I’m not a confident driver and it’s something that makes me feel kind of silly because I don’t know anyone else who can drive that feels as nervous-verging-on-scared of driving as I do. Everyone else seems to find driving as natural as breathing. Not me. While many people have made me read about the advantages of it and also about What Can a Car Accident Lawyer in West Palm Beach Do? I still feel a little scared.
My driving career got off to a good start. I passed my test first time, aged 17 – I’m not quite sure how tbh as I really didn’t understand gears until a few days before – but, as the oldest of three children, my parents were (probably understandably) nervous about letting me go out in the car so I only got to drive very occasionally and only short distances.
Moving to London aged 22 I didn’t need a car (and couldn’t afford one anyway) and got around via the tube, mostly, or buses, at night when the tubes are shut, or when I’ve lived in areas that were such a long way from a tube station that the bus was a better option.
Over the years I’ve driven occasionally, but only very short journeys on routes that I know well. Not for me a journey into the unknown (I’m not even sure which direction I would need to go in to go, well, anywhere). I’ve always felt that my lack of confidence behind the wheel held me back and so, when the opportunity arose for me and my London-based sister to share a car, I jumped at it. Surely with easy access to a car I couldn’t fail to become a more confident driver, right?
Wrong. The car has been sitting outside my flat for weeks. Every time I thought about getting in and driving somewhere I would come up with an excuse. It’s Saturday afternoon, the roads will be far too busy for my first time out… I had a couple of glasses of wine last night, I could still be over the limit… I didn’t get a good night’s sleep, my reaction time would be way too slow if I got in an accident… And so on.
Finally sick of my own excuses and with three huge bags of books and clothes sorted and ready to take to the charity shop this past Saturday morning, at around about 8.30am, I got in the car and headed off. There was a bit of a funny knocking sound but I ignored it (lesson learned: DO NOT IGNORE FUNNY KNOCKING NOISES).
A couple of miles down the road the knocking got louder and suddenly there was a huge bang. Then the car started driving funny. I quickly realised I’d had a tyre blowout.
I pulled off the road and called my sister – not the one I’m sharing the car with, the other one, who has much more car ownership experience – to check if it was safe to drive. She reckoned I’d be ok as long as I took it slowly. And so I did. Really slowly. Doing my best to ignore the huge queue of cars building up behind me. After about a mile a car overtook and pulled in ahead of me, the driver got out and flagged me over.
Ignoring the possible threat to my safety, I got out of the car and could have cried with happiness when he offered to help me change the tyre. Obviously I had no idea if there was a spare tyre in the boot (there was!) and I was slightly worried when he said, “I’m no mechanic…” but was reassured he knew what he was doing when he told me he’d successfully changed a tyre on his son’s car when he’d had a tyre blowout recently.
Ten minutes later he’d changed the tyre, I was on my way again and the knocking noise was back. I drove straight the nearest garage and handed over the keys. The mechanic drove the car round the block before getting out and making that face, the one that means bad and probably expensive news is coming. “I think it’s the spring…” he started. I looked solemn, even though I had no idea what this meant. I left the car with him. Four hours later it was ready to pick up and I was £180 poorer.
Obviously by this time it was Saturday afternoon, the roads were far too busy for my first, well, second time out, and so I’m going to try again next Saturday morning. Wish me luck!
Anyone else a similarly nervous driver or perhaps you’re a formerly nervous driver? How did you overcome your nerves? Confident drivers, any advice to pass on? I’m thinking a car maintenance class might be a confidence builder, in case I have another blowout. Can anyone recommend one? Do share below!
Photograph: Mango. You can buy the top here and the skirt here. Can’t help with the car I’m afraid.
I was a very nervous driver when I first passed my test (13 years ago ?) & I refused to drive on a motorway for 5 years after passing my test. I hate to say it, but the only cure is to get out there & keep driving. My mum forced me & although I hated her at the time, I’m so glad she made me do it!
Do you have someone who could drive your car to somewhere nice & quiet for you to have a go to build your confidence up? Or what about doing an Advanced Driver course or the pass plus, I think it’s about 6 lessons.
Good luck X
I love that your mum forced you to get out on the roads Carly. Good idea to go somewhere quiet to build my confidence, part of the problem is that I learned to drive in a relatively quiet part of West Yorkshire and now I live in East London where roundabouts have three lanes minimum and everyone seems to be cross all the time! And I’ll look into Advanced Driver and pass plus courses – thank you! X
Yes, I know exactly how you feel. I am nervous driver and will only do short journeys, and avoid motorways as much as possible!
I’m a motorway avoider too Tinny!
Over here! I was late starting to drive and didn’t start lessons until after I finished uni. Mum and dad couldn’t pay for me (or I for myself) when I was 17, and then at uni we weren’t allowed to take cars anyway in the first year so I had to wait. Passed first time though, and was quite happy and enjoying the freedom of taking myself off to the gym etc. About a month after I passed I was driving alone to my friends’ one evening, and when I was stopped at some traffic lights on a busy high street a weird bloke approached the passenger side and moved to pull the door open. I quickly bashed the central locking down and he started mouthing off at me and as soon as the lights went green I pulled away as quickly as possible. I was so shaken up after that, my hands were shaking on the wheel, and I refused to get back in the drivers seat for a couple of months after that. Gradually got my confidence back and was driving round again, until that car died and we had to replace it. I hated the replacement, it broke down 3 times while we owned it and I refused to drive it. Now we finally have a car I like, but I have to confess I’ve only driven it a couple of times. We just share the one car and Al takes it to work, and at weekends he will just automatically go for the driver seat and I don’t argue as I like to relax and look at the scenery or people watch!
What an awful thing to happen Kitty, I’m not surprised it took time to build your confidence back up. And it’s definitely an issue when you don’t like a car, I’ve driven a couple of old Minis and although I love the look of the cars, I never really liked driving them, I always thought I would get squashed!
Hi Miranda, have you thought about taking refresher driving lessons? I friend of mine did them a few years back as she passed her test at 17 and had never driven since ( it was at least a 10 year break). She found them really good and I think she had a few car maintenance lessons too.
Hi Vicky, I’m definitely going to look into some kind of refresher lessons and I do like the idea of doing car maintenance lessons, I would like to be able to change my own tyre next time!
OK, so after two failed theory tests and going through FOUR driving instructors (one of which retired!) it took me SEVEN times to pass my practical test.
The first time, England were playing Argentina and there was not a soul out on the roads…and I got done for not keeping up with the flow of traffic!!!
The second or maybe third, or indeed fourth, saw my confidence plummet as the previous day I had been out for a practice with my dad only to drive up a dual carriage way…the wrong way. Never have I seen the Alan terrified. Until then.
My last test was with an instructor who had already failed me three times. He told me off for doing 40 in a 30 zone. Instant fail. And then he asked me to do a parallel park. “I can’t do those,” I said. “Well what would you do if you needed to do one?” he said. “Drive on until I can find somewhere to park that doesn’t require me to do it?”
Clearly, I KNEW I had failed…so when he asked me to do an emergency stop I just thought he was being nasty and cruel so gosh did I SLAM those breaks on.
Anyhow, we get back to the test centre and he tells me I’ve PASSED and that we won’t say anything to anyone about the ever so slight speeding! No mention of the serious lack of parking skills or vigorous emergency stop!
Hurrah for passing at last Pamela, despite the over-keen emergency stop, speeding and so on! I love your parking strategy by the way!
Comparatively (to my friends who all seemed to pass at 18) I was quite late passing my driving test – I think I was about 23 although I can’t remember exactly. I do remember the trickle of sweat that ran down my back as I took the test however; in fact it’s safe to say that I’d do my A-levels and degree over again rather than take my driving test again.
That said I do love driving and I am a fast driver – my husband complains about the speed at which I drive but I’m never dangerous. I would say that since having Hector though I’ve become a lot more cautious and a bit hesitant at times. I’m not sure if that’s because I’m bone tired or because I’m being overprotective. And Pamela I hate parallel parking too!
Hmm, think it’s a tie between doing my A Levels or driving test again Lolly, being in my French A Level exam unable to remember a single word of French is still my anxiety dream!
Oh Miranda, I feel your pain! I grew up in Germany and learned to drive there when I was 18. I passed first time and was reasonably confident straight after my test. However, I didn’t have a car when I moved to England and didn’t drive at all until my husband and I bought our first car a few years ago. I have lost SO much confidence, particularly now we’ve had our baby girl and I only tend to drive with her in the back to get to baby classes. My husband has offered to come out with me one day and offer advice on where I’m going wrong, but I reckon that could be a recipe for marriage-disaster :-)! I think refresher lessons sound really good and have been thinking of getting some.
Hmm, yes, I think there is potential for disaster with the scenario your husband suggested Becky! Refresher courses do sound like a great idea but I know that actually getting out and driving on motorways and round those multi-lane roundabouts is important too. Maybe on a Sunday morning when they’re quiet to start with!
I agree, the only way to get confidence back is just to get out there and drive! Sometimes it helps having someone you feel safe with in the car as a bit of moral support… I went through a stage of not being able to drive on the motorway, even being a passenger made me panicky, but when I broke up with my boyfriend, I thought I need to be able to get myself places and just did it… started with just one junction at a time to the next town and then slowly bigger journeys. I have to say now I prefer to drive just so I feel in control of the situation. Definitely recommend some refresher lessons for confidence, although I haven’t done these myself, I have friends who have especially after living in London and never driving! It does get easier, just push yourself to make those first few journeys and it will start to feel more natural… Good luck! x
Thank you – I like the one junction at a time approach Charlotte!
Would you believe it took me a whole 7 attempts to pass my test {hides head in shame}. I could drive reasonably well but got really nervous when it came to the actual test. On my sixth attempt I was pulled over by the examiner who told me he was going to walk back to the test station…
It’s a good job I passed 7th time as I had reasoned with myself that if I didn’t then maybe driving just wasn’t for me. As soon as I passed my Dad made me drive back and forth on the m4 about 6 times so I wasn’t afraid of motorways and my confidence built {although I still get put off by Lorry wank*rs!!}
I now actually really enjoy driving and can’t imagine life without my car as the public transport links in my neck of the woods are shocking!! I definitley think you need to keep on practicing and give yourself a bit of credit as driving in London is no mean feat!!
Helen xx
I love that your Dad made drive up and down the M4 multiple times Helen, so good to get over fear of motorways (FOM?!). I think the fact that the transport is generally pretty good in London means that not driving doesn’t impact on your day to day life but I love the idea of waking up on a weekend morning and, I dunno, just heading off to the coast, without having to consult train timetables and so on. Hopefully I’ll get there eventually! xx
Oh me too!! I actually failed my first test (aged 17) and then moved to London a few weeks later. I didn’t try again until I was 25, which in some ways was a blessing as I learned to drive in London the second time around (the first time was on the deserted country roads of Northumberland!)
BUT, the first time I drove without an instructor was on the first date with my now-husband. And I borrowed my Grannie’s car which was an automatic so I had to ask him how to drive it. Little did I know then that he is actually the world’s worst passenger. Like HORRENDOUS! So my first drive after passing my test I had a passenger who provided a running commentary on all possible things that could go wrong, everything I was doing wrong (he’s American so doesn’t really get what it means to drive in London) interspersed with shrieks and lunges for the steering wheel! Everyone else says I’m a very good driver (I’m very cautious!) and he now has conceded that I am too, but I remain ever scarred by that first journey and I try to get out of it as much as possible.
Having said all that – I’m currently planning on buying a car as I really do believe you get more confident the more you practice! And the more familiar the routes become, which will never happen unless you get out there and do it!
Oh my goodness, shrieks and lunges for the steering wheel, I literally couldn’t cope Anna! You’re right, practice is definitely the thing, I’m not sure why I expect to find driving effortless, it’s not as if I don’t put lots of practice into, say, yoga for example…!
This rings so true with me! I only learnt to drive about 3 years ago (aged 27) and it was easily the most challenging thing I’ve ever done because I was so nervous about the whole idea of driving. Luckily I had a lovely driving instructor and after about a year of weekly lessons I passed my test second time. However, the fear didn’t stop just because I had a licence and it took me a long time to feel anything close to relaxed in the car. I’m now at the stage where I’m comfortable doing short journeys that I know (so into work, into town, to see my parents) but any new journey makes me panic. If I am invited somewhere I haven’t been before then literally my first thoughts will be “what roads do I have to go on” and “where will I park”. I also avoid motorways. I know I need to force myself to get out there, but I also think I need to take it at my own pace – I’m gradually improving so the last thing I want to do is rush it and set myself back! It does make me feel ridiculous because I know that driving should be a normal thing, but it can’t be helped. Thanks for posting about this Miranda 🙂
Pleasure Katie. You’re right, much better to take things slowly. We’ll get there and be both confidently driving all over the place one of these days!
Wow – this could genuinely be written by me – we even have the same name! I passed two years ago at the age of 26 (second time – I was fine in my lessons but suffer from horrible nerves and they got the best of me in my first test). I even did my pass plus (partly because my driving instructor was a wonderful, lovely man and a few more hours in the car with him reassuring me about my driving seemed like something that had to be done!). Two years later and I still panic about driving – I always plan out routes in my head before I leave, especially if multi-lane roads are involved, and it’s not rare for me to Google Streetview a road to check for potential things to avoid and/or parking options. I haven’t had to parallel park since my test so it’s become this massive elephant in the room (car?), and I’ve driven on motorways about twice (and never on my own – I prefer to have my partner in the car to give words of advice and talk me through getting onto the motorway etc.!). I still congratulate myself on making it to my destination at the end of a journey! I’m actually a good driver – I leave plenty of space around me, don’t drive too fast and pay serious attention at all times, and anyone I’ve driven says I’m good, but this doesn’t seem to help. It doesn’t help that I scraped our car (which has always felt like my boyfriend’s car, as he bought it way before I could drive) in my first year of driving (thankfully not on another vehicle but on a traffic island) which made me feel stupid and I live in fear of it happening again. I’m trying to make myself drive more, but currently I have no reason to drive – although my boyfriend is fantastic at handing me the keys at the weekend! Anyway, I feel your pain acutely and was SO happy to see this post Miranda (and this spooky follow-up comment from Katie!).
I passed second time aged 18 and used to happily pootle around in my little micra. I managed to avoid the new driver crashes all my siblings seemed to have and was quite a content driver. After years of commuting into London I haven’t had much need to drive, as my husband is the designated driver at weekends. I have been forcing myself to get my confidence back recently as it was just so stupid that I was too scared to go to the supermarket for fear of the car park manoeuvres! It doesn’t help that I’m driving his company car and am terrified of something happening to it, and that whenever he is in the car with me I see him stamping on the imaginary footbrake!
Oh no, the imaginary footbrake, so unsettling!!! It’s definitely best to just get out there, I feel so silly for having built driving up to be this huge terrifying thing but hopefully with baby steps, we’ll both build up our confidence!
I was a late starter to driving – I started learning to drive at 23 when I went back to uni, but after only one failed attempt at my test I ran out of money for lessons. Then I got a brilliant instructor 5 years later and I passed on my second attempt with him. I bought an 11 year old Ford Fiesta, who I named Roxy! She was intended to be a short-term car but four years later she is still a brilliant little runner and I will be so sad when I eventually replace her.
I drove into a car on my street (a parked one I might add!) 3 weeks after passing my test and it did shake me up but I had to be a christening an hour later so I just had to get in the car and drive again. Once this first knock was out of the way I almost felt relieved and any nerves I had seemed to disappear.
I’m confident in driving but not always about where I am going. I should really invest in a better sat nav. I really enjoy driving and drove in Spain for the first time last year. Next year I will be road tripping across USA and Canada! Can’t wait !!!
I’m very impressed that you’ve driven abroad Claire, that’s definitely on my must-do list! Road trip sounds amazing. As does Roxy! You know what I think surviving the tyre blowout (and not freaking out) might actually help my confidence a little bit, as long as my next time out is without incident!
The scary bit of the crash was when I had to knock on doors and tell the owner of the car I had driven into. He was pretty annoyed (obviously!) but his wife was lovely and helped me find all the details so I could call the insurance company and what really helped is she calmly said ‘this is what we pay the insurance for’.
Aw, love what she said – so true!
It took me 7 attempts to pass my test, but I did it, 3 years ago now! I had a stint of lessons when I was 18 and gave up after about 18 months, it was too awkward to keep learning while at uni, and failing 5 times kind of disheartened me. Throughout my early 20s I missed out on job opportunities through not being able to drive. Eventually I took it up again and it took 3 whole years for me to be competent enough to even go for the test! I dread to think how many lessons I had and what it cost. When I passed I was 3 months pregnant and I was thinking I would have to stop as I just would not be able to afford it any more. I had failed a couple of weeks before, but we set off and I was given the same examiner and the same route. So I knew exactly where I’d gone wrong previously and didn’t repeat those mistakes.
Driving has been an absoloute lifesaver for me, I had a 45 minute commute on 2 buses before that was cut to a 10 minute drive. That really helped when I was pregnant! And once I’d had my son it was brilliant to be able to get around and easily visit my parents. I drive every day now and I actually enjoy it!
I was terribly nervous and I totally did not understand various things like how the car worked, how roundabouts and different lanes were supposed to work, and what the road signs meant. I think these are all things you can check out at home to help you feel more confident. Learn the names of the roads and which direction they go and it will really help if you get a bit lost. I would definitely get some lessons sorted too, if there any issues with your driving the instructor can help you to improve as well as boosting your overall skills and confidence.
Hurrah for persevering Kathryn. Wow, cutting your commute from 45 minutes on two buses to ten minutes in the car must have made a massive difference. Realistically I probably won’t drive much during the week as I either work in central London or at home, but I’m inspired to get out on the weekends, on short journeys, at least at first!
Oh this makes me feel so much better to know I’m not alone. Like most posters, I passed quite young and drove for a little bit before going off to uni and then moving to London and simply not needing a car anymore. We moved out to the sticks 18 months ago and I’ve found it incredibly difficult to get behind the wheel again after over a decade without driving. Actually, the driving is fine, it’s stopping and parking I can’t seem to master (so cliched!) and well, the road signs? God knows what any of them mean anymore. I did have some refresher lessons – where the instructors (yes, instructors, I had them with 2 people as I was too embarrassed to keep going back to one when he clearly felt I could drive) both told me to stop paying them when I could drive fine. Whilst the refresher sesh’s were useful the issue is really a confidence one as I’m still a bit petrified of going anywhere on my own. I’m considering some hypnotherapy next!! It’s nice to know I’m not alone but I really need to get my ass into gear as baby number 1 is due in 9 weeks and I’m going to end up staring at the 4 walls or driving around in circles so I don’t have to park x
Oh my goodness, nine weeks to go, that’s an incentive to get your ass into gear and no mistake Lynne! Good luck with building your confidence up ahead of the new arrival arriving. x
I had a few driving lessons at uni aged 20, but had to stop because driving instructor got a bit too attached. I then made the mistake of going out with my Mum and Dad, who have been driving so long that they weren’t the ideal teachers and I lost my confidence. Then I moved to London so there was no incentive to learn. When I moved to the North, I lived in the city centre which meant I could walk to work and use the driving lesson dosh for cocktails. As I got older, I developed The Fear. You’re driving a killing machine! But I turned 30 last year and gave myself a shake. I re-applied for my provisional, which had expired 2 years previously without my noticing, and I’ve started lessons. It was super hard at first. My best friend was first gear. But now I’m in 4th! Should have done it years ago. Husband passed his test aged 20 then didn’t drive at all for 5 years. He had some FREE refresher lessons with the AA with a brilliant teacher.
Yay for making the leap from first to fourth Jane (fifth still confuses me, I’m not sure what it’s for!).
I learnt to drive when I was 23/24? I had a really good instructor and I really enjoyed it, especially at the end where I’d learnt the basics and we just used to go for a drive for 2 hours! I passed first time within 6 months of learning… And I’ve driven exactly once since. Which was 6 months after my pass and around 5 years ago now!
Living in London, I have no real need for a car – can’t afford it to start with! There have been times where we’ve debated getting one, but always veered away from the idea at the last minute. My husband doesn’t drive, doesn’t even have a license!
I was a really nervous driver – I got minors for hesitating! And I’ve never gone on the motorway. Learning in London, the max I went was 40mph and mainly just tackled roundabouts, traffic and buses… When I had a go in my parents car, it was horrible. They live in the countryside with narrow bendy roads which are all 50mph and I couldn’t do it. My dad started lecturing me and I was just like ‘this is how I’ve been taught, get over it!’ I know he meant well but he passed 35 yes ago and surprisingly, teaching changes…!
Anyway, I would go for some refresher lessons Miranda. If I ever get a car, that’s my plan. My friend did some just before renting a car to drive around Scotland and she highly recommended it.
What a great idea to have refresher lessons ahead of renting a car for a road trip, a great confidence builder, followed by the trip itself, plus driving two different cars. Definitely looking into some lessons/a course.
I can help with the car Miranda! My friend is currently refurbishing a classic Porsche 912 like the one from the Mango campaign. It’s a beaut!
I detest driving. I’ll do anything to get out of it. On weekends I’ll walk round to the passenger door of my own car as it’s always assumed my car-fanatical husband will drive.
When I joined team RMLtd I found I had to do a lot more travelling on my own (usually with a car filled full of props) and it’s definitely improved my confidence. Practice makes (kind-of) perfect and all that jazz x
Oh my goodness, love that car. You really surprise me, you always seem like the most confident of drivers. Clearly I need to get practicing. On very quiet roads to start with! x
I passed my test aged 20. Then didn’t really drive for about 5yrs, by the time I got back behind the wheel I had lost all my confidence. It didn’t help that at the time we had a really quick Ford Focus. I thought I was going to put it in a ditch! Luckily my husband had a change of circumstances at work and ended up with a company van which meant I could get a car I would actually drive. I promptly went out and bought a Fiat 500. I forced myself to stop getting the train to work and drive instead, doing that really helped my confidence. We’ve had a couple of cars since then, our current one is an estate (my other fear was about parking and the size of the car) and I can drive it no problem. I’m still not great on motorways or driving to places I don’t know (or parallel parking!) but if I know I have to do it I will. There really is nothing for it but to just force yourself to do it. The more you get out there, the better you will feel. X
I love Fiat 500s Alex, dream car! Thanks for the reassurance, will be hitting the roads this weekend, and every subsequent weekend! x
I have to say I’ve never minded driving. I passed at 17 but had to take my test twice. When my instructor saw my examiner he said ‘push on, he doesn’t like dawdlers’. So I did. And got told off for speeding! I presumed it was an instant fail so went to pot. Ended up with something ridiculous like 5 major and 30 minors. Plus an asthma attack and no inhaler. Not kidding! Second time two weeks later and I got one minor so obviously improved! My old job used to require a lot of driving so it became second nature. I thought nothing of driving 3 hours to surrey for a 30 minute meeting with my clients. I found some good tunes helped pass the time and I just try to be confident with my driving as then you feel in control. As much as I’d rather be a passenger I’ll often choose to drive for that reason. I don’t like my husband driving too fast with the girls. Quite hypocritical as I am known for going fast! xxx
Oh my goodness, your first test sounds so stressful Lottie, an asthma attack with no inhaler?! I know I need to force myself to get out there, I just wish there wasn’t multi-lane roundabouts in every direction before I can actually get anywhere! xxx
The thing with driving instructors is that they teach you how to pass your test but I don’t think you actually learn to ‘drive’ until you actually get out there yourself. I had a great instructor but I had to question what it is I was looking for eg. when parking where the curb should be in my mirror before I turned the wheel etc. Without questioning this I found I was just told where to line the car up and then just expect the manoeuvre to work. Keep at it ladies !!!!
So very true Claire!
This article has made me feel a lot better, as now I know I’m not alone in my fear of driving! I passed my test about 6 years ago but always hated driving. As soon as I moved in with my partner I started letting him drive everywhere and now over 3 years has passed without me getting behind the wheel! The idea of driving again terrifies me, but we’re expecting a baby early next year so I know I really need to do something about it – I think I need to stop making excuses and get some refresher lessons booked!
I passed my first test aged 18, and was the only person in my family who could drive, so I kinda didn’t have a choice in the matter, and didn’t think about it too much. I did have a near miss though, my first time out in the car, and another car jumping red light nearly hit us (I was in the car with my mum). I didn’t drive for a few days afterwards and then went really really slow.
When I was 25 though, I moved to the UK and could not for the life of me understand how is it possible to drive on the wrong side of the road and control the car with my left hand. And there was so much extra car on my left too, I just couldn’t get my head around the dimensions of it! lol So I did not drive for several years, even after I passed the UK driving test. I was too nervous and mad at myself too (after so many years of confident driving I felt silly not being able to deal with it). And then we moved just outside London, with a grand total of 1 bus running only 3 times an hour, and 1 train running twice an hour, and I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to get anywhere. Plus I was very pregnant and it was just so much easier to drive – and I’m so glad I did, because now I can get to so many places with my son I wouldn’t have been able to without a car.
I think if you’re trying to make yourself drive without a good reason, it will not work. When you have to, it will just work out. And it terms of car maintenance – find a good garage with a friendly mechanic, who you can call in time of trouble. I’m useless in this respect, and lucky my hubster can look after all of it. 🙂
I hate driving with EVERY FIBRE OF MY BEING. It’s the feeling of everyone watching you I loathe: for every other situation I usually keep to the mantra of “No-one is thinking about you, they’re thinking about themselves, just like you” but when you’re in a bright red car with three L-plates and a whacking great triangle/topbox then there’s a chance you’ve been spotted, isn’t there?
I did an intensive- not for actually passing my test- but like a shorter 2 day course to get over my fear of being in the car before I started regular lessons (I’m an extremely nervous driver) and it actually helped being there for a good few hours at different times/weathers. I’d recommend going on word of mouth recommendations though, because I’ve heard some real horror stories about people who advertise intensive courses (possibly due to the lessened likelihood of getting repeat bookings)! xxx
I know this is an old thread but currently exactly what I’m going through right now. I passed my test a year ago (after 2 attempts) went and bought myself a car a month after passing. Aaaand that’s where it’s sat. Had a couple trips out to small surrounding towns (I live in Suffolk so no motorways) and I’m still stressed everytime I hit a road. Haven’t been out on my own more than a couple times, more often have to have someone in passenger seat. Had a meltdown when I tried to drive to local city, up a hill with traffic. Stalled 6 times. Seriously, I just want to know if it gets better. I’m still not sure if I’m a good enough driver to be on the roads tbh.