I can't drive as I lost confidence   some eejit jumped a red light at a crossways and took the back of the car off that I was driving  when I was learning and it scared the bejesus out of me - never got behind the wheel of a car again.

However, I have made a decision that I am fed up to the back teef of relying on buses and trains that don't come so I'm gonna start lessons again in the new year and I have to be mobile by September for when I start teaching again

My husband's got M&S socks with right and left on them.  They don't help his driving, though.

Good luck with it, Pengy.  I think a nice, sympathetic driving instructor is the key to gaining confidence.

First time, I was totally shocked I sailed through it.

Well i'm a bloke so . . . . first time lol

It took me 40+ lessons and it rained on every one of them

There was a storm during my test too

First time for me too

I passed on the second go. I went home to tell my mum and did the old "oh, I'm soooo upset I failed, but there is always next time." That lasted about three seconds and my mum was as delighted as me!
Learning to drive has been one of the best gifts I have given myself - I would HATE not to be able to jump in the car and go.

I never learned to drive when I was young because I was too nervous to even get behind the wheel, so I was 31 before I sat my test and I passed first time.  When I realised my examiner was the one they nicknamed "Taylor The Failer", I thought I had no chance, but he must have been in a good mood because he passed me.

Awwww Temps don't laff

2nd time for me, the 1st I failed on roundabouts, the 2nd time only 2 minor faults....also the 2nd time I took it I had to do a kind of practical where they ask me questions about how to check my oil, lights, etc....I was sooooo happy when I passed, I went straight out and got drunk!

Same here, when my car is out of action i miss it so much...

There's a test?!

I have exactly the same problem, it looked like I was doing little waves to people throughout my test cos I have to glance at my hands and look at the backs to remember, apparently there is a left right dyslexia and can be caused by left handed toddlers being forced to go right handed....

Oh I passed first time gawd knows how, I threw my arm around the back of his seat to reverse then asked him was that enough....

Passed second time, but thought I had failed as a stupid bus decided to pull out in front of me and I had to do an unscheduled emergency stop and didn't check my mirror, just saw the bus and slammed on my brakes, was amazed when we got back and after the three Highway Code questions, he said I had passed!!  Told my driving instructor and he said was there ever any doubt??  Well yes!!  Next month (Dec 12th) will be my 23rd year of driving on a full licence and not a point (yet)

My driving instructor was laid back about my second test, 15 minutes before my test we got to the Test Centre and he said you know it all now, it's up to you and said have a fag before you go in, so we sat in the car smoking a fag before I went in for the test - back in 1986 when such things were allowed.  He was a good laugh my instructor.

Three (3)

I'm sorry

I passed first time and have driven for 31 years with no points (touch wood).


I did have to go on a speed awareness course a couple of years ago, but as I avoided the points I don't think that counts


I love my old-fashioned pink paper licence

They're the ones we still have over here...what do you have in the UK now?

1st time
Paper licence
no accidents


(touch wood)

Anyone who has a new licence or a replacement licence now has to have a photo one, Temps.

I passed 1st time
 
16 years ago...

Photo card AND a paper bit.

Is that because he's always looking down to check?

1st time..but shhhhhhh! don't tell the children! Or i'll be forced to get a car/taxi!
(I walk everywhere...too much traffic round here tis much quicker on foot)

oh...that's not the same as over here then...over here it's a laminate piece of pink paper, with the type of vehicle your licensed to drive and your photo on it.

I have yet to master a push-bike with stabilisers.

 <<Leccys

Hahahaha!

I think that would suit me.

I passed first time which looking back made me cocky. I was 18 and thought because I passed first time I must be a fantastic driver. I took chances I shouldn't have taken. It took my first minor bump at 20 to bring me back down to earth.

I passed second time about 4 years ago. I didn't start lessons till I was 32 and it was the best decision of my life! I love driving! Probably a bit too much.... I've become a right lazy cow since I passed.

Looking back I'm quite surprised they let you on the roads alone even after you've passed, because I wasn't safe! A few days after getting my first car I was driving along and I saw some kids from school. I took my right hand off the wheel to wave and swerved into oncoming traffic.   I didn't hit anything but it was close.

 I couldn't drive and have the radio on for six months because I couldn't listen and drive at the same time. I don't think you become really fit to drive till you've driven on your own for about a year.

Oh and Ditty......... I can't do the right and left thing either.   It makes roundabouts a scary proposition.

2nd time lucky, the first time I nearly killed an old man on a pedestrian crossing

Oh ... PMSL at Stonks's post!

And yay to all of you other peeps that are afflicted with the left right dyslexia (ta for that Stonks... if we ramp it up as a syndrome the sniggering will stop! )......

And Ducky!   32!  That explains why you still love driving!!    And the roundabout mental block thing!   I have had that.... even now!    Panic City!

I still approach them muttering "give way to the right, give way to the right.." and frantically trying to remember which hand I write with.

   I got my provisional licence at 17 for my birthday, intending to start lessons as soon as poss. I then did the whole getting pregnant at a stupid age thing and ta da the next thing I know, I'm 32 and have never been behind the wheel.


Oooh just remembered what I wanted to ask everyone! Did anyone else suffer from really bad "clutch foot" in the first few years of driving?   I was in agony for two years with pain in my (thinks about it for a second) left foot everytime I drove more than a few miles!

I drove through the pain however and now my foot is in peak fitness.Olympic standard clutch foot I've got.