Well, I've finally done it. I driven on my own for the first time today.

[Ross PK]

Well, not completely on my own as I got my mum to come with me because I felt so unconfident.

 

The wheels were actually seized because the car had been sat there for ages. When I was trying to reverse it just kept shuddering and then stalling, I was wondering what was wrong with it. After several attempts I heard a couple of clunks and the car moved a bit, and then it ended up completely free.

 

So yeah, anyway, everything turned out to be completly fine, I was still nervous but everything felt really easy and simple and I actually enjoyed it.

 

So, after I got more used to driving and doing things for myself, I'll be moving onto the next stage of getting a decent career.

[wuggle]

Brilliant, you have no idea how glad I am you finally did it :bunny::bunny:

 

Fantastic, now get out there as often as you can, This really could be the start of something great. You are now so much more independant. Whenever you want you can just get in your car and go.

[Ross PK]

I'm just wondering, am I supposed to top up everything myself, like the brake fluid and everything? How low should I let the levels get before topping up?

 

Thanks.

[wuggle]

You will need to do some stuff yourself, you will have to top up your washer fluid, maybe check that every couple of months, and might be an idea to check your oil levels every 4 months & check tyre pressure every 3 months , but for everything else let the mechanic advise you when you have your annual service & MOT.

 

Have you been out again ?

[Ross PK]

You will need to do some stuff yourself, you will have to top up your washer fluid, maybe check that every couple of months, and might be an idea to check your oil levels every 4 months & check tyre pressure every 3 months , but for everything else let the mechanic advise you when you have your annual service & MOT.

 

Have you been out again ?

 

Yeah. I'm going to go out everyday. They're only going to be really short trips though since I don't really know my way around here.

[wuggle]

excellent. Take it easy and build up your confidence. Parking (and finding parking spaces without getting flustered) takes a bit of time to get used to. When youre more confident there are tons of places to go (blackpool, york, chester are good) need to ask yourself what sort of things you like, shops, castles, hills, seaside ? then just make plans and go there. Or just drive for the hell of it, can be great on a sunny day just driving round the country.

 

Go for it.

[Ross PK]

Yeah, manouvering the car, like parking or doing a turn in the road, when there's other parked cars around is something I'm finding very difficult at the moment.

 

Just stalled it twice too, once on a main road just before I turned off, it felt quite embarrassing as there was someone waiting behind me.

 

I'm also finding it really hard to stick at the speed limit, I'm either always going a little bit over or under, and I don't like having to keep looking at the speedometer all the time because it's taking my attention off everything else.

 

I'm wondering that if I go past a speed camera a 2 or 3 miles an hour over the speed limit, would I still get in trouble or fined?

[wuggle]

Wouldn't worry about stalling etc, we all do this when we start or even when we get a new car (I'm always stalling my wifes car).

 

re the speed thing, I believe speed cameras are set to the speed limit +10% + 1mph, so on a 30mph road you wont get 'flashed' until after 34 mph

 

But don't get into bad habits , stick to 30-32 , you'll find after a while that you stop looking at your speedo so much, you just know what speed you're doing.

[anne1707]

I'm wondering that if I go past a speed camera a 2 or 3 miles an hour over the speed limit, would I still get in trouble or fined?

 

Ross

 

2 or 3 miles over will be OK. Generally at least a 10% margin is allowed because cars are not all 100% accurate with the speedometer. As you get more practice, you will also become more able to judge your speed without having to constantly check it. Though remember that in your first 2 years after passing your test, 6 points will knock you back to learner status and having to redo your test (at least this was the case when I started driving).

 

As for cars behind you, don't worry about them. We all had to go through what you are doing now. Are you using the green L plates? I know that if I see a car in front of me with these on, I am probably a bit more patient and understanding when they make a mistake or drive a bit slower than I would like.

 

Plus all those actions involved in just driving the car will start to become automatic allowing you to concentrate more on what is going on around you.

[anne1707]

I'm always stalling my wifes car.

 

 

He's not lying there

[Ross PK]

He's not lying there

 

Lol, so you're Wuggle's wife?

 

Anyway, don't think I'm going to listen to music in my car for a long while yet, because when I was doing so today I sort of found it a bit more harder to concentrate. I wonder if it's like that with everyone when they first start driving, or whether most people feel comfortable with listening to music in the car when they first start driving on their own?

 

It seems all of my friends started listeing to music in their car straight away or almost straight away when they first started driving on their own.

[anne1707]

Lol, so you're Wuggle's wife?

 

 

For my sins, yes

 

As for the music, I know I did not have any on when I first started driving on my own but I then started using the radio sometimes - at least once it's on then that is it for the rest of the journey.

 

Don't worry about what others are doing. You do what is right for you. The good thing is that you're getting out in your car on a regular basis - your confidence in your driving will improve.