5th December 2006 37th Driving lesson

I was wondering if my instructor going to turn up as she was 15 minutes late today but added the time on at the end. I stalled at the first junction I did today. Drove quite well for a bit then til a stupid police car passed and put me off cos I had to stop to let it past. From then it went down hill I couldn't keep car straight kept going to middle of road and not slowing down soon enough for junctions and other cars slowing down in front. I was tested on 2 number plates and got one figure wrong on each which was better than last week. Now I'm more used to faster speeds it feels like I'm going slow at doing 35mph especially when other cars are speeding.

First manoeuver reverse round corner I tried to do more all round observations, struggled to keep car slow enough and got round corner and mounted kerb so had to drive back round corner and try again. I forget to put it in gear when I relise it's not in gear I put it in gear and get ready hand brake off car goes forward I had put it in 1st instead of reverse 1st time I have ever done that. I finally manage to reverse round the corner ok. Dread to think what parallel parking will be like. Actually it isn't too bad by that I mean better than last week as in I actually managed it. Both attepts were too fast but I parked ok and when pulling round for the second go I forgot blind spot check. At least this does seem to be improving like with the other 2 went down hill before improving.

Coming upto the dual carriageway junction there is a straight road with a right turn and for some reason you have to turn right you can't go straight on even though the road is clear I always miss the sign telling you to turn right so my instructor says what about a signal and I remember I have to go right. Used 5th gear again getting used to it now though still sometimes rush gears.

By this point for 1st time ever I was ready for the lesson to end no idea why I just couldn't steer right or get right speed. I stopped at mini roundabout when I didn't need to as cars had left signals on and nearly went on roundabout when cars were coming. I hate traffic lights twice in about 5 minutes I had to slam brakes on to stop at red light they changed to red just as I was about to pass stop line another second before changing I would of got through. On the plus side I managed to keep the car at exactly 30mph for a while as that was speed limit and I was in 4th gear and I did a tight bend quite well.

At the end of the lesson I was tested on another number plate which I could just see and I knew it my instructor guessed I knew it as she has tested me on it before I admitted I did know it but could see it. My instructor said I need to improve on steering and asked me what else, I said check mirrors more as that is always something I forget. She said the other main thing this lesson is my speed but mirrors is something else (as usual) Actually mirrors wasn't a big thing this lesson for once. My instructor asked if I wanted one hour lesson next week as that is all I have left of what I paid for but there is no way I'm going back to one hour lessons and only having one a week no matter how bad I drive so got another one and half hour lesson that is the least I'm having a week. Mite not be as over keen as I was before but still can't wait to pass my test and will never give in.