DRIVING

I've ridden motorbikes for 44 years and driven cars for 35. My motorcycle 'training' consisted of my dad taking me into the car park next to our house and showing me how to start and stop the bike and how to change gears. And that was it!  I was taught to drive a car by my then husband (though the first time he tried, we got halfway down our road when he became annoyed with me and started shouting, so I got out and walked back home! I then refused to try again for about 6 months). I eventually took two proper lessons just to make sure I was ready for the test. I have, almost a phobia, about practical tests. I absolutely hate them. They make me feel sick, I feel faint, I can't breath. Hate, hate, hate them. Written tests are no problem. In fact, I love taking exams, but not practical tests. So I put off taking either driving test for a long, long time. When I did finally take them I passed both first time. I went on to teach both my kids to drive as well. My ex-h had attempted to teach our daughter (who I've long suspected of being on the spectrum) but he's got no patience and she was a very nervous learner, so they didn't mix well. I took over a couple of years later and both she and my son went on to pass first time. I taught them to drive, then they had two proper lessons in order to learn how to pass the test (because they're completely different things!). I absolutely love driving! I've worked as both a bike and a car/van courier in my time and absolutely adored it (apart from driving in London and Derby. London because it's, well, it's London. And Derby because the inner ring road was an absolute nightmare at the time. You could end up going round and round it until you disappeared up your own exhaust pipe!) I always signal, even if there's no one around to see it, much to the amusement of some passengers I've had,  "Indicating to the rabbits again?", and I do my life savers, even in a car. I like rules and don't like breaking them, or seeing them broken, so other drivers do tend to annoy me at times but I just mutter under my breath to myself. I'm not into road rage and confrontation. The advice I gave my kids was,  make sure you've got an instructor that you like and trust, and take your time, don't try and rush things. If you stall. Take a couple of deep breaths, ignore the other drivers, don't let them intimidate you, and just start again. Oh, and practice, practice, practice, in all weathers. 

I've ridden motorbikes for 44 years and driven cars for 35. My motorcycle 'training' consisted of my dad taking me into the car park next to our house and showing me how to start and stop the bike and how to change gears. And that was it!  I was taught to drive a car by my then husband (though the first time he tried, we got halfway down our road when he became annoyed with me and started shouting, so I got out and walked back home! I then refused to try again for about 6 months). I eventually took two proper lessons just to make sure I was ready for the test. I have, almost a phobia, about practical tests. I absolutely hate them. They make me feel sick, I feel faint, I can't breath. Hate, hate, hate them. Written tests are no problem. In fact, I love taking exams, but not practical tests. So I put off taking either driving test for a long, long time. When I did finally take them I passed both first time. I went on to teach both my kids to drive as well. My ex-h had attempted to teach our daughter (who I've long suspected of being on the spectrum) but he's got no patience and she was a very nervous learner, so they didn't mix well. I took over a couple of years later and both she and my son went on to pass first time. I taught them to drive, then they had two proper lessons in order to learn how to pass the test (because they're completely different things!). I absolutely love driving! I've worked as both a bike and a car/van courier in my time and absolutely adored it (apart from driving in London and Derby. London because it's, well, it's London. And Derby because the inner ring road was an absolute nightmare at the time. You could end up going round and round it until you disappeared up your own exhaust pipe!) I always signal, even if there's no one around to see it, much to the amusement of some passengers I've had,  "Indicating to the rabbits again?", and I do my life savers, even in a car. I like rules and don't like breaking them, or seeing them broken, so other drivers do tend to annoy me at times but I just mutter under my breath to myself. I'm not into road rage and confrontation. The advice I gave my kids was,  make sure you've got an instructor that you like and trust, and take your time, don't try and rush things. If you stall. Take a couple of deep breaths, ignore the other drivers, don't let them intimidate you, and just start again. Oh, and practice, practice, practice, in all weathers. 

JustMe said:

I always signal, even if there's no one around to see it

My brother in law does that - every turning and roundabout - personally, I make sure I have enough spatial awareness before any decision point where I don't waste my bulbs if there's no-one to see them.

JustMe said:

make sure you've got an instructor that you like and trust,

That's the most important advice.       We've just been out and had a learner lurch out of a turning right in front of us - the instructor should have been aware and controlled that.    Two bad pieces of driving.

ur dad sounds awesome. 44 years on a bike thats awesome you must have had some close shaves