front of me? A car on a side road looking perfectly ordinary and in control?

Those aren't hazards, that's just driving.