Featured photo: Image by S. Hermann / F. Richter from Pixabay
For me right now learning to drive is actually going quite well. The main part for me now is just learning more complex junctions and road systems (such as one-way systems). But I thought I’d list 10 things I have found most difficult to get the hang of while learning to drive.
Since I’m still learning this list will probably look different by the time I’ve finished my lessons and got my license. For one I still need to regularly use reverse and I have not attempted parallel parking yet.
So without any further delay… let’s get to it:
Number One – The Clutch
This was the first hardest thing to get the hang of. Using the clutch at the right time and in tandem with the accelerator and break – when you’re supposed to do so. You can do some breaking without needing the clutch – something I need to keep in mind.
I also still need to stop coming up off the clutch so fast. When on complex junctions or going uphill I still need to get better at not stalling from poor usage of the clutch.
I am a lot better than I was but there is still plenty of room for improvement. One thing I need to do is to stop nursing the clutch and become more confident at taking my foot away from the clutch while driving – and using it only when needed.
Number Two – The 3rd Gear
I could easily get the car into 1st and 2nd gear when needed but when first moving up to the 3rd gear I often found it difficult to actually get into it – a lot of the time I ended up going into 1st gear by accident causing the car to engine break when it was not supposed to.
Mostly this was because I was pushing the gear up into the wrong direction – largely due to stress and anxiety – but as I got more relaxed I found – from driving instructor direction – that simply just lightly pushing the gear up into 3rd is far better.
Also, when the gear does go into the wrong slot – don’t panic and start trying to quickly get it into the right gear – instead it’s best to remain calm, focused on the road, bring the gear stick into neutral, and then go into 3rd – rather than trying to yank it over from 1st to 3rd in panicked haste.
Number Three – Perception
Perception from within a car is a lot different to your perception while walking. This can make it seem like things are closer than they actually are – at least in my case. This can cause me to drive too far over one side or the other – or may cause me to wait at areas to let cars through when I don’t actually need to because there is enough room for both.
This one is just a matter of getting used to the distorted perception – the more you drive the more you get used to it and with time you understand where you can and cannot fit through, and how close you can drive to things.
Number Four – Multitasking
The need to multitask is actually one of the hardest things to get the hang of. I know I still have a long way to go with it but I am getting better. One of the biggest multitasking challenges while driving is changing the gear… while driving.
When you first begin it’s likely – like me – that you’ll keep having to look down at the gear stick quickly and then change it. This obviously is something that needs to be overcome as when driving on the road it’s not exactly safe to look away.
Other tough to master multitasking tasks are turning the windshield wipers on and off, using the window wash, obviously using the clutch along with other pedals, keeping note of the speedometer… and so on.
Again this is just a matter of getting used to all the tasks. With time it does become second nature and feel like nothing at all. A sign of this is when you use one hand to steer while keeping the other on the gear stick and just effortlessly cycling through the gears while also talking and watching the road at the same time (my social worker while driving) – this is something I never bothered to take note of before I started to learn to drive but now I am quite mesmerised by how easy other driver’s can make it seem.
Number Five – Windshield wipers and other Gizmos
I kind of already mentioned this in the multitasking one – but it is actually hard. And it isn’t just the windshield wipers – it’s remembring what all the buttons and twisty-bits in the car do.
Naturally the indicator is the easiest to remember because you always use it – but the other things you use now and again, such as the different lights, hazards, windshield wipers (back and front), window wash (back and front), air conditioning/heaters… and so on, it is very difficult to remember how to use them when you need to – while also driving at the same time which makes it even harder to remember – because you know, that’s multitasking.
Number Six – Keeping at the right Speed
It can be quite difficult to keep the car at a consistent speed. A lot of the time I find myself going either too slow or a little bit too fast. It’s really hard to keep it on that sweet spot – again requiring some multi-tasking and intermittant use of the accelerator – while focusing on everything else as well.
Number Seven – Uphill
Generally going uphill is not that difficult… unless it’s an awkward uphill junction or a narrow road where you may need to give way… then it gets a lot more difficult and the chance of stalling goes up dramatically.
And then when you do stall you need to also make sure you don’t then end up rolling down the hill while trying to get everything back into order again… all while you’re probably being judged by the other driver’s who are waiting for you to stop mucking about.
Yeah, it’s not fun.
Number Eight – Pulling out on Major Roads
Even more the case when turning right… or when you have vehicles (worse if larger ones) that have parked close to the junction and are obscuring the view. So, you have to focus on slowly edging out while also looking to see what is coming.
And you better hope you do not stall… and MAKE SURE to be in 1st gear as well… something I sometimes forget to do when pulling out causing my driving instructor to intervene.
It’s scary stuff.
Number Nine – Remembring to use the right gears at the right time
This one feeds a bit into multitasking again – because it can be hard to remember to change to the right gear while focusing on things that are coming up and usually when you do need to change gear something to focus on is coming up – such as a junction or roundabout.
This can lead to panic and then shifting into incorrect gears. So – remember to keep calm and focused which often does the trick. And – go back to neutral and then the correct gear rather than yanking it about.
Plus, remembring to utilise engine braking correctly is well is quite important.
Number Ten – Mini-Roundabouts
Mini-Roundabouts are very daunting and the busier or more complex they are the worse it gets – lots of anxiety and stress around these. Because not only do you need to remember to give way to the right – you’re also relying on driver’s making sure to give way to you when they’re supposed to, adding another layer of anxiety on.
Mini-Roundabouts also increase the chance of stalling and you need to remember to change into the right gears and effectively use engine breaking. And… don’t give way to the wrong side as well, which I’ve done a number of times.
When you think about it, simply giving way to the right should be simple, but the complexity of mini-roundabouts makes it more stressful and there are a lot of variables to focus on, and a lot of other things that need to go right.
And that is my 10 list of things I have found hardest so far while driving. I’m sure the list will change as I learn more. Make sure to have a great weekend!
I’ll be doing one final blogpost next week and then I will be off for Christmas and New Year – so back in January.
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