How was your first driving lesson and experience like?

[Parasondox]

Good morning, good mooooooorning.

Today I've applied for my driving lessons and at first I was nervous but I actually feel excited about it. I love cars, love the thought of driving but never had the time before and no money. Also living in a big city like London, there are some insane drivers and cyclist that put me off and scare me half the time. Bus drivers, some of them think that are the kings of the road. Some are actually really nice.

So, what were your first experience when it came to your driving lessons and then finally getting your license? An interesting stories, banter, horrors and so forth.

Few days ago I got more motivated because I'm in my early 20's and as a massive F1 fan. Hearing that a 16 year old (17 when the race starts), Max Verstappen, has a seat next year in F1, SO DAMN YOUNG, got me felling low. Not that low but still, WOW. No, I won't be one of those boy racers because I would rather do Sunday races on a race track to execute high speeds, and leave the normal driving on the road.

Let me know what you think and share anything you wish. Thank you.

 

[Caiphus]

Uuuh, well it was with my dad.

It was actually rather nice. He drove me to the quiet street where he grew up, and then we swapped seats and I started driving. I really felt like we bonded a little bit. Which is nice, because my father can be a rather serious man.

And then I tried to park, hopped the curb and almost hit a tree.

And that was that!

God luck with yours though OP . I'm sure you will do better than me

 

[Parasondox]

Uuuh, well it was with my dad.

It was actually rather nice. He drove me to the quiet street where he grew up, and then we swapped seats and I started driving. I really felt like we bonded a little bit. Which is nice, because my father can be a rather serious man.

And then I tried to park, hopped the curb and almost hit a tree.

And that was that!

God luck with yours though OP . I'm sure you will do better than me

Thank you so much and I appreciate it. The parking is actually one of my major concerns. Parallel parking may have to be my main focus because I have known many people who have failed their test because of that one section.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I was very nervous and I find the experience quite intense!

Unlike the OP, I was never into cars in the first place both the aesthetic of cars and desire to drive (I blame all the racing games I played that I crash so many time). The only reason why I took lesson in the first place cos my parent made me do it.

Long story short, I eventually pass my test but it took a few years (I was kind of on and off it) and it took me four tries to pass the test.

In saying so however I have not once driven properly after I passed my test.

 

[Caiphus]

Thank you so much and I appreciate it. The parking is actually one of my major concerns. Parallel parking may have to be my main focus because I have known many people who have failed their test because of that one section.

Parallel parking can be tricky. I know a few people who have their licences who refuse to parallel park.

If you have a good instructor, you should be sweet. There are also videos on the Internet that you can always watch before your lesson. It can be difficult at first; the way that you turn your wheel and position yourself may be slightly counter-intuitive. So don't worry if it's a bit fidgety to begin with. Just don't be nervous about it, and take it slow. Nobody started winning F1 races on their first day

 

[JoJo]

Pretty chill, just went round some quiet roads near where I live for my first time. The harder part comes later, when you have to master the skills to near perfection so you can pass your practical test, took me seven attempts before I passed >.>

 

[Johnny Impact]

My dad had a huge old Suburban with a stick shift you could have turned into a formidable weapon. Shifting made that heavy shunk-kachunk noise you get with trucks. Of course this was the vehicle I learned to drive in, because my dad insisted, "Once you learn to drive this, you can drive anything." First lesson was mostly an experience in whiplash. We lurched around at five or ten miles an hour while I struggled with the clutch. The up side is my dad was right. Every vehicle since then has been a breeze by comparison. I feel confident that if I ever had to drive a bus or something, I could do it.

 

[shootthebandit]

living in a big city like London

Todays lesson. Ill show you how to put the car into neutral and apply the handbrake. Then I'll show you how to wait for an hour and finally I will show you how to pay the conjestion charge

I like driving and I love cars. Not so much of an F1 fan any more. Its become far too sanitised lately and there is no competition, I see good drivers who simply fail to do well because they are stuck with a crap car. I much prefer BTCC and rallying nowadays. BTCC is a lot more competitive with the reverse grid and ballasts its fairer and there is more contact

As much as I love cars and driving. I didnt do so well on my tests. The best advice I can give you is get comfortable with the car and get comfortable with how they want you to drive (but be prepared to forget it and get your own style once you pass). I found it incredibly difficult to concentrate in tests when the examiner is next to you and my instructor said if they done the test externally I would pass. Its very intimidating and the whole time you are driving you have like 100 things in your head. Once you pass its a lot different and you can relax. Theres a popular saying "you done start learning to drive until after your test." This is so true

Different cars have different gear ratios and torque curves so id suggest learning in a few different cars (a petrol and diesel would be a good comparison) so you get a feel of when to change gear. You should be able to hear the engine to know when to change

 

[Barbas]

I put the windscreen wipers on instead of indicating, then I stalled it at a junction. Then I rolled backwards down a hill a little bit, then accelerated up said hill again, put the handbrake on, stalled, restarted and drove off with the handbrake partially on and an unfamiliar warning light pinging on the display. I then stopped at a set of traffic lights and put the car into reverse instead of first gear, grinding for a few seconds before realizing and correcting the error. I finished the lesson off by pulling over neatly - a perfect six inches from the curb, no less - and putting the car into fourth instead of neutral, stalling it again.


I shall always remember my examiner's shaky words: "It was not a thing of beauty."

 

[stroopwafel]

Few days ago I got more motivated because I'm in my early 20's and as a massive F1 fan. Hearing that a 16 year old (17 when the race starts), Max Verstappen, has a seat next year in F1, SO DAMN YOUNG, got me felling low. Not that low but still, WOW.

Those F1 drivers are basically racing go-karts while still in their diapers so they are already quite skilled by the time they enter 'legal age' to drive. Now for F1 basically all you need is a lot of money, sponsors and connections. Without money, no matter how skilled you are, you won't make it into F1. I am sure Max Verstappen has a lot of driving talent; but if you're old man is a former F1 driver with all the money and connections to get you into this league, well, it certainly makes it a lot more convenient.

Anyways, yeah I couldn't wait to get driving lessons! I always wanted to drive my parents car on the lot but they rarely let me. I had my first driving lessons on the day of my 18th birthday(which is legal age to drive her) so I really couldn't wait. I wanted to get my license asap, cause I think lessons and driving with an instructor is no fun. As a birthday present my parents paid for all my lessons, which I think is pretty cool of them.

However, its important to know that driving is a skill you accumulate through experience, not one you 'learn' with driving lessons. Lessons only teach you the basics. You don't learn how to properly drive till you're on your own. The one critical thing to remember is to be cautious and have situational awareness by looking at your mirrors at all times.

There are many people who have their license but can't drive for shit. Whether they be young people who overestimate their skill(and the ones who are most likely to cause accidents) or sunday afternoon drivers who drive dangerously slow or insecure. Where I live there are also a lot of pedestrians or cyclists under influence. Just the other day there was some cyclist drunk as a skunk as he swirled and bounced against my bumper with his bike. If I were speeding or not paying attention I could have easily run him over. So yeah, pay attention at all times.

But anyways, hope your first lesson didn't disappoint and good luck obtaining your license!

 

[Flutterguy]

Didn't have a problem.. minus my dad treating me like a bloody idiot out of terror that I would wreck the car without having a license. I imagine a lot of first times go like that.

I've drove maybe 40 times in the 7 years since then. You'll probably have more experience then me in a week mate.

 

[Total LOLige]

I have never attempted to drive a car in a formal or informal capacity. I don't have any plans to learn either.

In the event I do have a driving lesson, I hope it isn't like this:

 

[keniakittykat]

My dad insisted on teaching me how to drive in his BMW station wagon... And not only did I sprain my legs because I couldn't reach the pedals well because of my short legs, I also hit an empty oil drum. Twice!
And my dad just laughed and laughed.

So you could say it was pretty awful on my part. My dad on the other hand had the time of his life!

 

[Astoria]

My first driving lesson was actually pretty easy and awesome. My driving instructor was a family friend and had his own custom car where he also had a brake on his side which stopped me from any major dilemmas. I just drove around on some back streets for a while and tried some U turns a 3 point turns. After only 2 lessons I was confident enough to drive along main roads in medium traffic. His car was also the same model as my dad so switching over to his car was simple and then when I brought my own car it was sort of the mini version of that car so learning to drive was easy for me. I'm the only one of my friends who can say they got through their Ls with no crashing.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Horrifying.

I don't think it would have been possible if it had just been me and my dad, though he helped me a lot afterwards. My driver's education included hands-on lessons with an instructor that started in January. I suppose that's for the best, since learning to drive in a Canadian winter is a separate trial on its own. My instructor was great at helping me, answering all my questions and walking me through things I had trouble with.

It was encouraging to find that I was showing the exact opposite problems most beginning drivers have- I was too cautious, and too slow. I probably always will be, out of the fear of hitting someone. I'm just glad I didn't have to learn in a big city like Toronto.

Your instructors will probably tell you all this, but I have been taught to check your rearview mirror every eight seconds minimum, and either look well ahead or check your speed whenever you're not doing that. When stopped behind another vehicle at a light, leave roughly one vehicle length between you in case the person behind you doesn't stop or something else goes wrong. Brake gradually unless it's an emergency, always use your turn signals, and avoid distracted driving- I don't even play music when I'm driving.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

I drove around and practiced all the good stuff in an empty parking lot.
I was terrified but I did fine.
My first time actually on a road was much more interesting. Asshole drivers kept cutting me off and I white knuckled the whole ordeal.
Then I practiced once more on the maze like side streets of my neighborhood, almost flipped the car once because I had poor speed control.
Then I did my official test for my license and aced it. Just had to drive like 20 feet and parallel park.

I have not driven since then (that was 3 years ago) and I plan on holding off on driving for as long as I can.
I hate driving and while I appreciate the way some cars look I don't care much for anything else about them.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

With my father as well.

We lived next to the uni so he made a course in it that started off in a car park and by the 5th lesson ended up going through roundabouts, up and down hills and ended with parallel parking.

 

[Parasondox]

Todays lesson. Ill show you how to put the car into neutral and apply the handbrake. Then I'll show you how to wait for an hour and finally I will show you how to pay the conjestion charge

Then when you least suspect it, when at a red light, have a speeding cyclist rush passed you as they disobey the red light at their end as your lights are turning from red to amber to green. Oh look up ahead, road works. Time for more waiting and waiting.

I like driving and I love cars. Not so much of an F1 fan any more. Its become far too sanitised lately and there is no competition, I see good drivers who simply fail to do well because they are stuck with a crap car. I much prefer BTCC and rallying nowadays. BTCC is a lot more competitive with the reverse grid and ballasts its fairer and there is more contact

Outside of F1 (which does get boring at times I admit), I like to watch Rally races, endurance runs and Rally Cross (RallyX). BTCC is the real competitive wheel to wheel stuff. No complaining to engineers about "he didn't give me space to pass". You have got to earn that pass and see if you could defend that new position at the next corner. Okay i'm really just a motor-sport fan who watches Motor TV (UK) a lot more often and old YouTube vids of Rally time trials. Pikes Peek is just scary to look at.

As much as I love cars and driving. I didn't do so well on my tests. The best advice I can give you is get comfortable with the car and get comfortable with how they want you to drive (but be prepared to forget it and get your own style once you pass). I found it incredibly difficult to concentrate in tests when the examiner is next to you and my instructor said if they done the test externally I would pass. Its very intimidating and the whole time you are driving you have like 100 things in your head. Once you pass its a lot different and you can relax. Theres a popular saying "you done start learning to drive until after your test." This is so true

Different cars have different gear ratios and torque curves so id suggest learning in a few different cars (a petrol and diesel would be a good comparison) so you get a feel of when to change gear. You should be able to hear the engine to know when to change

I will take that advice and thought, thank you. Comfortability is key.