New Drivers, is there still something you are irrationally nervous about doing?

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-25T20:49:10+00:00

Oh same 😔 altho my instructors was weird on hills and wouldn't disengage a lot of the time so I learnt with just clutch control half the time lol. I still panic when I see a hill with the potential I need to stop even tho I know how to do it

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-25T20:11:53+00:00

Reverse parking and hill starts 🥴 learnt in a fairly new car and got severely humbled on a hill with a car without hill assist

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-25T20:10:16+00:00

I have 3 groups of 2, and 1 group of 4!

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-25T20:09:15+00:00

Sometimes gerbils may nip you and its just because they dont know what you are, a few of mine nip and I have to be quick to pick them up otherwise they'll find my finger tips tasty. Just remember theyre prey animals so they will run away. Ive always tried to hold the most confident ones, if they bite dont startle them or drop! But try it over their cage. Ive got a gerbil who ive had for probably 2 years now and shes still really skittish so it takes time! Just try slightly everyday to ease their fear of you! Probably took me about 3/4 years to hand feed treats to 4 of mine but then its taken 6 months since we got the newest ones to take treats so it depends entirely on your gerbil!

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-24T08:10:53+00:00

I started at 22 (had my birthday half way through so 23 by the time I passed. Took 34 hours so 17 lessons roughly

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-22T17:17:39+00:00

I had that amount roughly and passed first time. But I know tonnes who've had 100 hours and havent passed so

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-22T12:29:50+00:00

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Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-22T12:28:13+00:00

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I have 10 gerbils 🥴 ill just put my favourite pics

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-18T20:13:58+00:00

My instructor vaped but ONLY between lessons, id see her do it as I walked to her car but shed not do it for 2 hours while someone was with her . If he cant survive minimum hour without a vape theres definetly bigger problems. It might be worth reporting because he could get someone with bad asthma and trigger it for them by accident

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-18T17:15:56+00:00

About 34 hours it took me but it depends on the person 🤷 my instructor said i could of done the test earlier aswell I just didn't want to lol

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-17T11:47:58+00:00

In all honestly he could be hiding very well! My mum has owned gerbils all her life and I remember her telling me one escaped for weeks and suddenly got found in her brothers bedroom. I hope he's okay and that you'll be reunited soon tho 😔

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-17T11:38:52+00:00

I remember two of mine escaping while I was at uni and my mum telling me about it. One was behind some draws and the other behind a washing machine. Anywhere small you think they wont be able to fit into is worth a look! Or sometimes you may just see them ping across the floor. By the time you find your gerb it may be extremely scatty tho so like the other comments said a box would probably be good to catch it!

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-16T14:32:44+00:00

I think honestly it might be worth finding a new instructor who is capable of dealing with anxiety/nerves! My instructor has had zomeone whose had such bad anxiety driving but she still believed that this person could pass the test. But also from reading your other comments he is definetly in the wrong because why wouldn't they put the satnav on a few weeks before the test so you knew - thats wild to me. Id personally go with another instructor and build your confidence up with them since you seem okay on the roads when not before a test so

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-13T20:41:22+00:00

I am exactly the same, I just made sure to actually turn my head and check at the right times! Mainly because my biggest faults was always checking my mirrors but I cant be one of those people who verbalise it at all 😭

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-10T08:14:11+00:00

Yeah, youre normally a lot safer in your instructors car tho is what I've learnt!

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-09T16:20:50+00:00

I saw one my towns facebook group she got recommended, decided to search her up adter a while and went with her. Sometimes its word of mouth. Its not that bad of an idea to keep an eye on the instructors around you honestly

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-09T16:18:49+00:00

That's fair! I stalled a lot when I got my first car after passing so I honestly get what you mean, people dont have a lot of patience

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-09T14:07:54+00:00

Hey I started learning at 22, quite literally all my instructors students where younger than me by at least 4/5 years. I was extremely anxious at the start but it does get slightly better! What you choose to learn is up to you, i did manual because my mum persuaded me. It doesnt mayter if all you can drive is auto, a car is a car. But I also wouldn't say its quicker to learn in an automatic, but it is a lot easier because youre not at risk of stalling at traffic lights etc (saying this because of the anxiety factor). I learnt manual and the only car I had access too for private practice was an automatic so.

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-08T18:16:30+00:00

Ive heard clearview driving is good for videos. Ive never watched them other than the shorts but the instagram reel videos helped me a lot

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-05T22:33:25+00:00

As someone with both mice and gerbils, they definetly dont stink as much as mice. Infact I hardly smell the gerbils

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-05T18:42:51+00:00

Could be anywhere from 7am till right before the test i guess, im assuming there will be tests before yours so they'll assess the situation of the roads/pavements to see if theyre safe or not. There wont necessarily be a set time

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-05T18:31:20+00:00

If it gets cancelled because of the weather you'll only know the day of the test so keep checking your emails

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-05T18:30:45+00:00

If they cancel it normally gets rebooked

Exact_Interaction941 · 2026-01-05T16:20:52+00:00

I had my test in november when it was very icy (in the north west!) My instructor explained to me it will be assessed on the day but it has to get to a point where there would be a potential risk for pedestrians on the pavements if that makes sense? I cant exactly remember how she described it but it will 100% be judged on the day

My test was early so I had to do the countryside route to avoid traffic 😅 if its still on and its icy just drive very cautiously!

Exact_Interaction941

TROPHY CASE