I must have had lessons for 6 months or more. I took about 5 tests, some I should not have failed. One due to doing my neck in and not being able to turn it properly to reverse around a corner. The other I failed for driving oo slow down a country lane. He was a rat of a driving instructor. I passed my theory first time though, 100% marks.
When I did finally pass, the next day I crashed my car due to another car coming round a corner and being on the wrong side of the road. Drove a few times after that then my car was written off, plus I lost confidence. Have not driven since, and this was 10 years ago. Don't think I plan to drive again either as I like to go out and get drunk too much.

Oh my, this was such a loooooong time ago!

I have no idea how many hours tuition I had before I took the exam.

I failed the first time, I messed up on a manoeuvre (reversing round a corner) which I was asked to do within the first 5 mins of the test. It was all down to nerves that I messed up. The instructor was very nice and told me to take a few deep breaths and calm down; after that I did a perfect test but of course I'd already failed.

So my advice, don't get too worked up about it. What's the worse that can happen? You don't pass and well that's not really the end of the world.

Good luck!

I had about 20 hours before my first test and failed on my reverse parking because the instructor felt I was travelling too fast. I had about another 3 hours of lessons and failed my 2nd test but I was so nervous all the way through that my knee was banging off the drivers door Left it 5 years after that, took around 8 lessons and passed with no faults. 3rd time is a charm

I had about 40 odd 2 hour lessons in total and I passed on my second test.

I failed on my reverse park as I hit the kerb. I was so gutted, but I had it again on the second test and did it perfectly!

It's so nerve racking and there's not an awful lot that you can do not to be really, it's one of life's stresses! But once it's done you'll never look back.

[EDIT] Have you tried Kalms tablets? Dean said they really helped him overcome his worries about flying. I couldn't take them when I was coming up to my test because of the pregnancy but you could maybe try them out?


(Edited by misskittyfantastic 12/04/2008 18:56)

It took me exactly 3 months to pass my test. My first lesson was on December 1st last year and my test was on March 1st. I had about 24 hours of lessons, but I also bought my brother's car so had at least double the amount of hours in that. Having watched people drive and bugged them with questions over the years I knew pretty much everything before I'd even got into a car, so there wasn't anything that took me too long to learn. I failed my mock test, but failing it gave me more confidence because it showed me exactly what I needed to work on, which wasn't a lot, and it also took away all of my nerves. By the time my test came around (first test was cancelled due to fog) I was more excited than nervous because I knew I'd pass. I passed first time with 4 minor faults. As soon as I got home I drove Jude to Lakeside lol.
I've had a few close calls due to idiot drivers, but it's not as scary driving in London as I was lead to believe.

(Edited by Marky 13/04/2008 14:38)

---

by Marky
but it's not as scary driving in London as I was lead to believe.

---

Nah London isn't too bad... motorways are the worst, I've had some real close calls on the M25!!

I was scared to death when I first got on a motor way, but then I drove to Cornwall and Jude had to keep telling me to slow down. I'm fine with them now lol.

I remember my first time on the motorway. I was driving my boyfriend at the times Escort RS Turbo and he fell asleep. When he woke up he asked me how I got on and I replied "Great! It's just like a big racing track. I just put my foot down and went for it." He went pale

And there was me considering learning to drive, and then read this lot...

I have no idea how many lessons I had, but I passed my test first time having pwned the reverse corner and 3-point turn. I don't envy you going through it though, I hated my test day, even though there was absolutely nothing to worry about in the big picture

I may have to retest next year in order to get my US license (it differs between states, apparently) and there's NO WAY ON EARTH that I'd pass now - too many bad habits!!!

Bad habits? Well, it's not like you go around roundabouts in the wrong direction or anything...............oh, wait...repressed memories coming back...............

Wasn't that me who went backwards round a roundabout?

I passed 2nd time. Thought I passed 1st time but I didn't and then thought I'd failed 2nd time but passed

My Boy has his test next week or so and is pretty confident. He was driving on his US licence up 'til about 6 months ago (I've been his chauffer since then ) and now has to do the UK test. He's has about 10 hours of lessons here to get out of some of his bad habits.

lol I dunno, you might have. The memory I have is from one of the caravan holidays when Y was doing everything possible to catch up with Fil. I seem to recall I was the reason we needed to catch up though. We stopped so I could take a picture of a sign that pointed the way to a town called "Mark"

That was a great trip ^_^

OIL SLICKS!!! Release the nails!!

WARP SPEED!!!

I didn't go on that one. I think I went round one on one of the very first trips. I may have had Alex with me... All I rememeber was everyone screaming, lol.

SPIN IT!!!

---

by Yvonne
I may have to retest next year in order to get my US license (it differs between states, apparently) and there's NO WAY ON EARTH that I'd pass now - too many bad habits!!!

---

Yes, it does differ if New York and New Jersey are any example. I have a friend who lives in New York City who did her test on the streets of the Bronx. I live in New Jersey, and they don't test us here on the actual streets. They have a little obstacle course with cones and such and you drive through that. I knocked down the cones and failed parallel parking. But here in NJ, you're allowed to fail one thing and they still pass you. So I passed on the first try. I still hate parallel parking, but I can do it if the space isn't too small. Lots of practice with that by now.

If you've already got your license in the UK, I'm sure you'll pass your test here. Just that driving on the other side of the road thing...

What state are you planning on living in anyway--if you don't mind saying. Just curious. Ok, totally nosey.

---

by Sandia
What state are you planning on living in anyway--if you don't mind saying. Just curious. Ok, totally nosey.

---

We're thinking about Texas. We toy with other ideas, but we keep coming back to that one. However, as things always are in my life thse days, that's subject to change

I have my UK licence, but I passed my test over a decade ago and would fail now without some bad habit erasing practise!