28th June 2007 what was wrong with today?

To say it is my test next week this lesson was crap though always enjoy lessons. Within first 5 minutes of lesson on a road I have been on no end of times on lessons and walking, my instructor tells me I'm speeding doing about 35mph I am just about to tell him I'm not as speed limit is 40mph but realise the 40mph zone starts further up the road so slow down. Mirrors, you know rest of sentance I put it enough. Drove down roads with lots of parked cars so had to keep watching for oncoming cars though most let me through nice drivers for a change. Kept driving too close to white line poor instructor got sick of telling me and said he had given up telling me, then near end asked me to explain to him why I was nearly on white line. Instructor said I did emergency stop at some traffic lights as there were 2 lots close together 1st lot went amber as I was about to pass so slowed down but decided I couldn't stop soon enough, 2nd lot was red and my instructor points it out though I had seen them so stop. Later in lesson when I ask to do emergency stop he says that I did one and he didn't think I would of stopped at red light if he hadn't said though I would of.

Did reverse round corner or more like tryed to, 1st go to close to kerb and instructor said are you going to hit kerb I say no and try not to next thing hit kerb, go forward correct it and manage to straighten up ok. Hardly look in left wing mirror at all instructor tells me I can but not all time. bit later another horrid horrid corner in narrow road and basically could not do it to save my life. 1st go just couldn't work out where I was as road turned so had to steer left more then sort of right to keep near kerb. So 1st go ended up totally lost and on other side of road. Try again this time on the pavement, 3rd go other side of road again. Tried on another corner which I can't remember how that went so probably same as the other attempts.

Forgot to signal once or twice instructor says well I know where you're going, you know where you're going but no one else does, at roundabout. Was bit slow reacting to cars with brake lights on a few times. On a roundabout going straight on I end up in right hand lane instead of middle lane instructor says bang, crash. I ask why he replys you should be in middle lane. There was one road closed through flooding so I had to turn round though enough room to turn in one go. Instructor telling me every single time I went the slightest bit over speed limit once was from 60mph to 40mph and he said I was over 40mph passing the 40 sign which I argued with as it was exactly 40mph passing sign so next sign was 30 so I made sure I was under 30 passing sign and told him. got told about one or two other times once was totally fair as I thought limit was 40 and doing that or close to it and it was 30 other time was when I was about 1mph over and already slowing down. Maybe I asked for him to be like this as I put on a forum I know he posts on that he doesn't mention it every time I speed just if I do it a few times or go over by quite a bit like 35+ in a 30 and obviously he's read it and decided to prove me wrong.

On plus side I'm getting better at emerging from roundabouts and junctions. Also depending on weather over weekend I should have my night lesson Monday and the time I was hoping for and 2 hours. Got lesson Tuesday and Thursday aswell so see how weather is Monday and if Mondays is canceled I'll have to ask for night lesson Tuesday or Thursday and maybe ask for 3 or 4 hour lesson one of them days with drive in dark.

27th June 2007 bad start but got better

Well the other half of my lesson from yesterday well probably wouldn't of been worth my instructor coming for 45 minute lesson which is what I missed out on yesterday so hour and half or thats what I should of had I actually had one hout 45 minutes so hour and quarter free not sure if my instructor meant to give me extra or if he forgot and thought it was 2 hour lesson then remembered as there was no bad traffic hold ups or anything to slow us down. Not that bothered I got longer than planned and its first time its not been planned.

Not the best start to lesson started raining fast in first 5 minutes of lesson I was actually glad as it was like weather I missed out on driving in Monday. I ended up leaving braking a bit late in wet conditions so a few times my instructor went for brakes, Nearly parked on a crossing though remembered not to just as front of car went over line and stopped then remembered not to stop in yellow box. Need more mirror checks again just can't seem to remember enough got to remember on test thats it I'm getting to stage where I think its just one of them things that will never come natural to me just get through test checking them after that I'll try to remember but expect I'll forget ggrrrr. Need to remember to look right as I come to roundabouts then decide if its safe rather than getting to the line then looking. Did some dual carriageways 60mph. Only went slightly over speed limit once or twice.

Had a go at bay parking went forward into bay then reversed back into one behind first go I steered too much and parked over white line so did it again a lot better. Lesson tomorrow then Monday late lesson driving in dark still got to agree on a time for that though as instructor doesn't seem keen on how late it gets dark but has agreed to do it. I hope to have 2 hours 9 til 11 then I will get an hour in dark instructor keeps changing his mind on how long this lesson will be and what time first one hour then 2 hour then hour and half 8 o clock then 8.30 to 8.45. I've asked for 9 til 11 and he hasn't said definate no so hope to get that time. Think rather than planning what time lesson will start on this I'll have to get him to agree a time it wil end to make sure I get say an hour in dark cos he has habbit of saying a time and turning up 20 minutes early sometimes and it will mean less time in dark.

26th June 2006 quite good shorter lesson

Well couldn't have lesson yesterday cos of stupid rain and floods. Had it today instead should of been 2 and quarter hours but car was making odd noise so only had hour and half though turned out better as I only had to pay for one hour and got another hour and half tomorrow and pay for one hour so an hour free.

Need more mirror checks as usual, Speed still ok only went slightly over once. Went onto roundabout when should of waited as an ambulance was in right hand lane though not signaling to leave and wanted to leave the exit before me so I ended up having to stop to let it. I stalled it at a junction first time in ages through not putting clutch down soon enough. Did a good hill start on steep hill.

Did turn in road twice 2nd one I didn't look round enough before starting as a car was coming up behind and my instructor had to tell me. Did a great parallel park somehow as I wasn't sure how much I had turned wheel left but must of done it right and didn't look in left wing mirror too much for once. But didn't check it was safe to move off and my instructor had to tell me a car was coming oops.

22nd June 2007 good lesson in rain

Quite a good lesson today managed to keep to every speed limit my instructor was watching though cos at one point I went 1mph over and he mentioned it though I was already on brake. Need more mirror checks. The only main mistake was on a roundabout quite busy cars in lanes on my right and looked clear so went on and a car was coming round so I had to stop and wait again. The odd gear mistake going round a bend in 3rd. Still ok at judging when safe to go at roundabouts and junctions. Did a different route today which had narrow roads and road with lot of parked cars did well with that.

Manoeuvres did reverse round corner twice first go I let car go bit fast and was looking in left wing mirror bit much my instructor thought I was going to hit kerb and said "you dare hit kerb you will be getting bus home" while I was straightening up managed it ok not hitting kerb. Instructor said it was quite good apart from going bit wide and fast. Next parallel park between a car and van. I started steering right bit early so was bit far from kerb so had to go forwrd to get closer to kerb then reverse bit more and need to stop looking in left wing mirror so much.
At end of lesson I did another reverse round corner narrow road and did wel on that. Then another parallel park my instructor said I was using left wing mirror bit much and half way through he said this is why you shouldn't use left mirror so much as in he thought I'd gone wrong or would hit kerb but I managed it ok and actually parked better and closer to kerb on this one than the first one no idea how.

18th June 2007 not great lesson and good manoeuvres

Set off ok did quite a few dual carriageways got up to 60mph wish the test could be just dual carriageways would make it so much easyer. I stopped on a crossing and in yellow box both where I shouldn't of. Could do with more mirror checks even forgot to check mirror before signaling to leave roundabout and forgot signal, my instructor picked up on mirror and I said and signal. I coasted round bend on roundabout first time with current instructor I think. Getting better at judging when its safe to go at junctions and roundabouts got out of junction coming out of test centre when a car was coming about as close as it could get without me slowing it down. Went over speed limit once or twice though getting better and mentioned to my instructor that I've read one if his posts on a forum where he put that he failed his first ADI test on speeding. I nearly went in wrong lane on roundabout straight on I was going in middle lane but my instructor told me left lane. Went off a roundabout an exit too late though it was cos my instructor said the 2nd exit and I only counted the roads off roundabout as exits my instructor counted a pub car park as an exit aswell. I signalled too early once or twice. Stopped bit to close to car in front once so my instructor went fot brakes aswell, nearly went into an idiot in white van that was not my fault as I was in left lane doing the speed limit safely then white van not even fully past me in right hand lane trys to cut in so I have to slow right down and my instructor is ready to brake and gets hold of wheel though I managed ok.

Did turn in road twice first one great second one good but bit hard on brake on reverse bit. Went to test centre had to wait for tests to go out while waiting my instructor tells me about watching my speed being serious about it says if I get in habbit of going over limit on lessons I'll end up doing same on test and failing he says about what I been through to drive eyesight and mentions this blog which helps others as in it would be a shame to let speeding get me failed again. Got to sort it out think he was dissapointed in me getting serious on test for speeding. Decided from now on unless I see speed sign saying another speed I am sticking at 30mph getting to stage where going under the limit is better than over I know I can still fail test for that but if I'm not sure of limit I'd rather go too slow obviously try to get it right would be best.

Went in test centre car park did bay park great best yet and my instructor only told me when to straighten up I was doing it bit early. Did parallel park a lot better than on test as in I remembered how much to steer I ended up bit far from kerb so had to go back bit more and another thing I've been told about a lot looking in left wing mirror too much I need to look out of back window more or thats going to be next thing I fail test on and it will be as bad as speeding cos I've been told so many times. On way back my instructor got me again about speeding though I had been watching speed meter making sure I didn't go over limit then it went down from 40 to 30 and I slowed down then ended up going bit over 30 my instructor tells me and has laugh over it then I check speed again and its a bit over again ggrrrrrrr.

Next lesson Thursday going to get through a full lesson without speeding well hopefully. Hope to get a night drive aswell before next test my instructor has finally agreed though don't think he's keen on idea cos of how late it gets dark and said only one hour but better than nothing though he's said 30 and hour no way I can afford that so going to talk to him and got something planned for a laugh not saying what though cos he reads this sometimes.

12th June 2007 lesson and test

Very dull weather and raining on lesson before test so was bit worried about my eyesight. Lesson before test was ok not great got stuck in traffic so went a different way to avoid being stuck speed was ok could of done with more mirror checks. Did a good reverse round corner and turn in road.

Got to test centre was tested on reading a number plate and managed it. Wasn't as nervous this time. Got same examiner as before which I was glad about. Eyesight check I got some of first one wrong so got asked a different car and had to be told not to move any closer I managed to read that one think I got one letter wrong so examiner said it was ok. Had to open bonnet for show me question which was where is the coolent and how to check if enough is in and the tell me was how to check brake lights worked which my instructor has asked me quite a bit so got them right.

Set off and got minor for speed straight away 40mph road and I was doing 30mph and noticed examiner look at speed meter so I told her I knew it was 40 limit and I was getting up to it. Went ok then til I was asked to do parallel park which I haven't practiced much lately. I stopped along side the parked car and saw a bus behind so asked if I should continue or not the examiner told me do whatever I thought best, so I started to reverse as the bus had stopped at a bus stop. I totally forgot how much to steer each way and ended up touching kerb so went forward and tryed again and again in the end I was told to drive on even though I hadn't completed it so I knew I'd failed but wasn't upset like last time maybe cos I didn't get my hopes up as much this time. Also got reverse round corner which I only got a minor on for control as I had to move forward a bit to correct it but managed it ok.

Next serious was similar to the dangerous I got last time though I acted safer this time. On approch to roundabout I was told to go right so needed to be in right lane but saw I couldn't get in it safely so remembered not to do sameas last time and try to push my way in. I told examiner that I couldn't get in the right lane so would go left instead as that was the lane I was in. The examiner said I'd started to move to right lane before checking mirrors. At one point I braked a bit late and got bit close to car in front the examiner went for brake aswell but cos I braked enough I only got a minor for that. The last serious was for guess what...... clue read lesson on 9th June, .... Speeding I thought I was on a 40mph road but it was 30mph the examiner had to tell me that it was a 30 limit and this was within less than 10 minutes before end. I felt bit guilty as it is the one thing I don't normally do much and my instructor warned me about it on lesson 3 days back. Anyway glad to say he didn't make me get bus home as he threatened to do if I failed for speeding but admitted he would of been annoyed if speeding was the only thing I'd failed on. No were near as upset as last time and even told my instructor that he was speeding a few times on way home and he finally admitted that the digital speed meter is about 2mph higher than the one on drivers side which proves I was right when I said I was doing 40mph on 9th June but he wouldn't admit it. Well test number 3 is 6th July at 14.10

11th June 2007 good lesson

Erm lesson was last night so forgot bits of it as I've just had my test which I will put about next. I managed to keep to speed limits a lot better only once went a bit over and my instructor pointed it out even though I was already slowing down. Went on few national speed limit road where you couldn't safely get about 40mph. Got told about driving too slow 33mph in a 40mph zone I can't win its either too slow or too fast. Went bit near white line once or twice.

I did turn in road ok and bay parking went bit wrong 1st time so my instructor helped telling me when to turn wheel.

9th June 2007 good extra lesson

Wasn't supposed to have lesson today but my instructor had a pupil cancel so I had lesson instead this has to be the most enjoyable lesson yet had a right laugh. Quite a good lesson overall and it was an afternoon lesson 6.15 hour and half. The main mistake was accidently going a bit over speed limit a few times well most I ever done it really about 4 times, my instructor ended up pointing it out every time and said if I dare fail my test Tuesday for speeding I'll be getting bus home though he was joking as he was great when I failed first time though not for speeding, I threatened to drive at 20mph all way on test to make sure I didn't speed. He then jokingly said he would drop me off in area he lives and I could get bus home I laughed and told him to get lost. He kept making screeching noise when I slowed down to stop at traffic lights as if I was braking too hard. I thought I was in 3rd gear and needed to be in 4th so I change gear to relise I was already in 4th so change back my instructor copies me and asks what that was about and keeps whistling and humming loudly then starts tapping on the door and says he only does that when he's nervous, I tell him I'm not that bad. I'm told to go left but end up going right (suprised I've not done more mistakes with instructor making me laugh all time) instructor asks when has right been chuffing left.

I do good turn in road and practice bay park 1st to the left and for first time I managed it, then to the right and have to go forward to correct it still not great but better. On way back my instructor says I'm speeding again but I wasn't I was doing the exact speed limit 40mph and tell him that but he still says I was doing 42mph maybe the speed meter on his side is different to one on my side. I then go bit near white line on a bend and he says what you going to do if you crash doing that say it wasn't my fault (which I wouldn't do unless it wasn't my fault) I jokingly say yes it was my instructors fault, his rely was rubbish you know what I think of that. He told me take next right then relised it was 2nd right so I tell him it helps to say right direction 1st time. Then as I pull up at home I forget to signal to stop. Great lesson its good to have a laugh with instructor will miss having lessons when I pass. At minute after this lesson I'm not feeling like I have to pass like I did last time I'm more like just get there do my best and see how I do of course a pass would be great but I enjoy lessons aswell so something good with either result and if I do pass I'll do pass plus. Hope I can feel like this on Tuesday then mite not be as nervous.

7th June 2007 can't bay park

Early lesson today 8am to see what traffic is like at that time ready for test on Tuesday. It was a bit busy but not too bad. Quite a good lesson overall remembered to look both ways at junctions exept one which I couldn't see well on left and looked clear but as I started to move out a car came past so instructor had to brake. Met 2 idiot drivers one on a roundabout I was turning right so in the right hand lane and a truck came on my left so I couldn't get back in left lane so had to exit roundabout in right hand lane. The other was a car about to pull out of a junction right in front of me so I had to slow down instructor went for brakes aswell and called the driver a pillock though I slowed down myself. Mirrors need checking a bit more though I know I can check them enough on test.

Went to new test centre and did bay parking which I just can not do at all, I hit kerb on one instructor has to tell me which way to steer me and bay parking just don't go together. How the hell are you ment to get between lines when you cant see them. Did it and was bit wonkey so pulled forward and did it ok. I must keep looking backwards for this as my instructor said I kept looking forward and at steering wheel and going wrong. Please don't let me get bay park on test or I mite aswell fail myself. Driving in car park is bad enough without bay parking I drove in a bit fast. No seriously I MUST be able to do it by Tuesday at least I'm not as over sure about passing as before this time I'm accepting that I could pass or fail and if bay park is in the test it will probably be the fail. Just do my best mite surprise myself. Got a lesson Monday which I hope to sort out bay parking my instructor plans on the lesson being an hour and half but if its til I can bay park it will probably be a lot longer. Did reverse round corner went bit wide but corrected it well and need to stop looking in left wing mirror so much though didn't mess up cos of that.

2nd June 2007 good lesson

Finally had a good lesson checked mirrors enough did most things well. Did good turn in road (hope I get that on my test again) did 2 bay parks which 1st one was ok but bit too near white line on my side the 2nd one was without the lines to get between which I did well. Went slightly over 30mph speed limit once or twice, need to make sure I look left as well as right at every junction as I didn't at one today and had to brake quick as cars in front had stopped at traffic lights. Still slightly hesitant at times when roundabouts are busy. Went at junction when instructor said I shouldn't of so I stopped and relised I was to far out to stop so had to carry on. My instructor said at the start of lessons I am sometimes too wide on left turns but improve as the lesson goes on. Hit kerb on one U turn bend. I'm getting better at changing lane and roundabouts. My test is now on 12th June at 9.17 as I got a cancelation. It's at a new test centre which is opening next week a day or few days before my test so I will be my instructors first test there, I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much incase I fail but it would be lovely to be my instructors 1st pass at that test centre.