ATAR Notes: Forum

General Discussion => Accountability and Motivation => Topic started by: katie,rinos on August 10, 2018, 11:31:27 am

Title: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on August 10, 2018, 11:31:27 am
This will be similar to both J41, and Bea's threads! :D
I got my L’s back on my 16th birthday (16th of March 2016) almost 2 ½ years ago and I’m still stuck on 50-something hours. I haven’t driven since November last year and there’s really no reason why-I’ve just been putting it off. We have an eight seater car so it is fairly bulky and difficult to drive/reverse. I’ve never had proper driving lessons yet and it’s just mainly just been my dad sitting with me. I can do the NRMA safer drivers course soon which will give me an extra 20 hours, but I’ll also need a couple of driving lessons as well. At the moment it’s kind of worrying me that I’ve gone backwards and will be a lot worse than how I was last year.

When my parents can’t drop me off at the station it’s an extra 20-minute walk which is really annoying sometimes. My younger sisters also turning 16 in January so she could be going for her licence and wanting to drive soon as well which gives me even less time that I could be driving.

I want to be able to post in here around every week or so (hopefully with some progress), so please hold me accountable!!   ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Poet on August 10, 2018, 11:48:46 am
Yay! You coming on the AN road trip too, Katie?

Edit: really looking forward to the updates! :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on August 10, 2018, 12:09:11 pm
Yay! You coming on the AN road trip too, Katie?
Yep, definitely!!  :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: beatroot on August 10, 2018, 12:54:07 pm
hi and welcome katie :)

if we can get enough drivers from AN, we could actually start Uber Notes ahaha
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on August 12, 2018, 03:52:46 pm
Drove for 30 minutes this afternoon to pick my brother up from a friend's party. Was really nervous starting actually, and wasn't the best I've driven but its a start. :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Fergus6748 on August 12, 2018, 04:47:04 pm
Hiya Katie, this is awesome I wish I did this when I started. What are you driving? Manual or Automatic? I've had mine for almost two years now and I've almost finished only because I picked a bunch recently.
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on August 12, 2018, 04:59:10 pm
Hiya Katie, this is awesome I wish I did this when I started. What are you driving? Manual or Automatic? I've had mine for almost two years now and I've almost finished only because I picked a bunch recently.
Hey, we have an 8 seater auto car-(I think its a tarrago?). Good luck for the rest of your hours and your P's test!  ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Mada438 on August 12, 2018, 05:22:40 pm
Good to see you getting there with your hours Katie!
Having your Ps is honestly the best thing. It gives you so much new freedom and opens up opportunities you would'nt have previously had!   ;D
Your first drive in a car is both an anxious time and a libertating feeling!
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on August 13, 2018, 11:13:51 am
Drove for 30 minutes this afternoon to pick my brother up from a friend's party. Was really nervous starting actually, and wasn't the best I've driven but its a start. :D

Fantastic work! 👊

Really loving this accountability and motivation board.
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on September 16, 2018, 08:11:41 pm
Um, so it's been over a month .... and nothings really happened yet. I haven't really gotten around to driving and I think I'm just so used to my parents driving me at the moment so I'm still putting it off.

I really want to try and drive in the next 2 weeks and hopefully get my hours up so please keep me accountable (and call me out) :)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 05, 2018, 05:34:49 pm
Were going to Canberra this weekend so I drove 1hr 35min on the highway this morning. Will hopefully be driving on the way home as well.

I'm currently on around 58 hours!! :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Fergus6748 on October 06, 2018, 03:03:57 pm
Awesome job!! Have you managed to do the Safer Drivers Course yet?? Its pretty easy and its a nice little 20 hours off your time.
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: tomatosauce on October 07, 2018, 01:07:07 pm
Well done Katie! Keep that up n you'll get there!

(What state are you from - how many hours do you have to do?)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: kauac on October 07, 2018, 01:36:50 pm
Were going to Canberra this weekend so I drove 1hr 35min on the highway this morning. Will hopefully be driving on the way home as well.

I'm currently on around 58 hours!! :D

Awesome! Can vouch that highways can be a bit intimidating, so terrific effort on conquering them!

Sounds like there will be a bit of an AN race between who will get their license first: Katie vs Nick!  ;D Closely followed by Bea too!  :)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 07, 2018, 08:53:41 pm
Drove for an hour and 15 minutes this afternoon on the way home! Almost at 60 hours now!!  ;D

Awesome job!! Have you managed to do the Safer Drivers Course yet?? Its pretty easy and its a nice little 20 hours off your time.
Thanks!! Not yet. I think I'm going to try to book it in the holidays though-November or December.  :D

Well done Katie! Keep that up n you'll get there!

(What state are you from - how many hours do you have to do?)
Thanks!! I'm from NSW- so I have to do 120 hours and 20 of them have to be at night. At the moment I'm almost halfway (but I only have about 5 night hours)!  :D

Awesome! Can vouch that highways can be a bit intimidating, so terrific effort on conquering them!

Sounds like there will be a bit of an AN race between who will get their license first: Katie vs Nick!  ;D Closely followed by Bea too!  :)
Thanks!!   ;D I've only driven 3 times this year so hopefully I'll be able to keep it up! :)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 03, 2018, 11:11:18 pm
Drove for another 30ish minutes this afternoon to one of my friend's houses (mainly because my dad forced me too!). Think I'm about halfway there now! I think I'm getting better but I'm definitely going to need to work on driving more regularly.  :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 26, 2018, 08:45:01 pm
I've driven a couple of times in the last few weeks. This week I drove home from my cousin's house in Menai (1hr) and clarinet lessons (30min at night!). It's been a bit annoying with my siblings and family in the car sometimes because either my little brother is complaining/making loud noises to distract me, my siblings are asking for Maccas runs or joking about my driving.

I'm at around 66 hours now so once I do the safer drivers course (which I need to book soon), I should be really close!! I still need to learn and be confident with a few more things like reversing and parking though! Hopefully, I'll have my P's sometime early next year!!  ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on December 26, 2018, 11:55:02 pm
I’ve driven a few more times recently! Yesterday, I drove to my grandparents place for Christmas, and was stuck in heaps of traffic on the way there. Heaps of the drive was stopping and starting so it took a lot longer then it usually does. Today, I drove to the shops and then to and from the beach.

I still need to work on reversing (especially reverse parking). Dad tried to get me to do a reverse park today and it didn’t go very well.

I had someone beep me yesterday and another person stick his finger up, which was really annoying/frustrating (I wasn’t doing anything wrong).

I’m thinking about booking in for the safer drivers course and also doing the hazard perception test towards the end of this month. After that, I really need to work a lot more on my night hours. My sister can get her L’s next week, so she might be wanting to drive heaps as well!

I’m currently at around 72 hours (including 7hr 20min at night)  ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on January 05, 2019, 04:20:03 pm
Drove for another 40 minutes today! My families going camping on Wednesday so I should be able to drive a lot more then as well.

Currently on 76 hours 25 minutes (including 7hr 20min night)!  :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on January 19, 2019, 08:05:30 pm
Drove a bit on the way to and from Queensland (Tweed Heads) and Coffs Harbour!

Currently on around 84 hours (including 8hr 20min at night)!!  ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on January 22, 2019, 10:23:49 pm
Booked the safer driver course for this Friday! Have the classroom bit in the morning and the driving bit towards the night. I'm a bit nervous for the driving part because I've only ever driven in the one car and with family.

On about 85 hours now!! :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on January 22, 2019, 10:36:11 pm
Booked the safer driver course for this Friday! Have the classroom bit in the morning and the driving bit towards the night. I'm a bit nervous for the driving part because I've only ever driven in the one car and with family.

On about 85 hours now!! :D

Love it. Keen to hear how it goes.
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: dancing phalanges on January 22, 2019, 11:27:05 pm
Booked the safer driver course for this Friday! Have the classroom bit in the morning and the driving bit towards the night. I'm a bit nervous for the driving part because I've only ever driven in the one car and with family.

On about 85 hours now!! :D

Are you manual or automatic? I was A and found there wasn't much I had to adjust to and the instructors are always very considerate so I'm sure you'll be fine :)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on February 04, 2019, 09:36:13 pm
Drove home from clarinet lessons with my mum today (this is the first time she's driven next to me. She didn't want to when I was just starting to learn.) I'm hoping to book the Hazard perception test in around 2 weeks. I also need to do a few driving lessons to learn parking and reversing.

Currently on 107 hours 30min (including around 9hours at night)  ;D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on February 12, 2019, 10:18:08 pm
Booked my Hazard Perception Test for next Thursday (the 21st)  :D

At the moment, I have around 110 hours. :) I think that the 10 left are almost all night hours (which is annoying because it gets dark at around 8ish now). I'm still need to do a few driving lessons to learn parking, and to drive around the area of the tests.

I've started looking at some secondhand cars because once I get my P's I want to be able to buy a car soon.
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: beatroot on February 12, 2019, 10:22:58 pm
Booked my Hazard Perception Test for next Thursday (the 21st)  :D

At the moment, I have around 110 hours. :) I think that the 10 left are almost all night hours (which is annoying because it gets dark at around 8ish now). I'm still need to do a few driving lessons to learn parking, and to drive around the area of the tests.

I've started looking at some secondhand cars because once I get my P's I want to be able to buy a car soon.

So so exciting that you are so close to the end!! ;D Good luck with the test!!
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on February 13, 2019, 09:43:37 am
Booked my Hazard Perception Test for next Thursday (the 21st)  :D

At the moment, I have around 110 hours. :) I think that the 10 left are almost all night hours (which is annoying because it gets dark at around 8ish now). I'm still need to do a few driving lessons to learn parking, and to drive around the area of the tests.

I've started looking at some secondhand cars because once I get my P's I want to be able to buy a car soon.

Yes, awesome! Not sure if the Hazards Perception Test is like the one in Victoria, but definitely recommend doing practice ones online if any are available.

Good luck! :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on February 21, 2019, 10:52:16 am
Passed the hazard perception test!!  ;D

(The screens were so dodgy though-it was really hard to see)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on February 21, 2019, 12:39:22 pm
Passed the hazard perception test!!  ;D

(The screens were so dodgy though-it was really hard to see)

Nice work! Another hurdle jumped. :)
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on March 11, 2019, 08:36:48 pm
I've got around 6 hours left now (all night hours)!!  :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Poet on March 11, 2019, 08:45:46 pm
I've got around 6 hours left now (all night hours)!!  :D
go Katie!!! Totally cheering for you!
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on March 25, 2019, 08:57:44 pm
Drove home last week in the pouring rain!
I think I have about 4 1/2 hours left now!!  :D
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: sweetiepi on March 26, 2019, 08:58:32 am
Drove home last week in the pouring rain!
I think I have about 4 1/2 hours left now!!  :D
So close to being done! Well done! <3
Title: Re: 2 ½ years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on March 26, 2019, 09:03:05 am
I've got around 6 hours left now (all night hours)!!  :D

Great work! So close now. :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on April 18, 2019, 10:54:38 pm
Been driving home from work. Daylight savings has been really good because it gets darker so much quicker now (and all of my hours are night hours).

I've got around 2 hours left!!  ;D
I still need to do a few driving lessons to learn parking (especially reversing) and to drive around the test area (pls keep me accountable if I haven't posted about lessons in the next few weeks!!).
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on April 24, 2019, 10:18:51 pm
I have 1 hour left!!  ;D

Should probably be finished my hours by the end of the week!! :D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Bri MT on April 25, 2019, 09:52:25 am
I have 1 hour left!!  ;D

Should probably be finished my hours by the end of the week!! :D

 Incredibly exciting!!
Congratulations on getting this far :D

Maybe once you're done you could tell us a highlight of the learning to drive experience?
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on May 07, 2019, 10:33:04 pm
Finally finished the 120 hours!!  ;D

Need to book a few driving lessons and drive around the test area soon! :)
(Definitely need to work more on reverse parking and 3 point turns!)
Also going to need to book the test soon because the earliest I can book it is next month.


Incredibly exciting!!
Congratulations on getting this far :D

Maybe once you're done you could tell us a highlight of the learning to drive experience?

Thanks!! At the moment becoming a lot more confident driving has been really nice. I'm really bad at directions so being able to drive around my area now without asking my dad where I have to turn all the time has been good. :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on May 08, 2019, 09:49:23 am
Great work! :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on June 20, 2019, 10:03:09 pm
Don't think I've driven since last update!! Please yell at me if I haven't updated over the next few weeks (especially about driving lessons!!) :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Poet on July 07, 2019, 01:16:56 pm
Don't think I've driven since last update!! Please yell at me if I haven't updated over the next few weeks (especially about driving lessons!!) :)
KATIE HAVE YOU DRIVEN YET
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on July 07, 2019, 03:14:27 pm
KATIE HAVE YOU DRIVEN YET
not yet!!  :( :'(
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on July 08, 2019, 03:53:48 pm
not yet!!  :( :'(

When are you planning to next? :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on July 22, 2019, 05:39:02 pm
When are you planning to next? :)
Hopefully either to or from band on Friday! :)

Planning to drive heaps (and have a few lessons) during my holidays which are in around 3 weeks!!
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on September 01, 2019, 05:10:15 pm
Apart from today, I haven't actually driven since I got my 120 hours (back in May)!! I've had a couple of friends (some who are 2 years younger then me) get their licenses recently and with holidays at the moment it'd be really nice to be able to drive myself places.

I drove home from the beach today, then we spent 10 minutes trying to go over reverse parking and 3 point turns (which I'm still terrible at).

I have my first driving lesson tomorrow morning! It's going for 1 1/2 hr, and will start at my house and then go around some of the test area. From then, he'll tell me how many lessons I need and when to go for the test. I'm hoping to have my license by November! :D

Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 02, 2019, 08:57:52 pm
The driving lesson went well but it was a bit frustrating because we mainly drove in a few streets around my area (& I was hoping to go the the test area). We worked on kerbside stops, reverse parallel parking, blindspots and exit indicators. It took a bit of time to get used to his car but by the end it was going ok. I've driven a few times since: home from clarinet lessons/band and the beach.

I have another lesson on Friday for 2 hours! This time I think we will drive around the test area. I feel like 2 hours is a really long time for a driving lesson but I'll see how it goes.

I definitely want my license by the end of the year so hopefully I can book the test soon! :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 17, 2019, 08:18:59 pm
Had another 1 1/2 hr driving lesson on Tuesday. We mainly drove around my area but were working on a lot of stuff for the test. We kinda focussed on lane-changing, 3 point turns, kerbside stops, and reverse parking. I was definitely getting better toward the end of the lesson!!

One of the annoying things about this instructor is that he always gets really booked up. Next week he was full and then he's going on holidays so my next lesson is on the 12th of November. We're going to do a mock test then and I'm also going to book my actual test for the end of November!! Once I book my test, I'm pretty much going to try and drive everywhere we go (& a lot more around the test area)!! :D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Bri MT on October 17, 2019, 08:32:04 pm
How are you feeling about the test? Keen? Apprehensive?
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 17, 2019, 11:02:50 pm
How are you feeling about the test? Keen? Apprehensive?
Really nervous about the actual test. I think I'm kinda worried I'm going to make some stupid mistakes and fail. I haven't driven around the actual test area too much and last time I went I started making a bunch of mistakes as soon as I got there because I'm not as familiar with it.

Mainly, want my L's to be over now though. At the moment, I am able to drive by myself most of the time (my dad either tries not to do too many instructions or plays chess sometimes). I really want to be able to buy my own car soon and drive myself places. For placement at the moment, it's a 5min drive but some days I'm going to have to walk there or back which will take around 30min. It'll just be a lot easier to get to places (the station/clarinet lessons/band/work).  ;D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on October 22, 2019, 06:47:27 pm
Test booked for the end of next month!!
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: caffinatedloz on October 22, 2019, 06:54:05 pm
Test booked for the end of next month!!
That's fantastic!! Best of luck ;D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 19, 2019, 10:35:36 pm
This time next week I would have done the driving test (and hopefully have my P's)!!  :D

I'm pretty anxious about it. I had a driving lesson last week and it didn't go as well as I was hoping. I hadn't had a lesson and a month and I honestly forgot how to properly reverse park/3-point turn when I did it the first time. I also still need to work on parking in car parks.

I drove around the test area with my dad last weekend and it ended up going really well. He's been making me drive everywhere at the moment to try and get more comfortable. I can drive safely and at this point I probably have close to 200 hours (we stopped writing them in). However, I'm a bit worried that I'm going to get nervous during the test, make a stupid mistake and fail.

Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on November 20, 2019, 11:19:58 am
200 hours is huge. Awesome work, irrespective of whatever the test result is.
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 26, 2019, 12:55:49 pm
It's about time!!  ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/PZqmvCp.jpg)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Sine on November 26, 2019, 12:59:09 pm
It's about time!!  ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/PZqmvCp.jpg)
Congratulations!
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: r1ckworthy on November 26, 2019, 01:09:39 pm
It's about time!! 

Nice!
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Joseph41 on November 26, 2019, 02:17:02 pm
Congratulations - that's really fantastic news. :)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on January 19, 2020, 09:03:46 pm
I'm really excited because I'm buying a car next week!!  ;D

Someone from dad's work is selling a Holden Barina pretty cheap ($1000). I haven't actually been able to drive by myself too much because we only have 1 car for 6 people so I'm keen to be able to drive to the station/work/band.  :D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Coolmate on January 19, 2020, 09:08:56 pm
I'm really excited because I'm buying a car next week!!  ;D

Someone from dad's work is selling a Holden Barina pretty cheap ($1000). I haven't actually been able to drive by myself too much because we only have 1 car for 6 people so I'm keen to be able to drive to the station/work/band.  :D

🎉🎉That sounds great, well done katie! ;D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: caffinatedloz on January 22, 2020, 06:06:52 pm
Yay! We'll have to see a picture of you with your shiny P plates on your shiny new (old) car! ;D
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on February 02, 2020, 08:44:32 pm
Yay! We'll have to see a picture of you with your shiny P plates on your shiny new (old) car! ;D
Got it today! I'm so excited!!  ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/71lbSBK.jpg)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 27, 2020, 02:22:38 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZMVEtH.jpg)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Coolmate on November 27, 2020, 02:50:18 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZMVEtH.jpg)

Congratulations Katie on getting your green P's! After your green's you will become a fully licensed driver, one step closer to your goal ^-^

Coolmate 8)
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Sine on November 27, 2020, 03:18:30 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZMVEtH.jpg)
congratulations, stay safe!
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: Bri MT on November 27, 2020, 07:13:09 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZMVEtH.jpg)

Congratulations!!

How long is left until you're on your full license now?
Title: Re: 3 years already: Katie needs to learn to drive!!
Post by: katie,rinos on November 27, 2020, 11:00:39 pm
Thanks everyone!!  :D

Congratulations!!

How long is left until you're on your full license now?
Think it's 2 more years!