Learning To Drive In Your ’20s

Baby you can drive my car!

I passed my test for the second time sans tears and with four minors in December, and after seeing a few people ask about a potential post or video- I thought I’d put all my driving feels into one place in case any of you were thinking of taking the plunge too! After not being fussed about cruising around in a Corsa at 17, it finally dawned on me after my 20 year old brother passed that I should probably dig out the L plates and put the foot to the pedal, or whatever that saying is. I was going to finally attempt at being a useful road tripping adult who can go to grown up places like the Cotswolds and run to Sainsbury’s when ones need for a late night snack is nothing short of essential. Right?

Anyway- I thought I’d list down the things I’ve learnt- but if anyone has any tips they’d specifically like, let me know and I’ll get back to you (like I’m some kind of total expert driver now, lol)…

Yup, it’s scary…
I’m the kind of person who has dreams about not being able to stop a car, and after stalling at nearly every set of traffic lights the night before my first test I think I’m a bit of a warranted worrier. The thought of anyone going for a drive to ‘relax’ or ‘calm down’ still totally baffles me, but since passing it does feel liberating having the freedom to drive- and I’m slightly less of a nervous Purvis.

Failing isn’t fun- but it’s not the end of the world…
Failing your test will only be down to one thing that’s probably ‘never happened before’ and it will drive you mad. Reassuringly all of my friends told me ‘the best drivers fail first time’ and that definitely got me through. The second my examiner Graham went for the wheel as I nearly mounted the curb I felt a wash of knowing failure come over me and continued to stall all the way until the end. Saying that, it did prepare me well for my second test and I had a clear idea about what to expect, and that genuinely it isn’t really that bad.

It will feel like everyone is 17…
You’ll take your theory test and nearly everyone will be taking the morning out of general studies classes to be there. Suddenly at 23 you may feel as if you’re a test short of two knitting needles and a box of Werther’s Originals but you aren’t the only one. My mum didn’t learn until her thirties so it’s never too late.

Money, money, money…
Learning to drive isn’t cheap and you may well wonder how anyone managed to afford lessons at 17, but if you budget them in weekly it can be digestible. Just try to keep things consistent and make sure to pack in as much practise in between lessons as possible to make things worthwhile (something I wish I’d put into practise more).

The theory test isn’t as easy as people say…

It took me two tries to pass my theory, and it really was third time lucky. Although there are amazing apps for the question part so that you can revise them back to front, it was the hazard perception I kept slipping up on. I was so worried about clicking too much, or not clicking enough that I just ended up mucking up- but I got there! Spend a bit of pocket money on the online practises and I promise you will get there too.

Sometimes intensive is best…
After spending nearly a year and a half learning, as well as taking my test- my instructor then gave up teaching. Although I’m sure I wasn’t that bad a pupil, it left me at a bit of a loss with how to pick it up again after failing my test for the first time. So, after much deliberation I took a three day intensive course and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to tackle things quickly. I know it is expensive, but considering how much I ended up spending on lessons it probably would have been cheaper just doing an intense course, so don’t rule it out.

You will get there…
I know everyone says this- but if a nervous Purvis like me can do it, anyone can. I mean it- go and get ’em (just remember not to rush biting point).

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