Signed up for refresher courses.

I signed up for 2x2 hour blocks this week. I'm a bit nervous but hoping to overcome this so I get some of my freedom back.

Any advice?

I signed up for 2x2 hour blocks this week. I'm a bit nervous but hoping to overcome this so I get some of my freedom back.

Any advice?

I trust you mean driving instruction, as this is the travel section.

Advice:  I'm sure you've already told them that you're an experienced driver in the US, and you just need to learn how to pass the UK practical and get comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road from the wrong side of the car, but remind them in your first lesson.  Then, don't let anything they say discourage you or make you feel resentful.  If the instructor seems overly picky, it's because they know how particular the test is, and they want you to practice good habits so you can pass.  Don't take it personally.  On the other hand, if you find they're not a good fit because you can't understand them, or they can't understand you, find a different instructor.  Don't waste your money if you're not going to get anything out of it.  Finally, try relax.  Chat with the instructor as much as you're able to.  It helped me to think less about it.

Accepting that you know how to drive, but that they really do things differently over here is the #1 thing. Have you had a look at any of the theory test materials for road signs? That helped me the most, because those are nearly ALL different here.

The instructor will take you somewhere quiet to get used to shifting on the other side, and that is the main thing to get comfortable with if Tom has a manual. Once you get that down you'll be able to get used to the rest of the weirdness. And remember you'll have bad habits to break just to pass the test, but you have a few months to do that, so don't panic about anything you're doing "wrong". I went down to the wire and have a high anxiety personality and still made it through thanks to a good instructor telling me all the things I needed to focus on when driving my own car. The cars parked in the road was the hardest for me to get used to!

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Don't be afraid to switch instructors if the chemistry isn't right.

Make sure they know you are experienced, but just need to learn to pass the test (and feel comfortable, of course).

Try to relax and follow their instructions.  Don't be afraid to start banter.   

I trust you mean driving instruction, as this is the travel section.

Advice:  I'm sure you've already told them that you're an experienced driver in the US, and you just need to learn how to pass the UK practical and get comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road from the wrong side of the car, but remind them in your first lesson.

It's not wrong.
It's just different! 

It's not wrong.
It's just different! 

Oh it’s soooooo wrong!


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It's not wrong.
It's just different! 

Now that I've been doing it long enough to be comfortable with it, I agree.  But if you'd asked me the first time I drove here, I would've stuck with "wrong".

Now that I've been doing it long enough to be comfortable with it, I agree.  But if you'd asked me the first time I drove here, I would've stuck with "wrong".

I admit it....I’ve adapted. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.


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When I am driving in my dreams, I am driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Which makes memories/dreams of driving in California pretty weird!

Good for you, Team Tolli. Just relax and try to enjoy the lessons. 

I trust you mean driving instruction, as this is the travel section.

Advice:  I'm sure you've already told them that you're an experienced driver in the US, and you just need to learn how to pass the UK practical and get comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road from the wrong side of the car, but remind them in your first lesson.  Then, don't let anything they say discourage you or make you feel resentful.  If the instructor seems overly picky, it's because they know how particular the test is, and they want you to practice good habits so you can pass.  Don't take it personally.  On the other hand, if you find they're not a good fit because you can't understand them, or they can't understand you, find a different instructor.  Don't waste your money if you're not going to get anything out of it.  Finally, try relax.  Chat with the instructor as much as you're able to.  It helped me to think less about it.

Oops, I thought this was the right section because it says "driving."

I'll keep all of this in mind!

You know that the theory test is two parts - one is a multiple choice test, and one is a video thingy where you have to click when you spot an emerging hazard. I found that the online test prep program they offer was really very helpful. There's a sort of art to knowing when to "click" on those videos. For the longest time I was clicking when I first identified a potential problem, so my clicks didn't happen in what the system thought was the right time (I was too early).  You might splash out a few coins and get access to the system for a couple of weeks and practice.  https://www.dvsalearningzone.co.uk/

I don't know if this will help anyone, but it did help me, back in the day.
Whenever I got on a bus, I always tried to go upstairs and sit in the front seat just above the driver, and pretend in my mind that I was driving.... kind of helped me get used to being in control on 'that' side of the car.

That's a good idea, for getting used to turning into the "wrong" lanes on the "wrong" side of the street!

Just for my own info, I stood at the roundabout out at Great Western Retail Park for a while the other day, watching people using it. About 75% didn't signal at all. Of those who did, a handful didn't signal "correctly."  So I feel better about goofing on a roundabout when it's connected to like three others and I'm moving from one direction to the other, now! 

The first lesson went very well. He said he thinks I'll be a first time pass! I was a bit nervous of course but I go on with my instructor very well.

However, for my lesson today, I was an emotional wreck as my aunt had just written me a lovely letter and sent me an ornament with my cat's photo. My instructor noticed a shift in my attitude immediately, and when I kept panicking we pulled over and I started crying. I blame this 1. my period 2. Homesickess due to the letter/cat photo.
It might seem silly to get so emotional over a letter and a photo of my cat...but my instructor was SO nice and understanding. It turned into a therapy session and I ended up driving home with no issues. He didn't charge me for the lesson since I really didn't drive much, and we're rescheduling the two hours I still have paid for, for the next couple weeks. I got a good instructor! I downloaded an app to help me study, I am going to apply for my provisional soon then book my theory/practical in due time.

I'm not so bad on the roads though. Just handling a manual again and dealing with roundabouts.