Learning to drive...

[upyourego]

I'm 26 this year and have so far managed to avoid learning to drive. I put it off when I was 17 because I decided to go on holiday on my own to the US instead (spending the money my parents saved for me to learn).

Then over the next nine years, two children, various house moves, a couple of different jobs and busy lifestyle I never actually got around to learning.

This year I think will be the year I bite the bullet and go for it. It's getting to a point where I'm not going to be able to move much further forward in my career without a driving licence so don't have much choice.

But what should I do to prepare? What do I need when going into the process of learning to drive? It's been a while since I've thought about it.

Should I get the various PC applications, DVDs, Books etc...?

[Cobol74]

I learned when 28, my girlfriend taught me - now my wife of 23 years. Grounding by a professional instructor first then practice, practice and more practice in those days you had to have a licence holder in the car with you and she sort of could not get out of it. Go belting up the A2 at 70 mph for 40 miles, with the L Plates flapping in the wind, does wonders for the confidence, I think that its legal, anyway did not get stopped.

[upyourego]

I'll be learning in Jersey, Channel Islands. An island 9 miles by 5 with 557km of road, more cars than people, a one way system that covers most of the island (or at least it seems that way) and a MAXIMUM speed limit anyway on the island of 40mph.

[Peter3hg]

Originally Posted by upyourego

I'll be learning in Jersey, Channel Islands. An island 9 miles by 5 with 557km of road, more cars than people, a one way system that covers most of the island (or at least it seems that way) and a MAXIMUM speed limit anyway on the island of 40mph.

Just go and play on the Rue D'Nord (or whatever it's called).
Seriously though, just general driving around soon seems to get your confidence up and gets you into the swing of things. A few lessons is good though just to get the basics.

[jayhawk]

Eh, dont feel bad. My wife learned how to drive at age 29.

[-Cpt. J.-]

Originally Posted by upyourego

I'm 26 this year and have so far managed to avoid learning to drive. I put it off when I was 17 because I decided to go on holiday on my own to the US instead (spending the money my parents saved for me to learn).

Then over the next nine years, two children, various house moves, a couple of different jobs and busy lifestyle I never actually got around to learning.

This year I think will be the year I bite the bullet and go for it. It's getting to a point where I'm not going to be able to move much further forward in my career without a driving licence so don't have much choice.

But what should I do to prepare? What do I need when going into the process of learning to drive? It's been a while since I've thought about it.

Should I get the various PC applications, DVDs, Books etc...?

Get behind the wheel. Then do it again tomorrow.
Have someone teach you and you'll be fine. What's the driving licence age there? Just think "If a depressed teen can do this, a grown man can too!"

[No Boss]

My girlfriend got her drivers license at 16.

She still hasn't learned how to drive.

[fbc]

Originally Posted by No Boss

My girlfriend got her drivers license at 16.

She still hasn't learned how to drive.

[upyourego]

The age is 17 here but the islands government is talking about increasing it to 18.

[Goose+]

I'll be learning in a few weeks. Better to learn sooner rather than later I feel and especially better than spending the driving fund on a trip to America

[Ford Prefect]

although it´s hard for me to understand how any teenager could want anything more deeply than a drivers licence, (some people get really drunk on their 18th birthday, I was standing outside the registration department at 5:30 in the morning to pick up my licence) I wouldn´t worry about it too much... after all, the only thing you need to be able to do to pass a driving test is drive in a straight line and not pose a complete hazard to humanity...

forget about learning software and books and stuff, driving is something that just takes practice...

[upyourego]

My wife failed her driving test first time because she didn't have her hands on the steering wheel in the right place - it was something the examiner was watching out for. Apparently they have a weekly thing they pick people up on.

The little slip she got at the end had that marked as the only fault but she still failed.

[SL65]

It shouldn't be too hard for you to learn. You would have picked up so much info on how to drive simply by being a passenger all these years. Get someone with experience like a parent (if they're available to you) to teach you or otherwise if you really want, an instructor. Either way, its not a difficult thing to do, particularly if you have an interest in cars like I presume you do, because your registered here.

I learnt to drive the day I turned 16 (minimum legal age here) and without sounding like a boaster - I picked it up real fast...I mean properly fast. Within mere hours of getting that licence, I felt confident behind the wheel and could perform actions that an experienced driver could do.

But we're all different.

[whitehornmatt]

I just started getting driving lessons a few weeks ago, and I highly recommend going with a professional instructor, if I didn't I would have crashed about three times by now (dual controls are a big help). I did pick it up quickly however, on the second lesson I was much better, and much less worried about crashing.
I have a few more lessons next week and at that stage I think I will be ready to drive in my dads car (a 93 Camry ).

[ModelCitizen]

I second everyone who recommends the professional instructor. I got my licence at 16 and a half, and I was literally terrified. I wasn't even into cars back then. All it took was four solid hours of practice. After grasping steering and acceleration (how much is needed, etc.) the rest falls into place. It's (or it was for me, anyway) just a matter of remembering the correct sequences for peforming the mirror and safety checks. You'll be fine.

[Goose+]

I just am so excited about getting a licence because I can then drive to the gym etc without needing to be dropped off. Which then means I can go more often.

[matt2000]

i'm let loose on the roads in March. shouldn't take me too long to learn, i've had experience driving off-road in Land Rovers.

[KaJuN]

It's been nearly 4 years since I got my license. Man this thread is making me feel old. I wanted to get mine early not for the freedom, but so as not to inconvenience my parents who had to drive me around.

Driving is very easy, otherwise nobody would do it. I got along just fine and the first car I drove didn't even have power brakes.

[Blayde]

Originally Posted by KaJuN

I wanted to get mine early not for the freedom, but so as not to inconvenience my parents who had to drive me around.

That's what pushes most of us, and why i'm hoping to get mine soon.

[AnGuRuSO]

LOL! MAN! You've really put this off a long time. Jesus! Who needs DVDs or books or software to learn driving? Just practice.