[avappyboalt]

I have my first driving lesson next Tuesday.
I'm really happy, but at the same time i'm really nervous, a few of my mates said it's no biggie and you get into it really quickly.
Another reason i'm really looking forward to this is because i get to learn in a mini.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks

[TeapseTic]

I have my first driving lesson next Tuesday.
I'm really happy, but at the same time i'm really nervous, a few of my mates said it's no biggie and you get into it really quickly.
Another reason i'm really looking forward to this is because i get to learn in a mini.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks

Relax and just enjoy yourself, things go alot easier when your chilled, next thing to pass is your advanced driving, to which i have

[ronaldasten]

So is mine, but then motor-bike[thumbup]
Advice: during your exam, just drive..don't focus the rules that much..

[spklnraz]

Advice: during your exam, just drive..don't focus the rules that much..

Good advice. I would say 99% of the rules are common sense, so just use your head and not focus too much on the details of all the rules. If you are doing something wrong/dangerous you will be alerted immediately by the instructor (hopefully!). You're just learning, mistakes are bound to happen, but nothing seriously bad if you keep a calm and cool head.

[rostpribru]

when i first started lesson the instructor kept grabbing the wheel

after the second time he didnt do it again.

[Smittoh]

Manual or Auto?

I first went in a manual and was pathetic (only went like once). Drove an Auto after that and got it first go which kind of pissed me off. Bought my first car which was a manual and took me a few hours to get the hang of it now I can drive it fairly well. I'm going for my P's next month hopefully, just got to book it in, and get a driver instructor to take me once or twice before going so he can tell me if I'm ready or not (I'm pretty sure I am)

One thing I REALLY hate is round abouts. I never use my blinker because the rules are pathetic, you have to use your blinker something like twice and its very confusing so I don't think I'll do to well there. I never use my blinker on a round about now unless I'm making a full turn.

[deethythitoth]

in the UK driving lessons are all conducted in a manual transmission car unless you are going for an automatic license (which does not permit you to drive a manual car)

[effebrala]

Good luck! I remember my first driving lesson and I was a little nervous. But I really got the hang of it in like a minute. this is an automatic car.

I have tried learning stick but I have not mastered it yet since I kept stalling the car. Was very difficult to get the timing and feel correctly.

[rostpribru]

in the UK driving lessons are all conducted in a manual transmission car unless you are going for an automatic license (which does not permit you to drive a manual car)

you can drive a manual car but your automatic license reverts to a provisional as soon as you drive a manual.;

[raspirator]

Try and not do any jerky or sudden movements with the pedals or steering wheel. Keep it relaxed and smooth.

[dalnecymync]

you can drive a manual car but your automatic license reverts to a provisional as soon as you drive a manual.;

wow I didn`t even know you guys had different permits for auto and manual.. can someone with a manual permit drive auto without "consequences"? logically no but you never know

[9Goarveboofe]

Yeh I drove and auto for about a year and a half on a license earned in a manual car. I don't think I'd drive an auto again unless it was on a really powerful car with 4WD or RWD.

[DOWNLOADnowADOBEphotoSHOP]

wow I didn`t even know you guys had different permits for auto and manual.. can someone with a manual permit drive auto without "consequences"? logically no but you never know

Logical reason behind it is, and this is from how I udnerstand it and not some website, is that when going specially for a automatic operated car you may not been able to perform some actions which are needed driving manually. Think of foot/gear actions.

A person learns in auto, need all his concentration on the road he is on and the traffic around him/her.

In America condictions are different than in Europe. In Europe alot of small roads with lot's of bends and cycle trails, cyclists, pedestrians and all obstacles u can mention are following up each other in short distances, this makes the driver very aware of what is going on left-right-front and back of the vehicle.


Someone who has problems or difficulties driving manual, maybe handicapped or just because his head is more with pulling up, changing gears and all that goes with driving manual , law has made a statement that when passing for auto the x amount of years you may not drive manual, simply because the person can't do it.

When traffic becomes more routine and the person is not a novice anymore and know how to act in traffic this may be alterd to drive manual.

[arriftell]

Just try to keep it smooth, and just take it very steady.

On my first lesson, I never went above 20mph. I certainly felt nervous before I started the first lesson. Nearly 2 years on with a full license, and the amount of confidence and skill you have compared to when you started is immense.

You'll get the hang of it - just take your time and focus on what's important to control the car. I'm pretty sure your instructor will take you to an area where there's no traffic around, which is what my instructor did.

[DOWNLOADnowADOBEphotoSHOP]

Just try to keep it smooth, and just take it very steady.

On my first lesson, I never went above 20mph.

Wy's that?

I went to 80kp/h immediatly

[arriftell]

Wy's that?

I went to 80kp/h immediatly

I never drove a car before in my life (obviously to some I guess), but I think the main reason was being fairly nervous and the fact I didn't have a clue how to make the car move beforehand. I only had less than an hour too.

I think I might've gone above 20mph towards 30mph, but it certainly wasn't that fast.

[CorpoRasion]

Like others have said try not to think too much, you have an "L" on your car for a reason so people should be watching out for you and giving you a bit of room. Just a question though. Can you not learn to drive with a person that is on their full license before you go for your lesson presumably with a qualified instructor?

Also about the auto manual thing. Some states in Australia require you to have a manual license as well. Fortunately not my state. It does seem rather stupid to me. I mean if you can't drive a manual then you aren't going to drive one are you? I have many friends that can't drive manuals, they know this so they don't drive manuals.

[spaxiaroorbes]

Just enjoy it. It'll be nervous but trust me, when you get that car moving, you'll love it!

Ignore the people who are behind you or people who follow closely, it's their own fault if they go into the back of you because the car should be plastered with L plates/things that indicate you're learning so either way, it'll be their fault.

Plus your instructor should have dual control so he/she'll have control to the brakes and the clutch (that's if you're doing the manual lessons)

Clutch control was probably the hardest thing for me, only cos the Corsa I was driving had quite a stiff clutch. You should get the hang of it after 2-3 lessons. Possibly 4. I think I got the hang of it after 3 lessons.

After I got the hang of changing gears and clutch control, I just ended up ragging my instructors car 4-5krpm in each gear. It was fun.

My instructor was a nice guy though, I entered a single lane national speed limit zone and he was like "Do you know what the speed is?" I was like "er....40?" He then replied "No...it's 60, now put your foot down!!" [thumbup]

[Lictimind]

Ah I remember the days

"BOTH HAND ON THE STEERING AFTER YOU TURN GOD!"

the instructor always told me that, I basicly just let go the steering after a turn to straighten the car back, perhaps I was too relaxed. [rofl]

[spaxiaroorbes]

One thing I REALLY hate is round abouts. I never use my blinker because the rules are pathetic, you have to use your blinker something like twice and its very confusing so I don't think I'll do to well there. I never use my blinker on a round about now unless I'm making a full turn.

I don't know how it is in Aussie but UK roundabouts are quite easy to negotiate.

Here in UK, you basically look at a roundabout like a clock. Any exits before 12 o clock (assuming straight on is 12 o'clock) you stay in the left lane and indicate to the exit you want to go to e.g. 2 exits before 12 o'clock and you want to go to the 2nd exit, so you indicate just after you pass the 1st exit.

Any exits after the 12 o'clock position, you go on the right lane and indicate right. So if there's an exit at the 3 o'clock position, you indicate right, go around the roundabout on the inside, once you've passed the 12 o'clock position you indicate left to turn off to the exit.

It's a bit long winded and confusing and again, I don't know if it applies for Aussie.


I just can't stand people who don't indicate at roundabouts. Too many a-time I've almost had people hit me on the side because they've all failed to indicate at a roundabout. What's worse is that most of them were women drivers.