Leaning to drive... - Page 2

Omg! You had the same experience that I was having with my instructor. I am switching to the dude that taught my brother. My advice is to not hire people that own their own companies because they don't hold themselves accountable. He didn't teach me the difference between hand over hand and push pull steering. They are supposed to teach you that from the start. The guy that taught my bro works for the company but the owner does not teach people to drive he just teaches the classroom classes and does administration. So, you are able to complain if there i s anything wrong. I have the same steering issues.

Hey I'm in NJ too I would say continue looking for a driving school until you find the one that fits you. Yeah, they're not cheap but it's worth it. Plus you'll feel extra confident when it's time for the road test, you get to use the driving school car and the instructor will go with you.

During my road test hand over hand steering was very important. I didn't do it properly for one turn and the guy lectured me about it and told me he would cut me a break because everything else was okay. Make sure you have it down 100%.

I agree with everyone else - practice hand over hand turning for nj road test. The way I learned is found side streets with little traffic and just kept turning and turning until it became second nature. I received my NJ DL back in March.

Excellent info; yes, that's the system that I was describing.

Your instructor has forgotten more about driving than you know so listen to him and don't get defensive. Testers aren't dumb either. If you're not driving confidently and can't even make a simple turn without making a fuss about it, they'll fail you.

So glad I found this thread! I had my first 2 hour driving lesson this morning! MAY I SAY THOSE WERE THE MOST STRESSFUL 2 HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!

My instructor took me out into the street right away. The only practice I had ever had was in an empty parking lot for no more than maybe an hour if I count all the different times in one. I don't know how I didn't soil my pants!

My problem is also turning. I can turn "alright" towards the right but the left turns kill me. I either do it too late, too soon or just everything wrong! I kept tensing and not letting the wheel turn by itself once I completed the turn. She kept telling me I had to let the wheel come back and not try to keep such a strong hold on it.

I keep trying to tell myself that it was only my first time. But I wanted to cry when I got home. For some reason I figured it was going to be a breeze.

When I drove back home she said I did it better than my drive to the place where we practiced the turns. I wasn't bad at switching lanes or driving straight LOL

How were your driving instructors? I kinda feel like she should explain things better to me? I'm not sure. Can anyone tell me how it went and what you did on your first driving lesson?

^Mine sucked. Rude old man. I felt the same way. I wanted to cry when I made it back home. I think I might have actually. It has always made me nervous. The dude took me on the freeway the second time. I am switching to a new one but I want to get more practice in first.

Consider yourself very lucky if he took you on the freeway. I was scared to get on there for a few months after getting my DL and really it's easier than the regular streets once you know a few rules (like the person exiting has the right of way, etc.). Most instructors don't teach any of that.

For the rest of you guys, just relax. Driving is a skill that takes lots of time and you should always be a little nervous. Once you are totally relaxed then you fall in the trap of going in "auto pilot" and not reacting or getting lazy with the signals and what not. Once you get your license, know your limits and in a few months and a year, everything becomes second nature. For now, relax.

The relative I was living with made me drop out of driver's ed in HS because he was afraid if I was refused a learner's permit at the DMV, it would be really embarrassing and open up a can of worms. Because he felt bad, I got to drive around a parking for a half hour. 3 years later in Texas, my papers were enough (good old days) to get to take the test so I practiced a few times with an old manual transmission car and took the test with another manual transmission car. Was it scary? Yes, but that's part of the fun. Just relax and don't get stressed out. Stressed out drivers cause accidents.

I honestly don't think I'll use a driving school anymore. That first lesson was more than enough. It makes no sense at all that you've never driven a car and they take you out on the street. Then they get mad when you make a mistake! Seriously you should practice in a parking lot first or something.

From NJ here. I got my license a few months ago. Like many of you, I signed up for driving lessons. I actually had a very cool instructor, but you can imagine that I was super anxious when he put me in the driver's seat and on the streets on our first lesson!

Somebody told me that you really don't learn to drive until you get your license and I think it's true. With my permit, I really didn't drive much. I practiced the week or two before my test, turning, accelerating, braking, parallel parking, and I passed. I've been driving for a few months now and I can say I'm exponentially better than I was before. It's really one of those things that you just become more comfortable with as time goes on. That's why it's SO important to drive as much as you can. It's like most skills where practice makes perfect, so get out there! If you're not comfortable, go on empty streets. You'll get more comfortable as time goes on. And this is coming from a guy who had trouble with hand-over-hand steering as well.