Clipping Wings

Well I finally made my instructor swear. And grab the wheel. Three times in one lesson.

It's space, or perhaps spacial awareness. I am used to riding a motorcycle which takes up perhaps a fifth of the road that a car requires.

I hit someone's wing mirror, a hedge, and almost hit a bollard. I managed to get into the wrong lane on what I've always called "The Polegate Roundabout", even though it's never a problem when I take it on my bike.

In fact, there were a lot of things I did wrong that I would have done just fine on my bike. I think that when you have to think about the operation of your vehicle, as well as the road ahead (positioning, other traffic, hazards, etc.) things become that little bit more complicated.

At least I haven't hit another car (except for that wing mirror) or changed gear into reverse instead of fourth.

I do think that there are a couple of factors that apply to driving lessons that are absent from normal driving. For a start, you're always supposed to plan your route before travelling; but your instructor is the one who knows where you're going when you're participating in a driving lesson. It is also not that common, unless you commute to London or something, to drive for two hours straight; that really knackers my concentration as most of my hiccups happen in the latter half of the lesson.

I'm almost there though, I just need to figure out a way of doing things in a more relaxed manner. It's not easy when you have an impatient four-by-four driving up your rear end though. I passed my theory test, so I just have to think about booking my practical now.