Driving Lessons and Work

After I had my first driving lesson, I was determined to have tuition on a weekly basis, so that I could take my test as soon as possible and get my full british driving licence even though there is still no need for me to buy a car. The main reason for this as I mentioned in the introduction to my driving lessons blog was the realisation that knowing how to drive a car is a very valuable life skill to possess. I have been working hard on keeping that promise over the last 3 months, however things have become very busy at work, and I've had to put in extra late hours which has meant I get home late and tired, and have had to use the weekend to rest and regain my strength, so I've had to cancel my last 2 weeks of driving lessons, and I'm not sure things are going to ease off until late summer!

My driving skills were improving, and despite the various problems that have presented themselves as hurdles, I've manged to work on avoiding stalling, learn and do some driving manoeuvres, taking special care to keep the car slow and effectively look around for hazards, deal with agressive road users and keep my emotions and nerves under control. I'm now not sure how this break in the learning process is going to affect my goal. I'm hoping that things do cool down sooner than later, and that I can return to my driving lessons, and will update this blog as soon as there is a change.

Driving Lessons Continue

My driving lessons blog hasn't been updated much recently, as my driving instructor hasn't taught be anything new. We've continued to practise the skills I've learnt so far, Moving Off/Stopping, approaching junctions to turn left and right, emerging to turn left and right, paying attention to proper use of LADA.

We have been driving on more busy roads, and I've been trying to deal with all the inconsiderate drivers out there who can't bear the sight of a car with L plates in front of them, people overtaking me dangerously, riding up my tail, beeping their horn at me if I stall the car at a junction or while trying to decide on a safe gap when at a T Junction. I get more nervous with these people behind me, and make mistakes more easily. I also feel a litle under pressure when I'm the first person at traffic lights and have cars waiting behind me, it's like I'm holding them up because I can't go as quickly as them when the lights go green.

My driving instructor has said that I will be doing my first manouver next week, the turn in the road, so I'm looking forward to that driving lesson.

Driving Lesson 4 Traffic lights

Dealing with Traffic!

Today's driving lesson which was my 4th, was mainly practising what we did last week, approaching junctions turning left and right, moving off and stopping and a bit of straight reversing. I was now getting up to 3rd gear, and making good progress when my driving instructor sprung a surprise on me!

I was concentrating on doing the best with my driving skills, and was following my ADI's instructions, so when he said 'at the give way we are going to turn left, I'll talk you through it', I didn't think much of it until I got to the end of the road and noticed it was a little busier than the roads we had been dealing with. Traffic I thought, Oh no!

I stopped in 2nd gear, put my handbrake on, selected first gear as my instructor talked me through checking the traffic to the right, left, then right again. When it was safe, he asked to go, and I turned left into the busier willesden lane in NW London, for the first time I had faster traffic coming towards me, and checking the rear view mirror also revealed cars were approaching from behind me. 'Take the next road on the left' I heard my driving instructor say, I breathed a sigh of relief as I used MSPSL to deal with the junction, as the traffic wizzed past me on the main road.

My instructor stopped me on the left, asked how I was doing, said okay and we continued with the driving lesson by doing some more practising on the junctions, more traffic and even got to deal with one road that had traffic lights on it. Before I knew it, the driving lesson was over and it was time to go home. Hopefully very soon I'll be able to drive through the NW2 and NW6 traffic to get home from a lesson.