(no subject)

[allana]

I might as well rename this blog: "Road Diaries." Currently all I seem to be talking about is driving.

Anyway.

I was reminded today that just because I've passed my driving test--did I ever mention that I only had four minor faults? You can have a maximum of 15. Get 16 and you've failed--I'm not a good driver. I'm a fairly safe driver and I certainly observe more stuff than other drivers, but I'm not good or confident yet.

This morning, while trying to manoevre into a position where I could park between two cars at the supermarket (something I always avoid), I got beeped and gesticulated at by a driver waiting behind me. He had plenty of room to pull past and I really wish he had. I got upset and my confidence evaporated, so I pulled away, found a spot which was deserted and wailed at Dave on the phone. You'd think people would be a bit more considerate of cars bearing P-plates; they're not there for decoration, regardless of how pretty the green is.

The upshot of this is that I'm going to take some extra lessons next week in my own car to correct the gaps in my skillbase. Tuition for driving tests covers a lot, but it doesn't cover basic things like:

parking (reverse and forwards) in a bay
reverse parking on the 'wrong' side of the road or between two vehicles
pulling in on the wrong side of the road.

I need to be able to whip the car into a parking space anywhere. I can't drive in circles waiting for something 'easy' to open up and we only ever did 'easy' in my previous lessons and tests.

While I'm splashing money around I'm also going to take a motorway driving lesson so that I'll be confident enough to get myself to the hospital if needs be, and also so that I can share the driving when we go off on our Devon break.

Comments

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

I can't drive in circles waiting for something 'easy' to open up

I remember those days. Also,

[Version one for those who drive on the right]
I used to avoid making left turns into traffic without a protected green arrow like the plague. Instead, I'd turn right and find a way to get turned around the other way someplace else.

[Version two for those who drive on the left]
I used to avoid making right turns into traffic without a protected green arrow like the plague. Instead, I'd turn left and find a way to get turned around the other way someplace else.

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

Instead, I'd turn right and find a way to get turned around the other way someplace else.

Been there, done that, lol. I'm still not confident about my parallel parking skills, and I'd rather park a block away (or two) than try to squeeze into a tight space. Fortunately, living in the suburbs, I don't have to do a lot of parallel parking.

[dreammonkey.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of P plates - I just wish they'd had them over here when I started driving.

[silentinflames.livejournal.com]

It's so annoying if people don't seem to have those extra twenty seconds that it takes for you to park. In particular if you're still not very confident.

All you can do is try to ignore them. :/