26th September 2006 26th Driving lesson

Well as I said I was expecting a quite bad lesson and I think my instructor was as she told me to make sure I take my time and concentrate as I have not drove for 2 week (3 week actually) well set off ok but realised I hadn't ajusted mirror or checked hand brake and neutral. Bit late for hand brake and neutral now I had set off but quickly sorted mirror when I stopped at junction. It felt strange driving after a 3 week break but got into it. A few slight steering mistakes which I corected myself, I changed gear more without being told and more confident pulling out at junctions and roundabouts when I have time before a car gets to me.

Did turn in road (don't know why but I don't like manoeuvers tho I can do them) set of too fast did reverse bit and last bit ok. Well I knew there would be some mistakes I hate the bit where you get biting point then release hand brake you never know how fast or slow the car will go then if it goes too fast its messed up. Anyway did it 2 more times better than 1st go. I was then expecting to do straight reversing and maybe reverse round corner but I was told to drive on. A bit later we stopped and then my instructor explains how to reverse round a corner as she thinks I'm ready for it. I'm not to sure but think I probably am and also the quicker I work out how to do this quicker I'll be ready for my test. I drive past the corner checking it's clear it is so I pull up at side of road or plan to but end up near the middle, great start ... NOT. I have to reverse back and pull in more to the left by the time I'd done that I was at the corner so start turning the wheel left and straighted up done it great. Did it again parking better to start with this time and did it quite well again. The best thing is my instructor said this is the hardest manoeuver and the one that takes longest to learn, she said I have picked it up quite quick. Saying that I remember my first turn in road went quite well then after more practice it went wrong a few times.

I drove in town again quite a bit of traffic but not quite as much starting and stopping as last time. My instructor seems to be learning from me that traffic lights always seem to turn red as I am about to pass as every lights we came to she tells me keep an eye on them as they will probably change. I drove up the hill that I rolled back on last time with traffic lights at the top and managed not to roll back this time. We came acros a few idiots on the road the main one being a driver in a car as I drove up a straight road a car pulled straight out of a junction without looking straight in front of me tho it seemed to worry my instructor more than me as I knew it was his mistake not mine and I slowed down enough, my instructor used the horn and called him an idiot, I was quite amused by it.

Things I could improve on the usual mirrors (still don't check them enough) from lesson one I have never checked them enough I still do not see point in checking them on straight roads when you are not doing anything different like changing speed, direction, lanes, I don't see why you need to use them changing speed if you need to slow down for things in front you need to slow down regardless of what is behind if they don't slow down nothing you can do. the main mistake I made was not being in the right lane for going straight on there was 2 lanes and I should of gone into the right hand lane but went to go in the left hand one, my instructor tells me this and I rush to get into the right hand one without checking mirrors, my instructor tells me I should of checked incase a car was overtaking. Enough about stupid mirrors I will use them to get through my test then up to me. A mistake I did today that I have never done before I went to change gear though it was bit awkward to change, maybe cos clutch wasn't down (have I said I hate the clutch before cos I should have tho I am more used to it now) Why can't all cars be automatic would be a lot easier I wouldn't have to rush gear changes then. I am learning to change gear without being told more now. At the end of the lesson my instructor said she was going to test me on a number plate but there was no cars at the required distance only one which was way over required distance which she struggled to read so I had no hope and a few quite close so I picked the furthest one and said I could read that and read it to her correctly thankfully as I would of looked stupid saying it wrong after saying I could read it plus there is no way I would of ever passed the eyesight test if I couldn't read this cos it was quite a lot closer than required distance. Also chances are that I will pass eyesight test on the day of my test cos one I can normally see the distance and two I have heard that the test centre I will be taking my test at only has 3 cars that you can be asked to read the number plate and you pass them going to waiting room, so a few eyesight checks on each car then I should know them from memory for if I struggle to read them. Over all a quite good lesson, and good news next lesson is 1 day away yes its tomorrow morning.