Dyspraxic..learning to drive! HELP!

[harpyl20]

I'm wondering if anyone could give any advice? I'm learning ,to drive & I'm really struggling I have had a number of lessons although I am improving slowly..I still can't help but think I will never actually succeed. I'm wondering now if I should just give up & admit defeat. My DI is understanding, patient and although she doesn't say it I still can't help but feel like I'm an inconvenience & I'm wasting her time.

[kdt2402]

Firstly remember, you are paying her. For all she cares you could be sat in a car park for an hour. The longer you take to pass the more money she gets so she wont have any complaints :p

Secondly, relax. Maybe look at other instructors if you don't feel comfortable?

Who cares of you take a bit longer than average...you'll be ready in your own time. Just take it easy.

[harpyl20]

Thank you.
Have you any advice for her? I'm her first pupil with Dyspraxia & she's trying her best and I'm happy with that but she has said she could do with some advice/support.

[kdt2402]

Erm maybe ask if you can stop for a drink or something half way through or every 15/20 mins? Just to give you a break from concentrating so much.


Sometimes you might do something perfect first time but then geet it wrong everytime after. Try to explain that aswell

[harpyl20]

Yeah, I can stop if I need to
I learn something one week & then the next I have completely forgot. Having to do the same thing about 5 times It annoys me so much!

[kdt2402]

I failed my test revently because my instructor gave me 2 hour lesson first. By the time the test came i couldnt focus and was really stressed so first i tried to pull out fast as a car was coming instead of waiting. Second i totally missed a red light! They were mistakes ive never made (ive done alot of driving other peoples cars not just lessons) so annoying though!

[harpyl20]

I keep telling myself it will be so worth it in the end, but right now the end seems so far away. It frustrates me so, so much.

[kdt2402]

Just remember, it really doesnt matter how long it takes.

If you improve by 1% every lesson, in 100 lessons you've improved 100%. I know its so difficult because your weaknesses are never the same. Just keep going, you'll manage.

[Kimiann]

I didn't get my licence until I was older. It took me a while and I learnt on an automatic. My hubby taught me and I was able to just pull over and say - time to stop, mt brains not working. I didn't know I'm dyspraxic at the time so just thought I was a failure. But I kept trying and got my licence first try. I found being able to stop whenever was the biggest thing, just to recognise if I kept going I wasn't going to learn anything. Maybe explain that to your instructor, that if you keep going it's a waste of time. Maybe try and have shorter lessons, more often. Hang in there, it's worth it!

[capbiker]

I must had spent about 2 and half years learning to drive, before giving up on it. The driving instructor was really good, I only had an hour lesson each week and she never pressured me into doing anything that was too much for me or stressed me out.

At first she only let me out on the county roads, before allowing me into town etc. By the end of it, I took a driving test and failed on the reverse parking into a car parking space at the test centre. They only had started to do that, a couple of weeks before hand and she only had just find out about it. Due to her retiring a couple of months after this, I decided to give up because I was unemployed and if I need to get anywhere I got my bicycle, my legs and public transport that I could use.

cap