Driving Lessons
 

I turned 18 earlier this month, so I started with getting my drivers licence. I just came back from my first ride in a car, only having to steer. Apparently I did pretty good :D.
So for the few selected people around here who actualy have their licence, share your experience! I would like to hear your learning experiences :).

Well, my first lesson was utter crap, as the instructor acted like I'd done already 20 lessons. He was such an ass. So I knocked down a pole with the car.

My other lessons went pretty good. In 2 lessons I could steer, throttle, brake and shift, all by myself. in 30 lessons or so I was allowed to take my final exam, but, alas, they were all booked up. So I had to wait, and spend another 10 lessons 'till I could take the exam. Which I failed, and had to do 10 more lessons, before another spot came up. Which I passed, thank god.

[chuckles] You have it easy, you realize that, right?

Yea well, only steering was hard enough as it was. Well not that hard, but it would have been a total fiasco if I had to shift and stuff.

Okay, you're taking it slowly.

On the first lesson, I learnt to steer, accelerate, brake, handle the gearshift and even drove on a highway. Which was scary, but certainly gave me a sense of acheivement.

The only problem was that I turned 18 one month into a 10.5 month trip overseas so I didn't do my test until I was 19 (after returning a virtually relearning from scratch how to drive).

The one spot of advice I'll give is to choose your instructor carefully. You don't want them to be too protective or you'll learn too slowly and you don't want them to overreact on every little mistake you make (read: my father). I quite liked my instructor and it wasn't even because he reminded me of Fat Bastard - a big, fat, angry Scottish bloke.

I'm on my L plates too. Things I learnt very quickly were:
1. Don't try and adjust the mirrors while driving...
2. Don't day dream or look at the scenery whilest driving... (it takes a bit of getting used to)
3. Do... honk... at... COWS! :lol: [edit: especially when you have to drive through a herd of them]

On my first driving test I was put straight into the deep end. He acted like I'd driven before :p I learnt basically everything from that first hour bar reverse parking, and three-point turns. I had another six lessons after that to teach me the other things and strengthen them.

I can go and get my Provisional License now, but finding the time is hard. And I need to brush up on my reverse parking, lest I wish to pass the driving test :p

Alcar...

Jeez, I pity you. Yea I'm taking it slow :D. Wouldn't want it any other way or I'd go nuts :|. I had some runs on a simulator though, one of the few in the country. But it's nowhere close to the real thing and my instructer confirmed that for me. It's nice to learn the basic feeling, but it won't help one bit with other stuff.

Welcome back, Sir Alcar. Your post reminded me of my test - we practiced 3-point turns and reverse parking ad nauseum because my teacher said that they always test one of those two. But I got tested on neither - all I had to do was reverse about 10 metres and stay in a straight line.