Two in a Row : Driving Instructors

I've carefully (as in, informally interviewed beforehand) two independent driving instructors in a relatively small town. The first one ended, as I decided to do automatic only and he chooses to do manual only. He recommended the second, who I started with immediately after (with lessons done in my own car).

It started quite well - but at about 15 hours (!), the instructor took a marked dive in the communication department, mostly to do with not following through with strategies we'd set out as far as 1) instruction and 2) not talking unless necessary so I could concentrate on driving. I was honest with both of them from the outset - that although I'd been driving for decades (including the 12 months here), I sensed I might have difficulty with the many new details now required to drive here.

I received a resignation text just moments ago and am unsure how to proceed. (I sent a short kind text back just after.) We'd talked everything over and came to a happy agreement at the end of my last lesson - and I'm baffled as to whether I'm doing something inherently wrong - or if I've just had a short streak of iffy luck.

That the instructor can go in and see when/where I may change my test to doesn't thrill me either :/ , but I shall forge ahead with the one currently scheduled. I feel I have the driving down, but we'd only just started the manoevers in earnest and I'm not certain I'd pass as is.

Bleh, I'm probably not making much sense right now, but thought I'd run this question about how to proceed up the flagpole and see if anyone might kindly salute : ) (i.e. offer any suggestions).

[Edited to add that I've already replied very kindly to the instructor's text.]

It sounds like you may have fairly specific needs when it comes to what you want out of an instructor, and if that's the case, it may take you a little longer to find one that you're happy with.  I don't know you at all (obviously), so if I'm off base, feel free to ignore this advice.

Have you already run out of the 12 month leeway on the your US license?

You said the 12 months here?

What do you feel you need to complete? I would get a new instructor and don't tell them let them tell you what you need to work on to pass ;-)
After all they are the instructor.

good luck!

@camoscato: Thanks for your reply : ) My specific need that I was upfront with has to do with that I process mechanical things rather slowly/differently. The instructor happily accommodated that for 15+ hours of lessons then quite abruptly changed. I expressed concern (gently and kindly, I'm a counselor by profession and a huge fan of peaceful resolution), but ultimately ended up being un-heard and left to emotionally assure the instructor while paying :/

@ChillyWilly: Sincere thanks to you, too : ) The twelve months has expired, but I didn't and don't feel icky about that. Circumstances and all : ) As for what I feel I need to complete, an instructor I can be honest with when I'm not understanding something and/or feeling brain overload, so that we can start again or try another tack. From what the instructor last said regarding my progress, it seems the manoeuvres are the only hitch here (sorry I didn't make that clear!). Indeed, no way would I ever even think to tell an instructor what I need to work on : ) Both instructors would, um, back me up on that. [Groan, really bad punnage there!]

On a moving forward tip : ) , I just found what appears to be a new partial listing of instructors (those qualified who wish to be mentioned) on the DSA site, so I will reinitiate the search with positivity, as ever : )

Where are you located? Perhaps you could get some references? Not that I would recommend my driving instructor--I got through the test just fine but I don't think he could possibly be quiet

I agree about seeking recommendations.  That's how I found my instructor and I was able to know more about him that way and proceed with more confidence.

@missjoules: Thanks for your reply :~) I'm in rural-ish Scotland and will definitely pursue the recommendation route. I don't know why I wasn't more earnest with that during Round 1. And I'm glad you understood about the chatty/natter inclination! Friendliness I so appreciate, but when brain-rushed with things mechanical, it can quickly prompt me to lose the proverbial plot :~)  [PS - Congratulations on passing!]

@Cadenza: Thanks for your reply, too; I'm certain your advice will help :~)

Just take 'em out for a test drive - lol!  Until you find one you're comfortable with.

I had to fire my first one - she went all Jehovahs Witness on me during my first lesson. 

The next one was okay - a bit eccentric in personality & his views on the world/politics/etc, but he was a great driving instructor!

You'll get there. 

Just take 'em out for a test drive - lol!  Until you find one you're comfortable with.

That was classic! New meaning to the phrase 'test drive' indeed :~)

I had to fire my first one - she went all Jehovahs Witness on me during my first lesson. 

Whoa. :/

The next one was okay - a bit eccentric in personality & his views on the world/politics/etc, but he was a great driving instructor!
 

So glad you found a great instructor, but goodness, who would have ever suspected that your two instructor experiences would be so fraught with politics/religion/intrigue! Perhaps they should make that a 15th scenario on the Hazard Perception test 

You'll get there.

Thanks for the good vibe :~) Passing it before Hanukkah 2011 would be about the best present ever!

Not even sure if anyone might see this update and find it helpful, but just in case! ...

Later that evening, I decided to go ahead and book the earliest appointment they had - and apparently there was a cancellation, so it was much earlier than I thought possible. So I jumped in, changed it to today, and decided to try all this without finding a new instructor. I watched/studied the Practical Test DVDs by both the DSA and Focus Multimedia. And read "The Official Driving Test" book put out by the DSA. The guidance offered for the manoeuvres was good/spot on. And I'm extraordinarily happy to say I passed :~)

I recently saw someone here with the great idea of paying it forward (I believe it was for the "Life in the UK" test). If anyone would like the two latest editions of the DVDs I mentioned above, please do leave me a private message and I'd be happy to mail them to you :~)

Congrats!!!  I think getting past that emotional barrier is the biggest part of taking the test, so maybe not having time to psych yourself out helped.  Personally, I was so nervous, I'm amazed I managed to pass.  My favourite story was my sister-in-law who failed six times.  During one of her tests she was getting overwhelmed by the examiner pushing instructions on her and she shouted for him to "just shut up!"  Yeah, she didn't pass that one.

I'm really pleased you were able to do it without having to go through more circus of the instructors.  Good luck on the roads now!!

Congratulations!

Congrats! Well Done!!!

@Cadenza: Bless her heart! I hope her seventh was of the less stressful variety and that she passed Thanks so much for the congrats!

@ SlicesMissus + @HG: Thank you, too, for the congratulations Appreciated!

@Cadenza: Bless her heart! I hope her seventh was of the less stressful variety and that she passed Thanks so much for the congrats!

She did pass the seventh time, and is a perfectly safe driver--just not a good test taker.  That's what made it awful for me--the performance anxiety of being watched and judged, not the being able to drive okay.  I did fine until I felt someone was watching.  Thank heavens that's all done and I can drive normally now.