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

I felt exactly like this. I was really frustrated with driving here. I cried during my first lesson, and I cried when I got home sometimes because I hated it so much and I missed driving in the states. (Yes, I was very melodramatic... haha!) I knocked the wing mirror off of our car. The instructor put the emergency brake on me several times during lessons because I got too nervous. Even after I passed my test, I was still as nervous as I could possibly be and didn't want to drive to unfamiliar places, etc. It's now been almost a year and a half since I passed my test, and I am a much more confident driver here. I feel relaxed and love having a drive in the country with the windows down and the radio on, just like I used to in the US. I still have a long way to go, I haven't really driven in the city, but I know my way around my own area and can get to places on my own. The independence is great! So just hang in there, it really will get better in time. It was definitely the hardest thing for me to get used to and now that I have finally adjusted to it, I feel truly settled in here. Good luck to all of you!

Jewlz, I remember when you were taking your lessons so well!  Has it really been a year and a half?

I felt really uncomfortable with him though so have called and asked for a different instructor for my next lesson, which is now booked for Wednesday.  Wish me better luck with this one!

I was very nervous about driving, taking lessons, and taking the test too.  Luckily, I had a really patient and helpful instructor and it all went smoothly.  Definitely keep changing until you find a instructor you like. 

I was a neurotic mess as well.  It's been a year and a bit now (got the license in September of '09), and I just recently found myself drinking coffee while driving the manual as relaxed as can be!  I cried after my first lesson too, and the whole thing was totally stressful, but it gets way, way way better!

I start lessons next Tuesday and have my theory test on the 21st.

How many lessons is everyone taking? I'm hoping 5 lessons will be enough. Maybe 10?

How many lessons is everyone taking? I'm hoping 5 lessons will be enough. Maybe 10?

I only took four lessons, but I also had my own car and was driving around every day.  If you dont have a car to use for practice, you may need more than five, but everyone is different, so its hard to say.

i didn't have my own car and took 7 lessons and then one on the morning of the test.

I took eight and one on the day. We had a car, but there was NO WAY I was practising with my husband in the car (nerves+nerves=disaster). I probably could have done it in fewer, but I passed first try so I've never regretted taking that many! Plus, it helped me get to know Manchester as I specifically asked that we a) do as many test routes as possible and b) go somewhere new every time.

I took 20 (or was it 30?) lessons - ha ha!  I had put off driving here for more than 5 years, and apart from my lessons - well I didn't practice with DH in the car. 

Now it seems like a lot but I wasn't sorry I did.

I still don't drive that much (have had my licence now coming up 2 years) because we just don't have occasion to.  Hopefully, someday I'll feel comfortable driving here - apart from just around my neighbourhood where I know my way around. 

I felt exactly like this. I was really frustrated with driving here. I cried during my first lesson, and I cried when I got home sometimes because I hated it so much and I missed driving in the states. (Yes, I was very melodramatic... haha!) I knocked the wing mirror off of our car. The instructor put the emergency brake on me several times during lessons because I got too nervous. Even after I passed my test, I was still as nervous as I could possibly be and didn't want to drive to unfamiliar places, etc. It's now been almost a year and a half since I passed my test, and I am a much more confident driver here. I feel relaxed and love having a drive in the country with the windows down and the radio on, just like I used to in the US. I still have a long way to go, I haven't really driven in the city, but I know my way around my own area and can get to places on my own. The independence is great! So just hang in there, it really will get better in time. It was definitely the hardest thing for me to get used to and now that I have finally adjusted to it, I feel truly settled in here. Good luck to all of you!

It totally amazes me the mistakes I was making! The first day it was like I had never driven before! LOL! I've always loved driving, but here, it's like my anxiety shoots through the roof! (I've had a few times where I have gotten out shaking REALLY bad! I think one of my problems is trying to find my way around (There are sooooo many freak'n streets! and you go in one direction and come back in another! COMPLETELY confusing!) then trying to stay in the correct lanes on top of it! (I live in city, and it can be confusing with all the lane changing you have to do!) I think once I get a job I will invest in a Tom Tom or something! I think where I get the most nervous is in town, especially when the streets are small with cars parked on the side, so your driving in the on-coming traffic lane! Ugh! But with my career field, it requires driving from place to place, so I need to get a grips soon!

Had my second lesson this morning, this time with a different instructor.  She is so much better!  I felt confident, we went on a lot of main roads and through a lot of roundabouts.  She was even nice when I hit the curb and made the hubcap fall off!  She said it is always the instructors fault and not the students because she wasn't paying attention at that point and was looking in her diary for her next appointment.  It was on a narrow road with oncoming traffic and I got too close to the curb (or kerb as they say here) in order to avoid a truck coming my way.  I was pretty nervous after that, but that was the only mistake, so all in all I had a good experience. 

Congrats! It takes guts to get out there and do it - remember that.
I am one of the freak few that didnt do any lessons but it helps a friend was an instructor and went for a ride with me to give me tips for what they look for the day before the test.  I also took mine in an automatic so that took loads of pressure off since we will only by automatics here.

I think I took 5-6 lessons, maybe more or less, I can't remember now and I'm not scanning old posts to find out  .  And all my lessons seemingly involved me practicing my reverse around the corner, over and over and over as I just couldn't get my head around it!  And wouldn't you know it, it came up on my test and whilst I didn't nail it (all minors came from it!, ha) I did it enough to pass the first time.  Now I still can not give a donkey's toss if I'm within a perfect circle exactly in line from the curb or exactly on my side of the road, but jeez, I can, and always have reversed around a corner safely!

Had my second lesson this morning, this time with a different instructor.  She is so much better! 

Having a good instructor makes all the difference.  My instructor was fantastic - and I still see her about on the roads and she waves to me and I wave back!  Funny that 3 years later and gazillions of students, that she still remembers me.

Is it ok on the test to "dry steer" like during a 3 point turn and parallel parking?

I did it.  I think it might be a minor.

I defintely did on my three-point turn and was not given a minor.  I do remember my instructor warning me about wear to the wheels by doing this, but the examiner didnt seem to care. YMMV

Is it ok on the test to "dry steer" like during a 3 point turn and parallel parking?

My instructor did mention that you would get marked for it, but a minor one.