19th March 2007 another good lesson

My driving is improving slowly for first 10 minutes or so I checked mirrors enough so I can do it only got to carry on for another 30 minutes longer for the test. Even checked door mirrors when turning a few times. My instructor says I sometimes get too near middle of road. Drove on some very narrow roads did ok its hard to keep left when you are nearly touching walls or kerb when in middle of road. Main mistakes this lesson first was when I got asked to pull up on left facing down hill then as soon as I'd stopped I was told to move off again so I rushed and forgot blind spot check. Second and probably worst one was turning left sharp corner slowed down and stopped in 2nd gear saw it was clear set off and staled cos it was still in 2nd. got round corner aswell so had to start it up again and move off quick. Third was stupid my instructor tells me to go straight on and there is a mini roundabout but the road looks like it goes straight on so I don't slow down and look til very near it slam brakes on and look and its clear. Also speeding or so my instructor said I saw a 40 sign so did 40mph and instructor said it was 30 soon after the 40 sign. Another was coming out of a junction in 4th gear oops I did slow down and look and saw it was safe to go though but obviously my speed was too slow for 4th gear, I didn't even relise til my instructor pointed it out. Mirror checks disapeared after the begining of lesson ggrrrrr I know when to check them I just forget. I'm getting more confident in getting out of junctions and roundabouts judging if the car passing is far enough away for me to get out safely.

Just before end of lesson I do reverse round corner my instructor telling me what to do as it's first time I've done it with him. reversed into a narrow road and did well. Then for parallel park and it went a lot better than I expected my instructor did tell me what to do though but one of the best I've done on this no mistakes on any manoeuvre. Wait til I have to do them without being told. Mock test Friday should be interesting to see where I need to improve. Bets on what I'll be marked down for driving too near white line and not enough mirror checks and maybe not being in right lane though getting better and I've decided if I'm in wrong lane I'll go what ever way the lane goes as you can't get marked down for going a different way than asked if done correctly.