Failing your driving test.

I'd say "roll on self-driving cars" but I know even if they do ever become a thing you'll need a driving licence to use one

well, as another non-driver, I'd say, yes, *this* and the fact that I am not convinced that simply automating the vast numbers of often single occupancy vehicles is the answer to anything. George Monbiot said as much in a recent article. Far better to have lots of self driving minibuses and taxis which always carry multiple people....then you could reduce traffic congestion as well and we *wouldn't* to get driving licenses to travel in self driving vehicles.

five tests, five fails. fuck it, i live in a v flat city with good buses

anyways you can read + listen to music on buses, driving isn't freedom, its absolute tyranny really.

I had a bad lesson 3 weeks ago and since then the instructor has a) not turned up to our regular slot b) not texted or given any warning or explanation of not turning up c) not answered his phone

This sucks, a good instructor should have experienced hundreds of "bad lessons" and be grown up enough to deal with it and move on.

Spacecadet - On the off chance you live in North-Northwest London, I have a fantastic instructor I can recommend. I am a super clumsy, spatially unaware nervous person and managed to pass on my 2nd test.

Christ though, London drivers are fucking dicks. I've only been driving a few weeks and I get consistently honked by people behind me for not committing suicide in front of them. It's like - you know what - I'm gonna wait till the traffic turns green. And maybe I won't turn left while there's a massive truck speeding towards me from the right.

I think there must be another thread about driving tests because I'm sure I've posted about this before, but I failed 6 times when I was 21/22 and gave up. The cost of owning a car seems prohibitive to me but people earning a lot loss money than me seem to be able to afford it somehow. It'd be nice if I was able to hire a car every now and then though. Not sure I will ever be able to pass the test since it's supposed to be harder than it was in the 90s.

For those who tried in their youth, failed, and now face trying again as mature adults with trepidation: I failed my (UK) driving test three times in my teens and early 20s. Gave up as have always lived in major cities with decent public transport, and never really needed a car. Was inspired to get back on the horse when my wife was pregnant with our first child, primarily to rectify the unfairness of her having to do any/all driving for us and in case she had a c-section and was prevented from driving. I got a good instructor via a recommendation, applied myself to 2-hour lessons at least once a week and on an icy morning in January 2013 I passed my test on the first re-attempt since 1995. Three weeks later my oldest son was born by c-section and I was able to drive them both home from the hospital, if nervously. If I can do it, you all can do it.

I'm attempting to learn to drive again after a break of approx 20 years. Fucking hate it so far! My favourite part is when the instructor tells me I need to stop panicking, because I hadn't thought of that before.

Wow are you me from the future?

(I'm in a similar situation: haven't tried driving a car for actually 25 years now, from what I now know about panic attacks I'm pretty sure that I used to have one each time I got behind the wheel)

I mean I know that a person's shirt shouldn't be soaked through with sweat while driving a car but 19 year old snoball didn't have a clue.