It's time for me to start driving

[Joseph41]

Hey Joseph, Congrats on taking a hugee step in your driving journey! I've got my Ls too, but constantly asking my parents and friends for lifts (when public transport isn't handy) honestly makes me feel a bit guilty.

My dad's been showing me the basics, but having a driving instructor sounds great too since they're experienced in teaching! Would you mind sharing your instructor's details? And just a general question, how are the lessons structured?

Hey Daniel!

Thanks for your kind words. Definitely empathise with the guilt there haha.

And no worries - I'll send over the details via PM. As with most instructors, I'd imagine lessons would vary a little in structure from student to student, based on past experience etc.

[Caitlynk_22]

I've been driving for a little under a year, at first I was really scared - it took me a month after I actually got my Ls to get in the car. I turned 16 a few months before this and you can tell I was really reluctant to get into the car.  If I didn't live in the country, I probably wouldn't have gotten my Ls at all.

Now, I have over 60 hours (Was still really reluctant after I actually did get in the car) and am really wanting my P's to drive to school and just around town. I can tell you it takes time to get used to everything. I used to drive once a month when I first got my Ls now I'm driving my mum everywhere. Driving is fun. Sadly, I still have to get 120 hrs  Hopefully getting my P's in the middle of next term!

Good luck with your driving, don't stress if you're bad at something. I'm still absolutely horrible at parking but practice makes perfect!

[Joseph41]

I've been driving for a little under a year, at first I was really scared - it took me a month after I actually got my Ls to get in the car. I turned 16 a few months before this and you can tell I was really reluctant to get into the car.  If I didn't live in the country, I probably wouldn't have gotten my Ls at all.

Now, I have over 60 hours (Was still really reluctant after I actually did get in the car) and am really wanting my P's to drive to school and just around town. I can tell you it takes time to get used to everything. I used to drive once a month when I first got my Ls now I'm driving my mum everywhere. Driving is fun. Sadly, I still have to get 120 hrs  Hopefully getting my P's in the middle of next term!

Good luck with your driving, don't stress if you're bad at something. I'm still absolutely horrible at parking but practice makes perfect!

Thanks for your post! Definitely some motivation there.

Honestly I think the 120 hours thing is a positive. Gotta be safe!

[K888]

Done any reverse parallel parking yet?

[Joseph41]

Done any reverse parallel parking yet?

[K888]

(Image removed from quote.)

I'll take that as a no, then

[Joseph41]

Forgot to update: I had my second driving lesson last week.

Went well - spent the whole time driving. The first 10-15 minutes was just around suburban streets, and then we hit some main roads and stuff. I think it's the first time I've driven on a four-lane road. Got up to 80km/h (I was nervous, for lack of a better word haha), did some merging.

Good experience!

[PhoenixxFire]

I get nervous going at 60km lol. The first time I drove on a main road was an accident, my mum thought it was still a block away - She was terrified haha, luckily it was a Sunday morning so it was quiet. Merging is scary, i'm always worried that i'm going to pull over too far or not far enough.

When's your next lesson?

[Joseph41]

I get nervous going at 60km lol. The first time I drove on a main road was an accident, my mum thought it was still a block away - She was terrified haha, luckily it was a Sunday morning so it was quiet. Merging is scary, i'm always worried that i'm going to pull over too far or not far enough.

When's your next lesson?

Later on this week - looking forward to it.

[K888]

I get nervous going at 60km lol. The first time I drove on a main road was an accident, my mum thought it was still a block away - She was terrified haha, luckily it was a Sunday morning so it was quiet. Merging is scary, i'm always worried that i'm going to pull over too far or not far enough.

When's your next lesson?

You should go a bit out of Melbourne and practice driving on some more rural roads - the lanes are wider and there's less traffic, and even when there is traffic, cars don't honk at you for taking more than 0.2 seconds to go at a green light. Definitely great conditions for getting your confidence up!

When I was learning to drive, I found that practicing parking actually helped me with merging, because it helped me get more familiar with the size of the car and how much I needed to turn the wheel and all that.

Edit: oh, and just turning this into K888's driving tips The best thing I ever learnt from my driving instructor was to have your driver's side wing mirror so the horizon is 2/3 of the way up, and to have your passenger's side wing mirror so the horizon is 3/4 of the way up. Helps so much with a) merging and b) awareness of other cars around you!

[Joseph41]

You should go a bit out of Melbourne and practice driving on some more rural roads - the lanes are wider and there's less traffic, and even when there is traffic, cars don't honk at you for taking more than 0.2 seconds to go at a green light. Definitely great conditions for getting your confidence up!

When I was learning to drive, I found that practicing parking actually helped me with merging, because it helped me get more familiar with the size of the car and how much I needed to turn the wheel and all that.

Edit: oh, and just turning this into K888's driving tips The best thing I ever learnt from my driving instructor was to have your driver's side wing mirror so the horizon is 2/3 of the way up, and to have your passenger's side wing mirror so the horizon is 3/4 of the way up. Helps so much with a) merging and b) awareness of other cars around you!

Yeah, nice - definitely planning to do this. Thanks Kate.

My instructor made me drive into this really tight court and then seven-point-turn my way out haha. What a legend.

[K888]

Yeah, nice - definitely planning to do this. Thanks Kate.

My instructor made me drive into this really tight court and then seven-point-turn my way out haha. What a legend.

Nice - it's a great way to learn, because you're not going at a high speed, and the worst you can do is hit the kerb with your wheels.

I take it this is auto?

[Joseph41]

Nice - it's a great way to learn, because you're not going at a high speed, and the worst you can do is hit the kerb with your wheels.

I take it this is auto?

Yep, definitely auto for now.

[Shadowxo]

Yep, definitely auto for now.

I feel betrayed.

Just continuing the driving tips, make sure you get experience on all kinds of roads. I did some long drives from Melb to Sydney and even though it was highway driving and not particularly challenging (apart from getting off the freeway and not getting tired), it really helped with my ability to use the mirrors. I was able to see where cars were and how far away they had to be to be visible (or not) through my mirrors. You can learn things you might not expect

[K888]

I feel betrayed.

A manual friend! We never have to worry about our cars being stolen