Leaning to drive...

So I have finally been in control of a car for the first few times. I had a driving instructor but honestly it was stressful as they have no patience what so freaking ever. The guy kept getting mad at me for not turning the appropriate way and I was thinking in my head "excuse me for not doing something as well in one hour that you've been doing for 40 something years..." However I am now using a family friend and he is very good. I am still doubting on how to properly turn in a road test. He taught me a good way to turn like with one hand turn the wheel all around and let the other hand pass the wheel. I don't know if this will be accepted in the road test though. Any input is appreciated. Also I live in New Jersey.

Your reviewer's concerns are that you don't hit the curb, don't invade adjacent lanes, and that there's always a hand on the steering wheel. Techniques may vary, the results need to be the same.

I agree with not_today's post above. The main things that the road test administrators would look for during your road test are your alertness, knowledge of hand & street signs and signals and whether or not you obey them, whether or not you share the road with other motorists, observing the speed limit, not following too closely (you need to be able to see the back tires and ground betwen both tires of the car in front of you, 3 point turns, parallel parking and so on.

In terms of turning, I'd recommend turning with both hands on the wheel with one hand turning the wheel and the other one following it closely doing the same thing depending on how far you turn the wheel of course (since turning the steering wheel all the way left or all the way right in order to get out of a tight spot requires more hand motions using both hands than when you're turning the steering wheel a little to the left or right to make a left or right turn onto a wide street). To be more specific, when making a left turn, the left hand turns the wheel first then the right follows with the same motion, once the right turns, the left hand goes behind/next to the right hand and continues turning and the right follows and so on until the turn is completed, the reverse is the case for a right turn (hope this helps....).

My other piece of advice would be to always turn with your hands on the outside of the wheel not the inside of the wheel, as you'll have more control that way.

I'd recommend using both hands to turn for the road test, keep practicing as you are doing, you'll develop a system with time that works for you. Also, have fun too, try not to overthink it, it'll all come together with practice. All the best!

Egads, I hate this driving shit...lol...

I still haven't gone for my driving lessons...still sitting on a Learners Permit...but I have to go soon I suppose...ugh...

Do it now and get rid of the nerves, driving is fun and a convenience!

I learned to drive in a week and my sister still can't drive. She was stopped by a cop while she was practicing in an empty parking lot from how bad she was driving. I know some people have a harder time learning but it's hard to fully understand why. I know it's stressful but it's not that hard I guess it's all just time and practice. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. Good Luck.

What you just described is hand-over-hand steering. The most common type of maneuver for making turns. OP, don't practice turning while stopped, it ruins the tires' treads. To visually complement your description, here are two videos. Anyone learning to drive should check out the videos available on Youtube.

^ Thanks I have looked on YT of course but I was wondering if the way I do it should be proper for the road test. Maybe I should learn the hand over hand steering while recovering the same way. I read that's the preferred way to do so. I'm learning mostly about safety and defensive driving. Always being on the lookout for people and watching everywhere before I turn/change lanes and stuff.

Get a taste of the independence, and you'll never go back.

Your instructor is going to give you crap if you don't do things the way he/she teaches you. If your state requires you to pass a driving course before you can take the road test, then drive exactly how your instructor tells you to drive. Things are different on the road with your DMV driving examiner in that they don't care too much about how you accomplish things but whether you do those right and do not pose a safety concern.