Should I splurge more on more driving lessons?

[Anonymous]

Idk if my instructor was in a bad mood but I am taking the adult waiver course and have 2 more classes to go to get my license. My instructor said I would get the license but for my own safety advised me not to drive? 2 classes ago he said I could drive and already went on the highway. Before I signed up for the waiver program I took 3 classes of 70 minutes with him and he said I was okay for the waiver course of which is $300. The 3 lessons were $200. I need practice parking definitely and more practice with turns at intersections but I feel I stop at a good distance and brake at a good distance. My speed limit is on point and I can drive straight and curve. He said I could take additional driving lessons with him or with family but I don't have family to teach me. Should I look for a new instructor, add more lessons, or ask a family friend to help me and what time is the best time to practice? I was starting to feel confident but this has lowered my confidence. I also don't understand how he wants to give me a DL when he says I can't drive well enough on the road to have one?!

[Anonymous]

Aren't all driving instructors in a bad mood? I know mine was 100 years ago. I would probably just suck it up and complete the lessons because parking and intersection turns seem like important things to master. The more practice you get, the more confident you will feel. If you can get a supportive and patient friend to help you, empty parking lots are generally good places to practice parking, especially if you need to parallel park.

[Anonymous]

I had never heard of this. I guess this must be Virginia. If you have a driver's license, just drive around more. It's scary when you first start doing it but it becomes second nature after a while.

[Anonymous]

1. Learning to drive safely, whatever that takes, is not a “splurge.” It is a serious responsibility to others and to yourself and anyone who may depend on you.

2. You should change companies. The required professional hours are minimal. They may not be enough for you. If an instructor and you have such divergent views of your skill level, you are not a match.

3. It would be a great idea to do more learning practice with a very experienced and skilled friend.

4. Precisely what did this instructor identify As the reasons you are not, and never will be, a competent and safe driver, as you report? Those would be starting points.

[Anonymous]

Adding: if this guy is passing you when he outright says you’re not competent he’s a crook.

[Anonymous]

So update to this. I just got my paperwork to get my DL from the instructor who this time around said I stopped fine and didn't critique my driving with the exception of turning on the wrong lane. He also didn't critique my parking this time of which he didn't even give me more practice on until I asked him at the last 30 min. He then gave me the paperwork and told me we didn't do much highway driving because he didn't feel safe and I needed to learn more and that it's not practice that makes a driver better that I just need to get the manuevers. So I got what I paid for but don't feel confident enough to drive alone yet. Should I take a defensive driving course? Like I said I have no family to teach me with the exception of a family friend who might be open to it but I am still wary of driving among the crazy drivers of this area.

[Anonymous]

To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

You’ve been through 5 driving instructors and they won’t take you on the highway? That is not a minor technique issue, most of driving is practice and getting comfortable with how the car responds to your input, leaning how much input to give, and getting used to different driving situations. You can only do those things with more practice.

What specifically are they saying you do wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

You’ve been through 5 driving instructors and they won’t take you on the highway? That is not a minor technique issue, most of driving is practice and getting comfortable with how the car responds to your input, leaning how much input to give, and getting used to different driving situations. You can only do those things with more practice.

What specifically are they saying you do wrong?

Yeah this is pretty concerning to me. I think you need a lot more practice or that something is wrong. Most kids learn to drive with 3 lessons with an instructor and then just some practice with their parents. The fact that you have gotten lessons from 5 instructors and still can't drive makes me think that you need a lot more practice whether through lessons or with someone else like a spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

You’ve been through 5 driving instructors and they won’t take you on the highway? That is not a minor technique issue, most of driving is practice and getting comfortable with how the car responds to your input, leaning how much input to give, and getting used to different driving situations. You can only do those things with more practice.

What specifically are they saying you do wrong?

Yeah this is pretty concerning to me. I think you need a lot more practice or that something is wrong. Most kids learn to drive with 3 lessons with an instructor and then just some practice with their parents. The fact that you have gotten lessons from 5 instructors and still can't drive makes me think that you need a lot more practice whether through lessons or with someone else like a spouse.

Agree. That's just weird. OP, there is something about your driving that is particularly bad. Do you freak out easily on the highway or in other potentially stressful situations? I could see it being very dangerous to take someone on 395 who is prone to panicking when it's time to merge, etc.

[Anonymous]

Uber, OP. Uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

You’ve been through 5 driving instructors and they won’t take you on the highway? That is not a minor technique issue, most of driving is practice and getting comfortable with how the car responds to your input, leaning how much input to give, and getting used to different driving situations. You can only do those things with more practice.

What specifically are they saying you do wrong?

Yeah this is pretty concerning to me. I think you need a lot more practice or that something is wrong. Most kids learn to drive with 3 lessons with an instructor and then just some practice with their parents. The fact that you have gotten lessons from 5 instructors and still can't drive makes me think that you need a lot more practice whether through lessons or with someone else like a spouse.

Agree. That's just weird. OP, there is something about your driving that is particularly bad. Do you freak out easily on the highway or in other potentially stressful situations? I could see it being very dangerous to take someone on 395 who is prone to panicking when it's time to merge, etc.

My first driving instructor took me on the highway the first time drove. We picked up his friend along the way. He got passed at any mistake that first day.The second was a lady day cussed a lot in her language at other drivers. 3rd one was my cousin who tried to teach me in a broken front drivers seat with the back down. My back hurt the whole time. 4th was a guy from a driving school who spent more time driving thru neighborhoods and never taught me to park or drive on the highway in 10 driving hours. I expect the instructors to identify my weak points and help me but they want me to say what I want to learn. That 5th driving instructor did a shoddy job in instructing another first time guy in driving when I was sitting in the back seat. He didn't tell the kid how to stop gradually or what he was doing wrong along the way. I almost spoke up but stayed quiet. I did expect dcum to defend the instructor though! I must be psychic.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the typos. Damn phone.

[Anonymous]

But I won't give up. I have a paraplegic cousin who was in a car accident as a driver as a teen and another who was killed at 21 as a passenger and his friend as the driver. I will get more practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To add to this, he is the maybe 5th driving instructor I tried in this area (NOVA). The others were worse than him.

You’ve been through 5 driving instructors and they won’t take you on the highway? That is not a minor technique issue, most of driving is practice and getting comfortable with how the car responds to your input, leaning how much input to give, and getting used to different driving situations. You can only do those things with more practice.

What specifically are they saying you do wrong?

Yeah this is pretty concerning to me. I think you need a lot more practice or that something is wrong. Most kids learn to drive with 3 lessons with an instructor and then just some practice with their parents. The fact that you have gotten lessons from 5 instructors and still can't drive makes me think that you need a lot more practice whether through lessons or with someone else like a spouse.

Agree. That's just weird. OP, there is something about your driving that is particularly bad. Do you freak out easily on the highway or in other potentially stressful situations? I could see it being very dangerous to take someone on 395 who is prone to panicking when it's time to merge, etc.

I dont freak out. I am more careful though. I do love driving actually.