24th October 2006 31st Driving lesson

After last weeks terrible disaster lesson this lesson could only be better. I set off to good start determined to have good lesson still need to work on steering and positioning I seem to drive too near middle of the road and roundabouts I still look right too long and stop to near middle of road. I had never stalled at traffic lights ... Until today... First 20 minutes of the lesson I stop at traffic lights on a quite busy road that I have been on loads of times, the lights change to green I get biting point release hand brake and stall I think of all the times I have said that I have never stalled at traffic lights bit amused really, I start up again ready to go biting point release hand brake and what happens I stall again. I start up again and manage to set off this time finally.

I do turn in road again end up going a bit too fast and looking at rev counter too much and on the reverse part I stop too soon so have to reverse bit more. The second time I manage it quite well. Reverse round corner was an easier corner this time and though I had to keep stopping to let cars past and went bit too fast at times and didn't look round enough the first time I managed it and didn't hit kerb, the second time I did check round enough.

I had a bit of junction work almost hit a lamp post coming round a corner down hill too fast my instructor had to slow me down, did the same corner again with better control this time. We then got to some traffic lights on a hill at a cross roads I was told to go straight on, I had to stop as the lights was on red after the performance I had earlier with traffic lights I wanted to make sure I didn't mess up here as I could of rolled back into the car behind. I move of watching rev counter as I find it easier to know biting point with this and don't want to stall or roll back. I manage to move off safely not looking where I'm going and end up heading for the cars on the right which are facing me, my instructor has to steer me to the left in a panic we both have a laugh about it though.

I drove on a dual carriageway which was a chance for me to prove I am ready for 5th gear by going straight to 4th gear and 40mph and up to 45mph once before being told to slow down (speed limit was 50mph) after we come off the dual carriageway my instructor mentions 5th gear that I haven't used it yet I ask if I can this lesson she replies that we haven't got time cos we need to be on that dual carriageway so says I will get to use 5th gear next lesson (at last) On the way home I think I had got used to going at 40mph and a bit over bit too much as the speed limit was 40mph and a few times my instructor had to tell me not to go over 40. Oh well least I'm not scared of going fast now like I was the first time I used 4th gear. Quite looking forward to using 5th gear next lesson. We called for some petrol and I put it in again my instructor said she wanted £8 in I managed to put £8.02 in better than last time when I put 14p too much in. When I got home I was tested on reading number plates again though one was too far away so couldn't read it, one was probably bit closer than required distance which I could easily read and 2 others where close but at an odd angle so couldn't read them. I told my instructor that it was cos of the angle I couldn't read them. If they had been facing me I would of been able to.

Also on the way home I do a stupid stupid mistake. I come to a roundabout stop check its clear pull onto it when safe then I need to change to 2nd gear clutch down and for some stupid reason I put signal on instead (STUPID STUPID WHY DID I SIGNAL) my instructor flicks signal off telling me not to signal yet. I feel stupid why did I signal to change gear? I have no idea.