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Picking up driving |
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andrew (11:38 30/12/2010)
Acornut (12:13 30/12/2010)
filecore (13:02 30/12/2010)
adrianl (13:51 30/12/2010)
monkeyson2 (14:02 30/12/2010)
filecore (14:59 30/12/2010)
andrew (21:50 30/12/2010)
filecore (23:18 30/12/2010)
monkeyson2 (23:20 30/12/2010)
filecore (08:01 31/12/2010)
arawnsley (14:04 30/12/2010)
trevj (14:07 30/12/2010)
Cambridge Paul (06:27 31/12/2010)
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Andrew |
Message #116108, posted by andrew at 11:38, 30/12/2010 |
 Handbag Boi
Posts: 3439
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Has anybody come back to driving after a long break? Did you pick it up easily again?
I haven't driven in a few years and thought car hire might open up some possibilities e.g. get train to major city or airport then pick up car, drive to destination. |
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Blind Moose |
Message #116109, posted by Acornut at 12:13, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116108 |
 No-eye-deer (No Idea)
Posts: 487
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Modern car driving is a piece of cake, and if you are a 'crap' driver they are very forgiving.
Your main problem will be other road users, who will be less forgiving!
Seriously though, It won't take long to get back into it, however I would be inclined to hire a car in your local familiar environment, for the day, rather than going straight into the 'hustle and bustle' of a strange city 'cold turkey' |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #116110, posted by filecore at 13:02, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116109 |
Posts: 3868
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It's basically just common sense and muscle memory. I did my driving test back in 1999, in the UK, and I failed. I didn't bother resitting as I was low on cash and lived in the centre of a major city, so didn't need a car. In retrospect this was silly but I was young and blah etc.
In 2006, I took new lessons and re-sat the test in Finland (different side of car, different side of road). This was entertaining as dark driving and slippery surface training - twice - is mandatory, as is a check-up (just observation, not an actual re-examination) 6-24 months after passing your test, to ensure you've not immediately forgotten everything you learned after you get your license. Actually the focus is mostly on economical driving in that part, but it gets the job done. Most of the UK's boy racer yobbos could have turned out differently if they've had a re-evaluation one year on.
Anyhow, I'm rambling. Despite an eight-year gap of having no license, and never having been a regular driver beforehand anyway, I found it very quick and simple to get back into it, and after only the first few lessons I was a confident and competent driver again. I also had no issues with the left/right change, muscle memory worked just fine. I suppose it all depends on what sort of driver you were before, but I'd say go for it - as Moosey notes above, the biggest problem is most likely to be all the other incompetent and inconsiderate wankers clogging up the roads. |
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Adrian Lees |
Message #116111, posted by adrianl at 13:51, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116108 |
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Posts: 1637
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I've gone years without driving, doing so only for moving house during most of the past 18 years. You'll likely make a few minor mistakes/forget a few things at first, but it's probably ingrained, especially if - like me - you learned at 17.
Edit: I should add that I cycle thousands of miles a year, so the road sense/traffic awareness has always been there.
[Edited by adrianl at 13:51, 30/12/2010] |
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Phil Mellor |
Message #116112, posted by monkeyson2 at 14:02, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116111 |
 Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler
Posts: 12380
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Well, there's several aspects to consider
- the mechanical (clutch control, etc)
- road use (other drivers, signalling, etc)
- navigation
I'd imagine you'd pick up the first two after a short amount of time; if you're planning on driving around places where you've never been before then that will be harder. If you're worried book a couple of hours with a driving instructor as a refresher.
I absolutely hated driving and never want to do it again, mind. |
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Andrew Rawnsley |
Message #116113, posted by arawnsley at 14:04, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116108 |
R-Comp chap
Posts: 600
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My epilepsy has enforced several driving "breaks" over the years, and it is usually pretty straightforward to get back behind the wheel, although I always feel a bit jittery starting back. I'd agree with those saying "start with familiar roads" as it'll help beat the jitters.
Hire-car-ing can be "interesting" since each car has its own quirks and controls. You're usually OK within makes (eg. Fords tend to have a similar feel) but again the size of the car can make a difference to the feel. Driving a Mondeo tends to feel a bit bulkier/weightier than a Fiesta!
I recently switched to an automatic for Steph's benefit, and *that* took some getting used to - 2 pedals rather than 3, and learning to stop reaching for the gearstick all the time! That said, having made the change, it does give more time to concentate on the road conditions and other drivers. |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #116114, posted by trevj at 14:07, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116108 |
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Posts: 660
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You could consider paying for an hour with an instructor or persuading a (forgiving) friend to accompany you on your first trip. Depending just how long it's been and how much the levels of traffic have increased are bound to affect how easy you find things.
If you were previously used to treating the vehicle as an extension of your body (like stilts, skis, skates, a bike, etc.) then I'm sure your brain will take care of things with few problems. Conversely, if you were previously a less 'natural' driver then things could take a little longer. In this case, you may be advised to initially steer clear of city centres and avoid congested times of day. |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #116115, posted by filecore at 14:59, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116112 |
Posts: 3868
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- the mechanical (clutch control, etc)
- road use (other drivers, signalling, etc)
- navigation Others have basically covered it already, but I'll just put a different slant onto things: you do indeed have several different aspects to consider. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses as a driver, perhaps eliminating all but one is a good idea.
Eg, if you're okay at driving but not confident on navigating, use familiar streets until you remember how to look ahead and plan while controlling the car. If it's mechanical, then take the car to an unused area (deserted private car park, quiet industrial estate, etc) and practice where you won't endanger others. If it's road use and other drivers, again quiet streets are best for this, or get a friend with a car to set up practice situations.
Or, as suggested, you can purchase 'brush-up' lessons from driving schools (just the one or as many as you need) which can cover everything and anything that you're not confident about.
One final thing which I found a useful technique before taking driving lessons the first time round is actually just to sit as a passenger with a competent driver, and watch what they do. Observe the road, traffic and signs as if you were driving, and then observe how the driver handles the car, etc. Ask questions, test hypotheses.
Oh, and pics or it didn't happen ;-) |
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Andrew |
Message #116116, posted by andrew at 21:50, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116115 |
Handbag Boi
Posts: 3439
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Thanks for the help. I hated learning to drive as well although I drove everywhere for a few years. My worry about doing a refresher lesson is bringing back memories of learning to drive again and particularly the instructor saying I need more lessons, and then more and so on.
About the clutch thing - I used a replacement car once and found that very difficult at first. I think it was a Ford KA for a Ford Escort as well.
It's more getting the feel for steering, getting in the correct lanes and remembering to check mirrors at the right times e.g. roundabouts, junctions. |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #116117, posted by filecore at 23:18, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116116 |
Posts: 3868
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Mirror, signal, manoeuvre!
Indicators seem to be almost non-existent nowadays. Those few who do use them either blink once, briefly, or else they use them when they're already mid-manoeuvre, thus rendering their function somewhat pointless (they don't provide an indication of intent). |
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Phil Mellor |
Message #116118, posted by monkeyson2 at 23:20, 30/12/2010, in reply to message #116117 |
Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler
Posts: 12380
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Mirror, signal, manoeuvre!
Indicators seem to be almost non-existent nowadays. Those few who do use them either blink once, briefly, or else they use them when they're already mid-manoeuvre, thus rendering their function somewhat pointless (they don't provide an indication of intent). I hate it when drivers don't use them for pedestrians. We're road users too. |
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Paul Morrison |
Message #116119, posted by Cambridge Paul at 06:27, 31/12/2010, in reply to message #116108 |
Member
Posts: 2
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I had a three year (medical) gap in my driving. Coming back was very easy because we kept on the same vehicle.
Having helped two sons learn to drive (first time passes) before I started with them I had their instructor evaluate and criticise my driving skills in an attempt not to pass my bad habits on to them. It was very interesting to find out how driving techniques inside the car had changed in 30 years. My biggest fault was coasting ~ which saved fuel in the 1970s when car engine design dated back to the 30s. Where I gained was road sense and anticipation of what other motorists might do (or fail to do) rather than what the should do.
Now I use two wheeled pedal power more than I do 4 wheel transport. I live in a cycling city so that the native motorists (me included) are well used to the vagaries of the cyclist (particularly when they (me) are dodging potholes. The biggest motoring fault is lack of appreciation of other road users, whether it be failure to signal, wrong road positioning, lane blocking whatever. That consideration for other road users is not something that you unlearn. Given it, the rest is mere "rude mechanicals". |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #116120, posted by filecore at 08:01, 31/12/2010, in reply to message #116118 |
Posts: 3868
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I hate it when drivers don't use them for pedestrians. We're road users too. Curiously, over here, the lights go green for traffic to drive straight and round corners, but at the same time, the side-road crossing also goes green for pedestrians. Ostensibly, the idea is that fewer cars are turning, so making both green at once is the most efficient. Cars are required to give way to pedestrians on a 'green' crossing. Nice in theory, but I don't like it because you often see cars inching forward, and anyway I don't believe that cars and pedestrians should mix. All it takes is one person to make a small mistake (even stalling and restarting, if in gear, can cause the car to lunge forward) and a couple of tons of metal vs. some 14 stone of human flesh is hardly a fair test.
I had their instructor evaluate and criticise my driving skills in an attempt not to pass my bad habits on to them. It was very interesting to find out how driving techniques inside the car had changed in 30 years. My biggest fault was coasting ~ which saved fuel in the 1970s when car engine design dated back to the 30s. Curiously, during the economical driving part of my (second) test, I was told that although I was a surprisingly economical driver, I was making two mistakes. My first was coasting - yes, this was something that somebody else passed down to me from cars of decades past, and no longer applies to modern engine design. However, the second thing was something I disagreed with: engine braking. It's fine in its place (and invaluable in this snowy, icy weather where actual braking is a hazard sometimes) but I didn't like the instructor's solution.
Basically, accelleration was accomplished by very high revs (over 3000) to speed up quickly, coupled with jumping through the gears - I do this to an extent, but his method had the car revving so loudly that I could barely hear myself think. I didn't like it. The second was engine braking, which is gearshifting from higher to lower in order to slow the car. Economical? Maybe. Comfortable? No, not when it throws everybody in the car towards the front windshield. Perhaps attitudes have changed since the '90s when I originally took my test, but I wasn't too keen on this new approach. |
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