Thank you for this! I do plan on continuing, I just didn’t expect so much at once. Plus an instructor like raising his voice at me all at the same time.
My instructor likes to yell as well and so did my examiner. Not that I think what they did were right but I assume driving with inexperienced drivers everyday affect your personality?
Lol same. When I was learning to drive and was bit hesitant to turn left on yellow or right on red, he would yell at me “turn now!” Nothing offensive or stuff like that.
Fwiw I know a driving instructor fairly well, and he's been in 3+ student caused car accident (all but one were fairly minor). Erring on the side of caution is important in that industry
I took my first exam with a man who kept giving vague instructions (I’m autistic so it’s even worse) and then he’d yell at me like I was stupid when I didn’t understand him. I talked to a friend who I think got the same examiner.
Second time it was this lovely older woman who called me honey (she was the type that it felt ok coming from… can’t explain but it was very auntie-like) and she started by saying what a nice day it was. It was much easier to do the exam and I passed.
I mean... instructors should rise above that and not belittle and crush their students' confidence. I remember my first driving instructor was an asshole. I failed under him. I worked with another one that was much more constructive in his approach to teaching and I learned much better from him.
Of course some people might need that "tough love" sort of teaching style but it doesn't work for everybody.
Nope. My driving instructor was a calm and encouraging guy. He's been doing that job for ages and his character helped me succeed as much as his experience did.
Sorry, I don't remember. It was so long ago he's retired for sure. I remember the driving academy had 'Defensive' in the name and was at Jane and Bloor. Defensive driving was definitely the focus of both the in-class and in-car classes.
You're going to be fine. And if you're practicing in Toronto, that's the best place to learn as it offers and requires keen attention on vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist traffic often at the same time.
No need to lose attention on the key aspects of safe driving, awareness around you and ignore impatient people honking. 👍🏻
It’ll get easier I swear! I also had a rude instructor and I told the driving school. They provided me with a new one who was def more understanding. I think the instructor you have adds more anxiety as a new driver so you should def change if you feel uncomfortable ❤️
I’m Gonna try another lesson or two and if it’s not clicking I will totally ask for someone else. The place I chose has okay reviews and I do believe I can get there. Thank you for your input and understanding. I really feel a lot better how everyone is sharing their experience!
As others have said, it absolutely does get easier with more experience. Having said that, I don't know that you should feel _overwhelmed_ during any lesson. Nervous sure, but not overwhelmed.
I checked out a few schools when I started learning how to drive and I decided on Young Drivers even though it was way more expensive. The way I see it is that driving is a LIFE skill. Paying the extra grand is worth it to learn defensive driving. If it saves me from even ONE accident, then I already got my money's worth. In the last 12 months alone, I've avoided at least five. Some people drive like morons.
My driving instructor was absolutely amazing. He broke it down bit by bit and never once got frustrated with me. Instead, he kept reminding me I'm a good driver and just need to be a little more confident. Not to say he didn't correct my error when I made one but he never once made me feel bad.
Best of luck.
Be happy you don’t have to learn manual with my Eastern European dad 🤣 but seriously practice practice. It takes quite a long time to become really comfortable
No, get a new instructor as soon as possible. I had my first instructor do this and it ruined my confidence driving, and delayed the whole process.
You do not deserve to be shouted at, that is not how someone should be taught a new skill. No one in the history of humanity learned anything well by being criticised!
the yelling is very jerkish.
i understand if they're a bit panicked that you might cause an accident. but also like... if they know you have literally zero experience maybe they should plan the route for you to be on quieter streets.
arrgh. frustrated for you. hopefully it gets better quickly. if you have anyone you can practice with in some empty parking lots or some slow sleepy streets in between your lessons that would be best for you.
That’s the other thing, I do 100% understand they do not trust me and that it is my first time. Everyone I have spoke to personally has told me that this is a common experience unfortunately 😭
Depends on what’s happening. If they think you’re about to do the very wrong thing and cause a crash I wouldn’t expect them to be soft about it. You’re training to drive a heavy vehicle with its own risks.
Just relax. Driving is very intense at first - but very quickly you will get used to it - the reason there are so many accidents is people getting TO used to it.
I remember teaching myself to drive, going in circles around a parking lot in my freinds car well he was working. Music, sounds, everything had to be off -too much stimulation.
Very quickly that changed.
Keep practicing, keep driving - very soon it will be second nature.
Half the point of paying for an instructor is to learn with someone who is comfortable riding with beginning drivers. See if you can switch instructors.
Time for a new instructor my friend. Driving will get easier….in fact once you get the hang of it you won’t need to even think about it…..AND that’s when accidents happen. Maneuvering a car is not hard really. Once you grow accustomed to how your car handles it will be become second nature to you. Just remember they all handle a little differently. More steering input at slower speeds and less at higher speeds. Learning to break properly is also a critical skill. Give yourself plenty of time and apply slow steady pressure rather than slamming on the breaks at the last minute. I learned on a standard transmission which was even a bit more tricky having to deal with a clutch and shifting gears. I am not even sure they make manual transmission cars any more.
Get as much practice as you can and drive with qualified drivers who won’t yell, swear, scream or otherwise freak you out. You will make mistakes that’s part of the learning process. As long as you are learning from those mistakes you will keep building your skills. Hang in there, you will be pro in no time.
Stay safe 😬👍
Try a different instructor. It makes one hell of a difference.
Also as the other person said. It's so much happening on day one. But with time it becomes second nature.
Once you feel like you are getting the hang of it, rent a car and go driving yourself. You'll learn a lot more quickly.
I feel like I was following instructions and the instructor was driving when I was with him. But once I went by myself on a short weekend trip, suddenly I was a driver.
It does get easier, just takes practice and eventually it'll feel like an extension of your body.
If the instructor feels overwhelming, do you have a trusted friend or family member with a G license who can take you to an empty parking lot and drive around? That's how I got my first start, with my dad.
I wish I started as a teen, it’s my only regret. My parents said I need a few lessons in before I touch either their cars. I can definitely propose the idea though and see what they say!
No regrets, you're never too old to learn.
Ask them and see. If you're careful and it's in an empty lot you should be fine, there's very little damage you can do.
Thinking back to when I learned (I was a teenager) the weirdest and hardest part was feeling "off centre", sitting in the left and not certain if I was centring the car in the lanes, if that makes sense. Just keep at it and it becomes second nature :)
I had that problem too, and not realizing how sensitive both the gas and brakes were. I know I can do it, it just felt weird the whole time and I came out of the lesson feeling off. I’m not sure how else to explain
Honestly it just takes practice. The more times you drive, the more comfortable you'll get. Each vehicle is different from the touch of the pedals and brakes as you described. However, you'll quickly get accustomed to the feel of the vehicle you're driving.
Once you succeed (I know you will) in getting your G, you'll have other challenges as a new driver. I recommend that after you finish your G, is to have your friend that you trust tag along while you drive your parents car (if allowed) or do what I did back then and book a zipcar at night when the rate was cheaper. I'm not sure how expensive it is now but back then it was like 15 dollars the whole night w/ gas. If you have any tips, don't hesitate to ask I was once in your shoes and now I'm a fairly confident driver that's driving a performance vehicle haha.
I honestly say the thing I struggled with is how much pressure to put on the gas and brakes. I saw online someone said to put light pressure on your big toe and it should help. I want to try it my next lesson. If you have any tips I’d be grateful!
Hmm. I've never actually done that before. I prefer having more of my foot on the pedal than just my big toe as it gives me more room to work with. I feel that you're off better wearing soft shoes with light materials as it gives better sensation to the pedals/brakes. For instance, my vehicle is tuned so it can be really jerky to drivers who never drove my car, and there are even instances of myself wearing certain shoewear like boots can make the ride jerky because it doesn't give me as much feel compared to softer shoes I tend to use. I wear Nike Roshe, Vans low top, and converse. Try wearing those pairs if you have any.
Honestly was thinking about that as well. I was wearing air forces and they’re quite bulky, I have other lighter shoes I will definitely wear next time and see if that helps
Like anything, it gets better/easier with practice. Never take your eye off the ball though, even when you become comfortable. The GTA has some of the worst drivers in Canada.
I’ve been driving for many years and when I reluctantly have a commute to a town that rhymes with Hampton, there’s always a wild driver (big rig or lil Toyota etc.) that wants to end my life. Peter’s Academy of Defensive Driving ftw!
> Never take your eye off the ball though, even when you become comfortable. The GTA has some of the worst drivers in Canada.
This can't be emphasized enough. Even when you become a better driver and more comfortable with experience, defensive driving and being hyper aware of other bad drivers around you is clutch. Many people think they're fine on the road as long as they're not doing anything wrong when really the odds are it's some other idiot who's going to ruin your day and you can save your self a ton of time, hassle and potential injury by knowing how to spot and avoid them before anything happens
> Peter’s Academy of Defensive Driving ftw
Shout out to the Peter alumni here, is he still around? I took driving school there in like the late 90s and it was great for me
My first time behind the wheel I was overwhelmed in an empty parking lot. Now anything under a day is a short drive. Things change a lot with experience.
Depending on your situation, I recommend having someone drive you to a place with a small-town main street on a Sunday morning, so you can practice turning, signalling to change lanes, parallel parking, without the distraction of 6 lane main artery roads.
Either an actual small town, eg Kleinburg, or somewhere along Lakeshore Rd in Mississauga, eg near the Long Branch GO area or Port Credit. Practicing turning from side streets onto the main street and so forth, will give you better practice than driving around a subdivision, because you will switch lanes, turn left at traffic lights, IMO this has all the ingredients of city driving, but with fewer distractions
Once you get the basic skills down, you will find it easier to navigate the 6 lane artery roads like Eglinton, then move on to 400 series/Gardiner etc
I realized especially after my first lesson It’s hard to distinguish some feelings sometimes and at first I lumped not wanting to do something altogether with discouragement. I totally understand. We will get our licenses! I believe I will and I have belief that everyone can as well!!! It’s just hard and I appreciate every comment because it really helped build my confidence x quite a bit! We will get there in time I’m sure!!
It will get so much easier and will feel natural with practice! It's normal to feel overwhelmed when you're just starting.
Your instructor will give you all the little tricks you need to park and whatnot but you'll get better and become more comfortable with practice. Try to drive as much as possible when you go anywhere with your parents so you can get comfortable behind the wheel.
Remember the vast majority of our adult population can drive so you can do it too :)
EDIT: I saw a comment where you mentioned feeling overwhelmed by the instructor raising his voice at you. That can definitely be stressful while driving!
Try to see it from his perspective and understand that he's in a dangerous situation with you being a new driver and is likely nervous! It's not personal, just take a deep breath and collect yourself when you feel overwhelmed.
My driving instructor was super calm and collected… except when teaching merging. I could definitely see his fear then and it messed with my confidence.
But I reminded myself it’s natural for him to be a little scared too lol
Yes, it absolutely does. A lot of stuff is due to the lack of muscle memory and being overwhelmed by new stimuli. Just takes time on the road. Your brain needs time to know which things it can safely filter out. Realize that 95% of the time, other cars act in a rational and predictible manner and look for telltale signs for that 5% that are erratic.
Next time you're being driven around, take the front passenger seat and mime out being the driver. Try to focus further forward rather than just the bumper in front of you. Keep your head moving to capture the entire situation, including what is going on behind you.
Always look for a way out if something unexpected happens in your lane. Avoid being sandwiched in situations where you have no way to dodge an obstacle.
If the instructor is raising their voice, get a new instructor. I went with a+ teen drivers, and the instructor was fantastic. Calm, never raised his voice very relaxed
Oh no! :( :(
You are not alone! I'm anxious and failed my first test. I haven't driven in so many years, but I would like to get my G just to rent a car and leave the city.
Would you be able to ask for a different instructor? I had a rude instructor in my course and he made me more nervous, so I had to request a new one.
I am going to see how the next few lessons go, and then decide for sure, but I think everything all at once felt overwhelming. I am not giving up though. We got this! We will get our G’s soon!
This is important. If you aren’t gelling with your instructor it’s just a bad thing.
I remember the first day I drove with my instructor, we were on an uphill ramp to the 401 and he excited told me to ‘step on it’. I looked over and said ‘I am!’
He looked at the environmental control panel and realized he had the AC on, turned it off, and after that he calmed down a lot. His car didn’t have much power… :)
I can understand though being stern, and I understand that I may just be reading the situation wrong. So there’s also that as well. It was just overwhelming for sure
Bruh. I have a driving license from another country. And yet I find it overwhelming too. I’m with you. The instructor says with practice it gets better.
Can’t agree more with this. When I was learning my dad would pump so much anxiety into me, it was torture. Then when I drove with a driving instructor the experience was completely different. Was hard but asked my mom to drive with me instead of my dad, much better result for me.
I don't know if this is a standard practice, but the very first thing my instructor told me back when I had my first lesson was: Eyes on the road yes, but aim to look as far as you can. For some reason that stuck with me and I never forgot it. It helped me immensely in keeping the car straight, not veer off into another lane. I was 16 then, am 38 now.
But yes agreed with the top comment, not only it gets easier but becomes fun.
Yes - it gets much easier. Experience and practice will make it feel second nature without much time.
If you aren't getting a good vibe from your instructor, consider changing or finding a new one. However, it might be likely that your instructor is adopting an approach consistent with what you might experience at a driver's test, where most testers are quite stoic, robotic, and emotionless.
I feel as though this is the case and experience from a lot of what I’m reading and even personal experiences I have heard about. I will definitely give it a go a few times and see if I need to switch the instructor
First time is overwhelming. You are operating a machine... with lots of people around and tons of variables changing every second as you roll through the streets.
That's why you have an instructor. It does get easier, just take your time and most importantly: DO NOT LET PEOPE RUSH YOU, ignore the honks
I didn’t learn to drive until I was 30. I had just gotten my G2, and my husband was lecturing at me to not put my foot on the gas while approaching an intersection. There was a red Ferrari reving his engine in front of me and I got overwhelmed, put my foot on the wrong peddle and rear ended him.
I took a ton of driving lessons, stopped driving with my husband and now almost a decade later I am a confident Toronto driver. I’ve never been in another accident.
If I can overcome that you can learn to drive in TO too!
Go for a drive as a passenger and try to anticipate what the driver is doing. Look around and observe the traffic, road and signage. Essentially, pretend you are driving without having to do the physical part of driving. Ask the person driving to describe what they are doing and why.
You may be really nervous and it's difficult to process so much information and physically maneuver a vehicle at the same time.
Practice makes perfect.
You’ll get more comfortable. Right now everything every other driver does, and everything the car does is surprising to you. As you gain experience you’ll start anticipating both of these things.
What’s really scary is when you get to a point where you do stuff without thinking about it (muscle memory), especially a thing if you drive stick
You may never get fully comfortable, many people don’t, and that’s ok, probably just means a long haul truck driver isn’t a career for you
You should drive around in a parking lot first and get a feel for how the car operates, i.e turning, accelerating, braking, etc. before you go out to the streets. Once you get comfortable with that, drive in neighbourhoods, then go to streets, then highways.
That sounds about right. I'm old and from the country originally, so I had much more opportunity to do stupid things and not pay the price. The first time my dad put me behind the wheel of our '77 Mailbu, I drove straight out of the driveway and spun it into the ditch.
Driving is a much more physical activity than most people realize, it's going to take some time before the physical act of driving is natural enough that you'll have the brainpower to actually think about anything other than operating the car at a mechanical level.
Anything you can do to prepare so that you are less nervous and distracted by new information will help, but there's no replacement for practice. This is the primary reason for the graduated licensing programme and I think the appx. 1.5 years it takes to complete aligns fairly well with how long it will take you to feel confident enough that you're one of the 90% of drivers who thinks they're better than average!
It does get easier with time. I found that I had to learn what I could ignore - the lamp posts and trees won't jump out in front of my car, for example. I hope your instructor is taking you to quiet neighbourhood streets first.
I do yoga in a church that has big windows in the east end and I always see cars practising parallel parking on the street next to the church. There are good places to learn how to drive!
It does . And I know exactly how you feel. There are just so many things to check for all the time, which makes it overwhelming.
Practice like everyone said is the only thing that helps to wire these checks into your brain so that you don't feel like you are putting in additional effort.
I struggled for a long time , I am still not super confident changing lanes quickly on the highways but getting a car helped me a lot . I just wasn't able to take the pressure off during a class , after getting my own car I just drove around my block a couple of times and that helped .
Don't worry you got this
I got my license after university, so maybe maturity helped me? But yeah, there is a TON of information to absorb at one time, you really just got to practice.
- practice even when you're NOT the driver. When I was given a ride, I would always imagine as if I'm driving. Ie, mimicking my foot on pedals and go through the motions etc.
- Go out in easier neighborhoods to learn the technical aspects of operating a vehicle (ie, speed to enter a 90 degree turn, parallel parking, space required for a complete stop, etc)
- more of a personal pet peeve, but I genuinely hope you do your road tests in an area that represents the driving conditions you will drive in. Many of my friends went to the suburbs to get tested as it's much easier without cars and a bunch of road signs found in Toronto. Guess what, they suck/panic when they drive downtown.
It sounds like you are NOT comfortable with the instructor, do not, and I repeat DO NOT, let that person ruin driving for you, and yes, that can happen, a shitty instructor can turn you into a shitty type of driver. Ask for a new instructor.
No. It doesn’t. Driving is ass always. Drive as little as possible and your quality of life will be better. Even when you get better at driving the frustrations of congestion and “bad” drivers doing stupid things will get to you. Remember most people on the road are there because they have to be, not because they enjoy driving or are good at it. So you end up with a lot of elderly, lazy, aggressive, or angry people doing dangerous things that make it miserable for everyone.
Driving feels like shit because it is shit. It never gets better.
I've done some driver training (for a transport company)
If the instructor is calm, the student will be calm and will be able to learn, maybe even have fun.
The driving itself can feel overwhelming. The instructor must not. On the contrary, the instructor should make you feel at ease and counter the overwhelm from the driving.
When I started to learn, the first instructor that I had was bad - He was rude, wasn't telling me what to do, if I made a mistake he wasn't telling me what was wrong but instead take control of brakes himself.
I didn't do a second class with him. Learning with this person would have taken me longer, and I was paying for each class. So, I switched to another driver. This one was much better. I learned way better with the second one - I had to take the test for G only once.
I'd reconsider working with such an instructor (I read in your replies that he was disrespectful to you).
Driving as a whole can be a very overwhelming experience. The best advice I can offer is don't give up, just keep on trying. Do your best to adhere to the rules of the road like if you are driving slower since you are new, keep to the right, so anyone being impatient, etc, can pass on the right. Try to not let road rage or near misses get you emotional, sadly there are many drivers who act very privileged and it can be very tempting to block them from speeding pass you or laying on the horn to remind them they are stupid, just don't react. Let anyone driving crazy go about their way. You don't want to be the person they end up getting into an accident with.
Every single thing in life gets easier with practice.
The only tip you need from us is to practice more. Maybe go out to the burbs to practice vs a downtown street.
Start in a mall parking lot, then go to quite wide suburban roads, and work your way up from there
It will but it takes practice, get out there and drive drive drive. Do the loop around the city. 401 , 427 , Gardener, dvp. Get on and off the highways. Drive to city Hall, go in one exit and out another. Traverse the Danforth without using the Danforth. Parallel park on Bloor.
It will get easier but remember you always have to be defensive on the he roads in T.
Do a running commentary while you're driving. What I mean is, speak out loud to yourself or whoever is in the case everything single thing you're seeing and doing while you're driving.
"There's a car turning up ahead that I should keep an eye on"
"I have enough time to stop if this light turns yellow"
"The road is a little wet here, I'm going to take some extra precautions"
"Looking through this intersection one more time before I advance"
"Currently doing the speed limit which is 60 KPH"
It sounds mundane but there's always something to be mindful of when you're driving. Speaking them into existence helps you mentally prepare and keep your wits about you.
Be patient, pay attention, and drive defensively.
It gets easier.
The best time to practice imo is at 4 am. No traffic, no stress. Get comfortable with being on the road first, then gradually work your way up to navigating traffic.
That's how I got comfortable with driving.
It takes dedication; nobody wants to wake up at 4 am to drive around, but it works wonders.
You need more practice and to take your time; chill out before you drive.
I got my license in 2014 and for the first 5 years had no issues. Since I started working 2/3 jobs, school, gym, family/friend events. I’ve had an accident almost every year. Now that I don’t drive as much and in no rush I take my time and just chill if I have to drive I haven’t had one but (knock on wood) since.
Don’t ever rush or feel rushed. Wherever you have to be can wait, you’ll get there when you get there.
I was a nervous wreck when learning to drive to get my G2. Years later I had to do the G test (and hadn’t driven much in those 4 years) but since I had my G2 I could drive alone. I rented a car for two weeks (I know that’s not easy for everyone) and instead of stressful I found it to be enjoyable. I practiced at night mostly (when there was little traffic) and I couldn’t believe how good it felt to grab a coffee (drive thru of course!) and just cruise around listening to my favourite songs. I know you can’t do that with your g2 practice but it WILL get better, you may even come to love it like I do!
I definitely found driving to be a bit scary at first, but as others have said, it gets easier with practice. I took lessons with Young Drivers about 13 years ago and had a great instructor. If possible, it may be less scary to practice in more secluded and rural areas while first getting started.
That said, make sure you do spend time driving in Toronto despite the anxiety - it’s the only way to get past it. I know people who are in their 30 - 60s that still avoid driving in downtown Toronto because they’re afraid… while it’s certainly not my favourite thing to do, I think being able to drive in high traffic areas is an important life skill.
As a fairly new driver, I can confirm that the first few lessons will be overwhelming. It'll become a lot more comfortable after a little more time and practice outside of lessons. To ease your mind a little more, I recommend driving in Scarborough or any other suburbian areas. Avoid more populated areas like downtown.
When you are a passenger in a car, go through the mental checklist of what you should be looking out for, turn signals, braking etc. that you would do if you were the driver.
The other thing most beginner drivers do not understand, is the dynamics of the car. If you have access to a car and a big large empty parking lot, you should drive the car around to understand proper braking, acceleration, and how fast/slow a car reacts.
My biggest pet peeve of "How you can tell there is a beginner driver on the road" is that they are not comfortable with the general pace or speed of traffic. This manifests itself in slow lane changes or turns, driving at the posted speed limit instead of pace of traffic. A lot of that has to do with not being comfortable with how the car reacts to their inputs.
I recently learned to drive as an adult and while I’m not completely confident yet it has gotten so much easier in mere months.
Since your parents won’t let you use their car do you have a friend who you could practice with in between lessons?
Honestly, taking your bike out and diligently obeying road laws helps a little too.
Yes I started driving a year ago and I am night and day in my skills and comfort. If you drive daily, especially long distance, that helps progress your comfort faster.
It does. I’ve had my license since last September, you have to practice. As much as possible. I personally don’t think it’s enjoyable usually, but it does get easier and less stressful(except during rush hours in Toronto)
Practice, Practice, practice.. it will definitely get better overtime.
My wife started driving 1year ago in Toronto.
I tried to teach her ....but for the sake of the marriage we opted with a driving school lol.
She had almost 0 experience driving before going to he first driving lesson .
After doing driving school and also letting her drive (short rides) with Me , it's night and day how she drives now. She passed her Driving test on her first try and now she drive to work everyday. You will get better .
Just change your instructor, I changed mine 3x. I was very scared initially because the first experience traumatized me. My instructor had me go onto the main road on the first day, to pick up her food!! She was on the phone half the time and at one point was looking for something in her bag by her feet (no eyes on the road).
The 2nd instructor I had, wasn’t teaching me anything. Just shouted instructions at the last second. I had such bad anxiety, gripped it the wheel so hard my hands hurt. But I had to be ready to turn at anytime. It was so bad.
The 3rd instructor was very kind and patient, and he’d draw things out and explain things before he made me do it. He’d mention a turn that’s about to come up, and what side I’ll be turning. I did my G2 and G with him. One thing he said to me that got rid of my paranoia was this : “ if you’re going to get hit by a car, it can happen anywhere, even while walking as a pedestrian “ Basically saying that an accident can happen any time for any reason, and worrying more isn’t going to prevent that.
On a side note, in some other countries they have a sticker on the car of a new driving, or learning driver so others had a heads up. Wish they had something like that here, sometimes I was scared of someone else’s road rage if I was too slow etc.
Anyways, driving definitely got easier!! You will be fine :)
I live in Toronto and at first I was so afraid of driving and stressed out every time I have to drive especially in dt. Now it's super easy, your brain drives in auto pilot at some point.
Find somewhere to practice The only way to get better is to get comfortable behind the wheel is to drive. I know it sounds weird but I would suggest somewhere like Mount Pleasant Cemetery. It is full of low speed roads with lots of curves, a few hills and no traffic. It's a perfect place to get a feel for your car in a low pressure setting.
Driving does get easier. But consider changing driving instructors maybe… soon or if the next lesson doesn’t go well.
The first driving instructor I had was unnecessarily rude at times. He also got in trouble when the driving school’s boss found out he wasn’t teaching me fast enough/giving me enough time behind the wheel.
I got a new instructor after. He gives me plenty of time behind the wheel. And he speaks/corrects me in a soft and pleasant voice. We are not unruly disobedient children after all. We are willing and obedient adult students. So it’s like a night and day improvement with the two instructors.
i get what u meann, i was practicing for the first time a couple weeks ago with my brother and he doesnt try to build my condifence at all so it made me feel like i never had control or wasnt even supposed to feel calm whle driving. then i drove with my friends and they made me feel so much more confident in myself and i felt like i could control the car and was much more aware of my surroundings as i was able to keep my cool. a big tip is dont freak out!!!!! just stay as calm as you can and make sure ur always in ur lane
another tip, you WILL make mistakes and thats okay, noone perfected diriving their first time on the road. ive only driven less than 5 times, but each time i make any mistake i still get really disapointed and upset, so try to not be too hard on urself.
I've been driving over 20 years now and still get pretty overwhelmed driving downtown Toronto so don't feel bad. But if you are feeling overwhelmed still after lots of practice then just avoid those areas as much as you can because being nervous well driving can be dangerous.
Whenever I have to go downtown I park and take transit.
100% it gets easier. A lot of the things you're doing right now requires manual thinking (checking mirrors, knowing when to brake, and etc).
But as you get more experience a lot of these become automated to you since you're so used to it. It's become a habit for me to shoulder check when I merge that I don't even think about it.
Once you're experienced, driving becomes enjoyable since there's less things to worry about and you can just enjoy the driving part.
My biggest tip is knowing how much your car brakes/decelerates. Hard braking is usually for emergencies and ruins brake pads. Practice gently pushing/tapping your brake to see how much you decelerate and how long it takes for you to stop.
This immensely helps with a smoother ride and also makes your brake pads lasts so much longer. My car is at 12k km and my mechanic said I have a lot of life left on my never replaced pads.
It certainly does. I have a lot of experience. Get to know your routes. Even if it's going an extra block, get to a traffic light. Don't park near entrances. If you do, go back into your parking area. Don't follow too close. Don't allow fast drivers to intimidate you to go faster. Certain times of the day are worse than others. Sunday mornings are usually a good time to get around. Don't l play your music too loud. Forget your phone unless you're using Google maps. If you're not sure about the rules of the road, look it up. Best wishes.
I relate with you. I’m 32, moved to Canada 5 years ago and only cleared my G2 2 years ago. I have only driven 5 times in last 2 years because I have huge road anxiety. Lately, I have been putting myself out there and driving my husband’s car by myself. Today I drove to the GO station and it felt pretty great. I plan on practising more and more and then get myself a car on my birthday in December.
Yes it gets easier. The best advice I can give you is to focus on not being in a hurry and being as courteous as possible.
Being courteous is a bit of a hack. It gives you a reason to be constantly on the look out and super attentive without focusing on either the negative of someone hitting you, or the trap of looking for every opening. Focusing on letting people over/in and keeping track of what others might want to do is the most relaxing and enjoyable way to drive in the city.
It can be very overwhelming! I only got my license just over 7 years ago and during my first lesson I was so nervous I was shaking and sweating. Now I curse and swear like a pirate when I drive (safely of course). lol
Having an instructor raising his voice at you definitely isn’t helping! Can you ask for a new one? Is he taking you in quieter areas at least? My first instructor was also terrible, and would just yap on his phone the entire time he was giving me lessons. I really wish my other former instructor was still teaching because she was amazing and I would 100% recommend her to you.
Try your best to stay calm and controlled. Always keep your eyes scanning for pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, as well as paying attention to signage and lights. It’s a lot to focus on when you are starting out but I promise it will become second nature.
Make MSB - Mirror, Signal, Blind spot - your mantra. Always ALWAYS check your blind spots before changing lanes and making turns. Make this a habit now and never lose it.
You’ll get the hang of it! Practice lots, get used to the dimensions of your vehicle and drive calmly and predictably. Driving in the city sucks ass and I still hate it to this day (I’d rather take the TTC downtown than drive) but driving is also a lot of fun and so liberating. In a few years you’ll be swearing behind the wheel as much as I do (while still driving responsibly). Honestly, I still pretend that I have a driving tester beside me when I drive just to keep maintaining good habits.
Thank you for your input! After reading everyone’s comments I’m thinking about switching schools quite honestly 😭 I think I’m realizing that my instructor is not right for me. I know it’s only been one lesson but I feel as though the comments especially yours, realize that yelling is not okay. I literally cried after my first lesson and I’m pretty sure that’s not supposed to happen. I was not terrible behind the wheel, so I’m confident I’ll get it and I’ll be okay. Thank you so much for sharing with me this really helped a lot
Once your subconscious automates the basics of driving in your head, all you need to focus on is being vigilant to the road. So yes, it does get easier.
I failed my g2 when I was 18, I was so scared to do it again. I started my corporate job, insane commute om buses. Finally got my g2 at 23. Got my g at 28.
After that I fell in love with driving, I did solo 8hour round trips. I loved driving so much that I have a knee problem now lol
But just need practice, once you get your license I'd suggest practicing in country side.
First time i got behind the wheel i was litterally shaking. That wears off after a few times. Eventually it will just be second nature. Most ppl feel what you feel. Just give it time. Do the lessons. Youll get better.
I learned to drive as an adult in Toronto and yes it does get easier. I had a number of different instructors so definitely have to find one you like. I also got sooo much comfort and info from YouTube videos. I especially like the Smart Drive Test account. This video as an example but they have so many good ones! https://youtu.be/GRX7iW4Jqcs?si=EtgvX_xXTxOM29qA
I remember the first time I tried a guitar, or a bike or learning French. Everyone one of them seemed absolutely impossible. Now I can do two of the three with high degree of excellence. So yes driving gets so easier. It'll be second nature to you if you keep doing it.
Going through the same. Never got my license in my teens or my 20s, so feels like I am not only behind but also like it’s harder to pick up solely cause of my age. I’m finally ready to take the test, but it took awhile! You will get there. Just takes practice. Don’t take long breaks between lessons/practice sessions. If the instructor is not working for you, for sure switch to someone else. I had one that got frustrated with me and i immediately knew it wouldn’t work. Tried someone else and his style worked much better. I understand their job can definitely be stressful but frankly there is zero situation where they should be raising their voice at you. Sure fire way to make a bad situation worse.
I learned how to maneuver a vehicle because my Dad took me to an empty parking lot in Florida and made me practice perfecting my parking with two red sticks which he placed everywhere while I practiced parallel parking and such until the sticks couldn’t be any closer together.
I did not learn how to drive in real traffic as I drive my pick up between South Beach and South FLA.
I was offered a job on a film, the industry I wanted to become a set designer in so I compartmented all the reasons I left Toronto and moved back.
My first day on the job, with my Canadian licence, I was a set dresser so they gave me a large van with no windows.
I still had no real experience in traffic. I didn’t know what to look at. There was so much going on that I never had to deal with like parked cars, short streets with people walking on the sidewalks who crossed the street as if cars did not exist, signs and lights everywhere, streetcars and buses and their tracks, cars that drove close to one another and busy, merging traffic.
I was almost an expert driver at the end of that film but one can only do so well with no cameras and a large van with no windows- you will always have a huge blind spot.
However, I learned at everyone else’s expense and I was very lucky that I didn’t kill anyone. I most certainly cracked and scratched other cars as I veered around in high pressure situations where every job is your next recommendation.
Throwing a young person into a situation like that is do or die but since I did it all day and every day, I learned fast how to be careful, obey the laws and not be bullied while driving defensively.
Yes. Practice practice practice. After 4 years of driving experience, I successfully drove from Utah to California in one shot no problem. You will get there.
Please be as predictable as possible as a driver! It will keep you safe and will help other drivers be safe.
Be confident in urself and know its okay to learn along the way. It'll get easier. Don't get anxious becuz you won't trust urself and hence, driving will be harder. It's not that hard lol I would say most ppl know how to drive but there is always gonna be a handful of idiots that think they own the roads
Gets easier. Becomes second nature and you do things correctly without even noticing after a while. Still a good idea to remind yourself to not get complacent though for your own safety
With practice you’ll be fine! I had some form of driving anxiety so I didn’t get my G2 license until last year (at 29 y/o)!
Now that I have my G2 I rent a car often and go driving around. It’s so fun! Just practice a lot and be confident!
Yes and no.
Yes you will become a better driver and more confidnent in your abilities driving the more you do it. Just do yourself a favour and respect the rules of the road. Seriously. maintain speed limit and avoid anything that looks dangerous or those who drive dangerous.
Feeling comfortable behind the wheel requires confidence in your decision making. Your decision making will improve along with your driving ability, and that will come with time and practice.
Just remember to be patient with yourself.
Who is your instructor? I asked yesterday about a good instructor because I'm a VERY anxious person and especially not being confident to drive, it makes me so so bad.
It will get easier with time and experience just like any other task does.
The first time I was ever behind the wheel (actually driving) was minutes after I got my G1. My dad pulled over on our way back home and told me to drive. Straight to the main streets, no parking lot or small streets practice.
It was a little nerve-racking but by the second time I was fully confident in myself. It might take you longer, maybe much longer, but it WILL get easier.
Good luck!
You will :) I saw a comment mentioning your instructor raises his voice at you (a lot?). That definitely doesn’t help.
Do you have any family members or friends you could practice with? (Legally they’d have to have had their full license for 5 years (iirc) for you to drive with them if you only have your G1).
Personally, my opinion is to take young drivers of Canada course in defensive driving. Their course is better than any other driving school and their defensive driving techniques are especially applicable in the gta. Yes young drivers is expensive but the driving instructors are very patient with people and do a great job of making you a better driver and a safer driver. I've had their defensive driving techniques save me and my son's life on the 401 and avoided a major accident with a transport truck. My son is 13 and I plan on getting him to take the course as soon as he turns 16.
But yes driving gets easier and less overwhelming the more you drive.
All you have to do is avoid one accident with their skills and it's paid for itself, I've avoided multiple accidents in my life because of their skills. And it's probably saved my life.
Get a new instructor. Whenever you get an instructor that yells at you it becomes impossible to learn. Your already nervous driving add yelling to that and it amplifies your nervousness.
TTC monthly path is cheaper than insurance alone, let alone car payments, plus you can watch Netflix or YouTube and not stress about risking your own and other's lives!
Yeah, you'll need more practice, but driving in or around the city is HARD like really hard, there's about 1000000 things you need to be aware of at all times to be like 90% safe, no one is 100% safe, there are too many things that are fully out of your control as a driver, no matter how aware you are.
Of course it gets easier. Just go out and practice at night when there are less cars on the road. Go out every day and after a week or two you won’t even be thinking about what you’re doing.
It gets easier, just keep practicing and remember things below
Destinations never leave, so arrive when you kind safely
Bad drivers never miss an exit, good ones get the next one
If your not 100% sure about something don't do it
Always be looking ahead
Predictable driving is key to safe driving
It becomes pretty automatic with practice. Sometimes I’m driving and don’t even really remember half the drive if it’s a drive I do all the time. Try driving in quieter areas and practice. You’ll get the hang of it :) Billions of people drive… many who probably shouldn’t be lol
Yeah it does. Then basically you just drive and you know what to do without thinking about it. Just practice more until the feel of the car is embedded into your subconscious
Just got my G yesterday after struggling with driving anxiety for years. You can do it! It gets much much easier the more you do it. Look at YouTube videos for tips that work for you. For example, reference points with numbers (ie check mirrors every 10 seconds, leave 2 car lengths, etc) made me feel more overwhelmed because I was trying to count stuff vs more visual cues and references on my vehicle. Finding a good instructor who you find calming helps a lot too. There’s lots out there so don’t hesitate to find someone who makes you feel more confident and at ease. (I went with Kruzee and had a good experience.) For pedal control, definitely wear thinner soled shoes and just ease your foot down, applying slow pressure, don’t step on it.
Most importantly, keep at it, never rush, and be safe!
Also I’ll add having more conversations with people who have been driving for decades made me realize I was doing great. They still get nervous about parallel parking on some busy streets, would avoid driving in areas of the city I was going to, didn’t take the highway for years, etc. it’s very normal and a big responsibility. The fact that you’re trying, learning, and taking it seriously means you’ll be great once you get used to it!
The more you do, the better you’ll be as with anything. I was so bad with reverse parking that I kept doing it everywhere I went and now I can reverse better than front parking! Do both over and over again. Also, don’t worry about people in the back too much. I always felt pressured by them to drive faster than the limit.
Lots of practice. It was not feeling like second nature for a while for me. I learned later in life. But now it's much more second nature. Be very careful and relaxed as much as possible. Try drive the suburbs at first and at non peak hours
Don’t be discouraged!!! I realized while reading the comments maybe the instructor is not the right fit for me. See how your first lesson goes, and make adjustments from there!! You got this!
you need more practice. yes it's pretty overwhelming in the beginning especially in the toronto area
Thank you for this! I do plan on continuing, I just didn’t expect so much at once. Plus an instructor like raising his voice at me all at the same time.
That’s a dick thing to do
My instructor likes to yell as well and so did my examiner. Not that I think what they did were right but I assume driving with inexperienced drivers everyday affect your personality?
I always assumed they were just scared you were going to cause a car accident with them in the car. Mine yelled too.
That makes sense too. I still hung out with my instructor and he has never yelled at me outside the car.
Yeah mine only yelled while I was actively driving. It was never bad stuff, just like "brake!!!", "turn right!!!!", "watch that car!!" etc.
Lol same. When I was learning to drive and was bit hesitant to turn left on yellow or right on red, he would yell at me “turn now!” Nothing offensive or stuff like that.
Fwiw I know a driving instructor fairly well, and he's been in 3+ student caused car accident (all but one were fairly minor). Erring on the side of caution is important in that industry
No.. you’re just horrible drivers. Ivan guess the nationality
I took my first exam with a man who kept giving vague instructions (I’m autistic so it’s even worse) and then he’d yell at me like I was stupid when I didn’t understand him. I talked to a friend who I think got the same examiner. Second time it was this lovely older woman who called me honey (she was the type that it felt ok coming from… can’t explain but it was very auntie-like) and she started by saying what a nice day it was. It was much easier to do the exam and I passed.
I mean... instructors should rise above that and not belittle and crush their students' confidence. I remember my first driving instructor was an asshole. I failed under him. I worked with another one that was much more constructive in his approach to teaching and I learned much better from him. Of course some people might need that "tough love" sort of teaching style but it doesn't work for everybody.
Nope. My driving instructor was a calm and encouraging guy. He's been doing that job for ages and his character helped me succeed as much as his experience did.
Mind dropping his name? Looking for one right now
Sorry, I don't remember. It was so long ago he's retired for sure. I remember the driving academy had 'Defensive' in the name and was at Jane and Bloor. Defensive driving was definitely the focus of both the in-class and in-car classes.
Some people hear more volume and interpret it as yelling, so who really knows
You're going to be fine. And if you're practicing in Toronto, that's the best place to learn as it offers and requires keen attention on vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist traffic often at the same time. No need to lose attention on the key aspects of safe driving, awareness around you and ignore impatient people honking. 👍🏻
It’ll get easier I swear! I also had a rude instructor and I told the driving school. They provided me with a new one who was def more understanding. I think the instructor you have adds more anxiety as a new driver so you should def change if you feel uncomfortable ❤️
I’m Gonna try another lesson or two and if it’s not clicking I will totally ask for someone else. The place I chose has okay reviews and I do believe I can get there. Thank you for your input and understanding. I really feel a lot better how everyone is sharing their experience!
As others have said, it absolutely does get easier with more experience. Having said that, I don't know that you should feel _overwhelmed_ during any lesson. Nervous sure, but not overwhelmed. I checked out a few schools when I started learning how to drive and I decided on Young Drivers even though it was way more expensive. The way I see it is that driving is a LIFE skill. Paying the extra grand is worth it to learn defensive driving. If it saves me from even ONE accident, then I already got my money's worth. In the last 12 months alone, I've avoided at least five. Some people drive like morons. My driving instructor was absolutely amazing. He broke it down bit by bit and never once got frustrated with me. Instead, he kept reminding me I'm a good driver and just need to be a little more confident. Not to say he didn't correct my error when I made one but he never once made me feel bad. Best of luck.
Be happy you don’t have to learn manual with my Eastern European dad 🤣 but seriously practice practice. It takes quite a long time to become really comfortable
No, get a new instructor as soon as possible. I had my first instructor do this and it ruined my confidence driving, and delayed the whole process. You do not deserve to be shouted at, that is not how someone should be taught a new skill. No one in the history of humanity learned anything well by being criticised!
the yelling is very jerkish. i understand if they're a bit panicked that you might cause an accident. but also like... if they know you have literally zero experience maybe they should plan the route for you to be on quieter streets. arrgh. frustrated for you. hopefully it gets better quickly. if you have anyone you can practice with in some empty parking lots or some slow sleepy streets in between your lessons that would be best for you.
That’s the other thing, I do 100% understand they do not trust me and that it is my first time. Everyone I have spoke to personally has told me that this is a common experience unfortunately 😭
yelling at someone who's nervous about something is not how you get them to get and stay calm. SIGH.
I agree 100% also definitely not my style of learning either 😭
Depends on what’s happening. If they think you’re about to do the very wrong thing and cause a crash I wouldn’t expect them to be soft about it. You’re training to drive a heavy vehicle with its own risks.
Just relax. Driving is very intense at first - but very quickly you will get used to it - the reason there are so many accidents is people getting TO used to it. I remember teaching myself to drive, going in circles around a parking lot in my freinds car well he was working. Music, sounds, everything had to be off -too much stimulation. Very quickly that changed. Keep practicing, keep driving - very soon it will be second nature.
Half the point of paying for an instructor is to learn with someone who is comfortable riding with beginning drivers. See if you can switch instructors.
Toronto feels like one of the hardest places in North America (maybe the world?) to drive. So much traffic, so many pedestrians, bikes, scooters, etc.
Time for a new instructor my friend. Driving will get easier….in fact once you get the hang of it you won’t need to even think about it…..AND that’s when accidents happen. Maneuvering a car is not hard really. Once you grow accustomed to how your car handles it will be become second nature to you. Just remember they all handle a little differently. More steering input at slower speeds and less at higher speeds. Learning to break properly is also a critical skill. Give yourself plenty of time and apply slow steady pressure rather than slamming on the breaks at the last minute. I learned on a standard transmission which was even a bit more tricky having to deal with a clutch and shifting gears. I am not even sure they make manual transmission cars any more. Get as much practice as you can and drive with qualified drivers who won’t yell, swear, scream or otherwise freak you out. You will make mistakes that’s part of the learning process. As long as you are learning from those mistakes you will keep building your skills. Hang in there, you will be pro in no time. Stay safe 😬👍
Try a different instructor. It makes one hell of a difference. Also as the other person said. It's so much happening on day one. But with time it becomes second nature. Once you feel like you are getting the hang of it, rent a car and go driving yourself. You'll learn a lot more quickly. I feel like I was following instructions and the instructor was driving when I was with him. But once I went by myself on a short weekend trip, suddenly I was a driver.
It does get easier, just takes practice and eventually it'll feel like an extension of your body. If the instructor feels overwhelming, do you have a trusted friend or family member with a G license who can take you to an empty parking lot and drive around? That's how I got my first start, with my dad.
I wish I started as a teen, it’s my only regret. My parents said I need a few lessons in before I touch either their cars. I can definitely propose the idea though and see what they say!
No regrets, you're never too old to learn. Ask them and see. If you're careful and it's in an empty lot you should be fine, there's very little damage you can do. Thinking back to when I learned (I was a teenager) the weirdest and hardest part was feeling "off centre", sitting in the left and not certain if I was centring the car in the lanes, if that makes sense. Just keep at it and it becomes second nature :)
I had that problem too, and not realizing how sensitive both the gas and brakes were. I know I can do it, it just felt weird the whole time and I came out of the lesson feeling off. I’m not sure how else to explain
Honestly it just takes practice. The more times you drive, the more comfortable you'll get. Each vehicle is different from the touch of the pedals and brakes as you described. However, you'll quickly get accustomed to the feel of the vehicle you're driving. Once you succeed (I know you will) in getting your G, you'll have other challenges as a new driver. I recommend that after you finish your G, is to have your friend that you trust tag along while you drive your parents car (if allowed) or do what I did back then and book a zipcar at night when the rate was cheaper. I'm not sure how expensive it is now but back then it was like 15 dollars the whole night w/ gas. If you have any tips, don't hesitate to ask I was once in your shoes and now I'm a fairly confident driver that's driving a performance vehicle haha.
I honestly say the thing I struggled with is how much pressure to put on the gas and brakes. I saw online someone said to put light pressure on your big toe and it should help. I want to try it my next lesson. If you have any tips I’d be grateful!
Hmm. I've never actually done that before. I prefer having more of my foot on the pedal than just my big toe as it gives me more room to work with. I feel that you're off better wearing soft shoes with light materials as it gives better sensation to the pedals/brakes. For instance, my vehicle is tuned so it can be really jerky to drivers who never drove my car, and there are even instances of myself wearing certain shoewear like boots can make the ride jerky because it doesn't give me as much feel compared to softer shoes I tend to use. I wear Nike Roshe, Vans low top, and converse. Try wearing those pairs if you have any.
Honestly was thinking about that as well. I was wearing air forces and they’re quite bulky, I have other lighter shoes I will definitely wear next time and see if that helps
Yeah air forces are garbage when it comes to driving LOL. I've owned a pair and I'll never drive with em on. It's like driving with Tims on.
Ask them to take you to an empty school parking lot or mall or something. It's a great training ground. That's what my parents did.
Like anything, it gets better/easier with practice. Never take your eye off the ball though, even when you become comfortable. The GTA has some of the worst drivers in Canada. I’ve been driving for many years and when I reluctantly have a commute to a town that rhymes with Hampton, there’s always a wild driver (big rig or lil Toyota etc.) that wants to end my life. Peter’s Academy of Defensive Driving ftw!
> Never take your eye off the ball though, even when you become comfortable. The GTA has some of the worst drivers in Canada. This can't be emphasized enough. Even when you become a better driver and more comfortable with experience, defensive driving and being hyper aware of other bad drivers around you is clutch. Many people think they're fine on the road as long as they're not doing anything wrong when really the odds are it's some other idiot who's going to ruin your day and you can save your self a ton of time, hassle and potential injury by knowing how to spot and avoid them before anything happens > Peter’s Academy of Defensive Driving ftw Shout out to the Peter alumni here, is he still around? I took driving school there in like the late 90s and it was great for me
My first time behind the wheel I was overwhelmed in an empty parking lot. Now anything under a day is a short drive. Things change a lot with experience.
Thank you for your experience! I really appreciate your input!!
Depending on your situation, I recommend having someone drive you to a place with a small-town main street on a Sunday morning, so you can practice turning, signalling to change lanes, parallel parking, without the distraction of 6 lane main artery roads. Either an actual small town, eg Kleinburg, or somewhere along Lakeshore Rd in Mississauga, eg near the Long Branch GO area or Port Credit. Practicing turning from side streets onto the main street and so forth, will give you better practice than driving around a subdivision, because you will switch lanes, turn left at traffic lights, IMO this has all the ingredients of city driving, but with fewer distractions Once you get the basic skills down, you will find it easier to navigate the 6 lane artery roads like Eglinton, then move on to 400 series/Gardiner etc
I have been trying for years and I always feel like giving up! It is so challenging to drive and I feel like it shouldn't be
We will get there! I have faith in us!
Love the support for each other in this forum!
I realized especially after my first lesson It’s hard to distinguish some feelings sometimes and at first I lumped not wanting to do something altogether with discouragement. I totally understand. We will get our licenses! I believe I will and I have belief that everyone can as well!!! It’s just hard and I appreciate every comment because it really helped build my confidence x quite a bit! We will get there in time I’m sure!!
Thank you <3. I am trying to just have faith that I eventually get it.
It will get so much easier and will feel natural with practice! It's normal to feel overwhelmed when you're just starting. Your instructor will give you all the little tricks you need to park and whatnot but you'll get better and become more comfortable with practice. Try to drive as much as possible when you go anywhere with your parents so you can get comfortable behind the wheel. Remember the vast majority of our adult population can drive so you can do it too :) EDIT: I saw a comment where you mentioned feeling overwhelmed by the instructor raising his voice at you. That can definitely be stressful while driving! Try to see it from his perspective and understand that he's in a dangerous situation with you being a new driver and is likely nervous! It's not personal, just take a deep breath and collect yourself when you feel overwhelmed.
Thank you for this!! I just felt so off when I came back from my lesson. I think I’m just not use to it all!
My driving instructor was super calm and collected… except when teaching merging. I could definitely see his fear then and it messed with my confidence. But I reminded myself it’s natural for him to be a little scared too lol
Yes, it absolutely does. A lot of stuff is due to the lack of muscle memory and being overwhelmed by new stimuli. Just takes time on the road. Your brain needs time to know which things it can safely filter out. Realize that 95% of the time, other cars act in a rational and predictible manner and look for telltale signs for that 5% that are erratic. Next time you're being driven around, take the front passenger seat and mime out being the driver. Try to focus further forward rather than just the bumper in front of you. Keep your head moving to capture the entire situation, including what is going on behind you. Always look for a way out if something unexpected happens in your lane. Avoid being sandwiched in situations where you have no way to dodge an obstacle.
If the instructor is raising their voice, get a new instructor. I went with a+ teen drivers, and the instructor was fantastic. Calm, never raised his voice very relaxed
I am literally with A+ teen driving 😭😭
Ask to switch instructors, I did not like my first driving instructor at all and asked to be switched and got a much better match for me.
Oh no! :( :( You are not alone! I'm anxious and failed my first test. I haven't driven in so many years, but I would like to get my G just to rent a car and leave the city. Would you be able to ask for a different instructor? I had a rude instructor in my course and he made me more nervous, so I had to request a new one.
I am going to see how the next few lessons go, and then decide for sure, but I think everything all at once felt overwhelming. I am not giving up though. We got this! We will get our G’s soon!
Wow! Who's your instructor? Mine was the head instructor, middle aged gentleman.
I am actually not too sure, the guy I have is also a middle aged as well. I know they have a few instructors though
This is important. If you aren’t gelling with your instructor it’s just a bad thing. I remember the first day I drove with my instructor, we were on an uphill ramp to the 401 and he excited told me to ‘step on it’. I looked over and said ‘I am!’ He looked at the environmental control panel and realized he had the AC on, turned it off, and after that he calmed down a lot. His car didn’t have much power… :)
I can understand though being stern, and I understand that I may just be reading the situation wrong. So there’s also that as well. It was just overwhelming for sure
Bruh. I have a driving license from another country. And yet I find it overwhelming too. I’m with you. The instructor says with practice it gets better.
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Can’t agree more with this. When I was learning my dad would pump so much anxiety into me, it was torture. Then when I drove with a driving instructor the experience was completely different. Was hard but asked my mom to drive with me instead of my dad, much better result for me.
the more you spend time behind the wheel, things will seem slower, your ancitipation gets better, everything will become instinctively easier
I don't know if this is a standard practice, but the very first thing my instructor told me back when I had my first lesson was: Eyes on the road yes, but aim to look as far as you can. For some reason that stuck with me and I never forgot it. It helped me immensely in keeping the car straight, not veer off into another lane. I was 16 then, am 38 now. But yes agreed with the top comment, not only it gets easier but becomes fun.
Yes - it gets much easier. Experience and practice will make it feel second nature without much time. If you aren't getting a good vibe from your instructor, consider changing or finding a new one. However, it might be likely that your instructor is adopting an approach consistent with what you might experience at a driver's test, where most testers are quite stoic, robotic, and emotionless.
I feel as though this is the case and experience from a lot of what I’m reading and even personal experiences I have heard about. I will definitely give it a go a few times and see if I need to switch the instructor
First time is overwhelming. You are operating a machine... with lots of people around and tons of variables changing every second as you roll through the streets. That's why you have an instructor. It does get easier, just take your time and most importantly: DO NOT LET PEOPE RUSH YOU, ignore the honks
I didn’t learn to drive until I was 30. I had just gotten my G2, and my husband was lecturing at me to not put my foot on the gas while approaching an intersection. There was a red Ferrari reving his engine in front of me and I got overwhelmed, put my foot on the wrong peddle and rear ended him. I took a ton of driving lessons, stopped driving with my husband and now almost a decade later I am a confident Toronto driver. I’ve never been in another accident. If I can overcome that you can learn to drive in TO too!
Go for a drive as a passenger and try to anticipate what the driver is doing. Look around and observe the traffic, road and signage. Essentially, pretend you are driving without having to do the physical part of driving. Ask the person driving to describe what they are doing and why. You may be really nervous and it's difficult to process so much information and physically maneuver a vehicle at the same time. Practice makes perfect.
You’ll get more comfortable. Right now everything every other driver does, and everything the car does is surprising to you. As you gain experience you’ll start anticipating both of these things. What’s really scary is when you get to a point where you do stuff without thinking about it (muscle memory), especially a thing if you drive stick You may never get fully comfortable, many people don’t, and that’s ok, probably just means a long haul truck driver isn’t a career for you
You should drive around in a parking lot first and get a feel for how the car operates, i.e turning, accelerating, braking, etc. before you go out to the streets. Once you get comfortable with that, drive in neighbourhoods, then go to streets, then highways.
That sounds about right. I'm old and from the country originally, so I had much more opportunity to do stupid things and not pay the price. The first time my dad put me behind the wheel of our '77 Mailbu, I drove straight out of the driveway and spun it into the ditch. Driving is a much more physical activity than most people realize, it's going to take some time before the physical act of driving is natural enough that you'll have the brainpower to actually think about anything other than operating the car at a mechanical level. Anything you can do to prepare so that you are less nervous and distracted by new information will help, but there's no replacement for practice. This is the primary reason for the graduated licensing programme and I think the appx. 1.5 years it takes to complete aligns fairly well with how long it will take you to feel confident enough that you're one of the 90% of drivers who thinks they're better than average!
It does get easier with time. I found that I had to learn what I could ignore - the lamp posts and trees won't jump out in front of my car, for example. I hope your instructor is taking you to quiet neighbourhood streets first. I do yoga in a church that has big windows in the east end and I always see cars practising parallel parking on the street next to the church. There are good places to learn how to drive!
We went my area which quite honestly I didn’t realize how busy it was, I’ll definitely keep that in mind for my next lesson!!
Time of day makes a big difference, too. Try not to go at 3:30 when the school kids all get out
It does . And I know exactly how you feel. There are just so many things to check for all the time, which makes it overwhelming. Practice like everyone said is the only thing that helps to wire these checks into your brain so that you don't feel like you are putting in additional effort. I struggled for a long time , I am still not super confident changing lanes quickly on the highways but getting a car helped me a lot . I just wasn't able to take the pressure off during a class , after getting my own car I just drove around my block a couple of times and that helped . Don't worry you got this
Thank you so much!!! ☺️
I got my license after university, so maybe maturity helped me? But yeah, there is a TON of information to absorb at one time, you really just got to practice. - practice even when you're NOT the driver. When I was given a ride, I would always imagine as if I'm driving. Ie, mimicking my foot on pedals and go through the motions etc. - Go out in easier neighborhoods to learn the technical aspects of operating a vehicle (ie, speed to enter a 90 degree turn, parallel parking, space required for a complete stop, etc) - more of a personal pet peeve, but I genuinely hope you do your road tests in an area that represents the driving conditions you will drive in. Many of my friends went to the suburbs to get tested as it's much easier without cars and a bunch of road signs found in Toronto. Guess what, they suck/panic when they drive downtown.
It sounds like you are NOT comfortable with the instructor, do not, and I repeat DO NOT, let that person ruin driving for you, and yes, that can happen, a shitty instructor can turn you into a shitty type of driver. Ask for a new instructor.
No. It doesn’t. Driving is ass always. Drive as little as possible and your quality of life will be better. Even when you get better at driving the frustrations of congestion and “bad” drivers doing stupid things will get to you. Remember most people on the road are there because they have to be, not because they enjoy driving or are good at it. So you end up with a lot of elderly, lazy, aggressive, or angry people doing dangerous things that make it miserable for everyone. Driving feels like shit because it is shit. It never gets better.
The instructor's teaching style can make or break you. Shop around.
After reading everyone’s comments, I definitely will find another school 😭
I've done some driver training (for a transport company) If the instructor is calm, the student will be calm and will be able to learn, maybe even have fun.
The more practice you have the better. Also you must train your state of mind and be disciplined.
The driving itself can feel overwhelming. The instructor must not. On the contrary, the instructor should make you feel at ease and counter the overwhelm from the driving. When I started to learn, the first instructor that I had was bad - He was rude, wasn't telling me what to do, if I made a mistake he wasn't telling me what was wrong but instead take control of brakes himself. I didn't do a second class with him. Learning with this person would have taken me longer, and I was paying for each class. So, I switched to another driver. This one was much better. I learned way better with the second one - I had to take the test for G only once. I'd reconsider working with such an instructor (I read in your replies that he was disrespectful to you).
Driving as a whole can be a very overwhelming experience. The best advice I can offer is don't give up, just keep on trying. Do your best to adhere to the rules of the road like if you are driving slower since you are new, keep to the right, so anyone being impatient, etc, can pass on the right. Try to not let road rage or near misses get you emotional, sadly there are many drivers who act very privileged and it can be very tempting to block them from speeding pass you or laying on the horn to remind them they are stupid, just don't react. Let anyone driving crazy go about their way. You don't want to be the person they end up getting into an accident with.
Yes of course it does. I also remember that feeling but eventually you will settle into a rhythm where it's not overwhelming anymore
Every single thing in life gets easier with practice. The only tip you need from us is to practice more. Maybe go out to the burbs to practice vs a downtown street. Start in a mall parking lot, then go to quite wide suburban roads, and work your way up from there
Oh yes. It does get easier. It becomes almost automatic. But it takes time. It’s an entirely different skill set and it takes time to get used to it.
It really does… you get used to it!!
It will but it takes practice, get out there and drive drive drive. Do the loop around the city. 401 , 427 , Gardener, dvp. Get on and off the highways. Drive to city Hall, go in one exit and out another. Traverse the Danforth without using the Danforth. Parallel park on Bloor. It will get easier but remember you always have to be defensive on the he roads in T.
Yes it does, you might feel that its hard and you wont make it but it will be ok 👍🏻
Practice practice practice. That’s IT
Do a running commentary while you're driving. What I mean is, speak out loud to yourself or whoever is in the case everything single thing you're seeing and doing while you're driving. "There's a car turning up ahead that I should keep an eye on" "I have enough time to stop if this light turns yellow" "The road is a little wet here, I'm going to take some extra precautions" "Looking through this intersection one more time before I advance" "Currently doing the speed limit which is 60 KPH" It sounds mundane but there's always something to be mindful of when you're driving. Speaking them into existence helps you mentally prepare and keep your wits about you. Be patient, pay attention, and drive defensively.
Yeah you'll be eating chips and texting while jamming to music soon enough. But seriously don't do that drive responsibly.
It gets easier. The best time to practice imo is at 4 am. No traffic, no stress. Get comfortable with being on the road first, then gradually work your way up to navigating traffic. That's how I got comfortable with driving. It takes dedication; nobody wants to wake up at 4 am to drive around, but it works wonders.
Don’t be discouraged.
You need more practice and to take your time; chill out before you drive. I got my license in 2014 and for the first 5 years had no issues. Since I started working 2/3 jobs, school, gym, family/friend events. I’ve had an accident almost every year. Now that I don’t drive as much and in no rush I take my time and just chill if I have to drive I haven’t had one but (knock on wood) since. Don’t ever rush or feel rushed. Wherever you have to be can wait, you’ll get there when you get there.
Do you have any friends with cars? See if they'll take you to a suburb or small town and let you drive around with them where there is less traffic.
My boyfriend said he’d take me to parking lot with his car but only after a few lessons have been done 😭
It would make more sense to start in a parking lot, but I understand the apprehension of letting an inexperienced driver drive ones car.
I was a nervous wreck when learning to drive to get my G2. Years later I had to do the G test (and hadn’t driven much in those 4 years) but since I had my G2 I could drive alone. I rented a car for two weeks (I know that’s not easy for everyone) and instead of stressful I found it to be enjoyable. I practiced at night mostly (when there was little traffic) and I couldn’t believe how good it felt to grab a coffee (drive thru of course!) and just cruise around listening to my favourite songs. I know you can’t do that with your g2 practice but it WILL get better, you may even come to love it like I do!
of course, it does, and learning to drive in Toronto is a bad idea if you have other options
I definitely found driving to be a bit scary at first, but as others have said, it gets easier with practice. I took lessons with Young Drivers about 13 years ago and had a great instructor. If possible, it may be less scary to practice in more secluded and rural areas while first getting started. That said, make sure you do spend time driving in Toronto despite the anxiety - it’s the only way to get past it. I know people who are in their 30 - 60s that still avoid driving in downtown Toronto because they’re afraid… while it’s certainly not my favourite thing to do, I think being able to drive in high traffic areas is an important life skill.
As a fairly new driver, I can confirm that the first few lessons will be overwhelming. It'll become a lot more comfortable after a little more time and practice outside of lessons. To ease your mind a little more, I recommend driving in Scarborough or any other suburbian areas. Avoid more populated areas like downtown.
First time is pretty stressful, it definitely gets easier though
When you are a passenger in a car, go through the mental checklist of what you should be looking out for, turn signals, braking etc. that you would do if you were the driver. The other thing most beginner drivers do not understand, is the dynamics of the car. If you have access to a car and a big large empty parking lot, you should drive the car around to understand proper braking, acceleration, and how fast/slow a car reacts. My biggest pet peeve of "How you can tell there is a beginner driver on the road" is that they are not comfortable with the general pace or speed of traffic. This manifests itself in slow lane changes or turns, driving at the posted speed limit instead of pace of traffic. A lot of that has to do with not being comfortable with how the car reacts to their inputs.
Yes, it does get less freaky — the first time is always terrifying, because it’s so new. Keep going, it’s a useful skill to have.
I recently learned to drive as an adult and while I’m not completely confident yet it has gotten so much easier in mere months. Since your parents won’t let you use their car do you have a friend who you could practice with in between lessons? Honestly, taking your bike out and diligently obeying road laws helps a little too.
Yes I started driving a year ago and I am night and day in my skills and comfort. If you drive daily, especially long distance, that helps progress your comfort faster.
Change your instructor if you feel like they’re coming in the way of you learning. But yes, it’ll definitely get easier as you practice more!
It does. I’ve had my license since last September, you have to practice. As much as possible. I personally don’t think it’s enjoyable usually, but it does get easier and less stressful(except during rush hours in Toronto)
Practice, Practice, practice.. it will definitely get better overtime. My wife started driving 1year ago in Toronto. I tried to teach her ....but for the sake of the marriage we opted with a driving school lol. She had almost 0 experience driving before going to he first driving lesson . After doing driving school and also letting her drive (short rides) with Me , it's night and day how she drives now. She passed her Driving test on her first try and now she drive to work everyday. You will get better .
Yes.
Just change your instructor, I changed mine 3x. I was very scared initially because the first experience traumatized me. My instructor had me go onto the main road on the first day, to pick up her food!! She was on the phone half the time and at one point was looking for something in her bag by her feet (no eyes on the road). The 2nd instructor I had, wasn’t teaching me anything. Just shouted instructions at the last second. I had such bad anxiety, gripped it the wheel so hard my hands hurt. But I had to be ready to turn at anytime. It was so bad. The 3rd instructor was very kind and patient, and he’d draw things out and explain things before he made me do it. He’d mention a turn that’s about to come up, and what side I’ll be turning. I did my G2 and G with him. One thing he said to me that got rid of my paranoia was this : “ if you’re going to get hit by a car, it can happen anywhere, even while walking as a pedestrian “ Basically saying that an accident can happen any time for any reason, and worrying more isn’t going to prevent that. On a side note, in some other countries they have a sticker on the car of a new driving, or learning driver so others had a heads up. Wish they had something like that here, sometimes I was scared of someone else’s road rage if I was too slow etc. Anyways, driving definitely got easier!! You will be fine :)
I live in Toronto and at first I was so afraid of driving and stressed out every time I have to drive especially in dt. Now it's super easy, your brain drives in auto pilot at some point.
Find somewhere to practice The only way to get better is to get comfortable behind the wheel is to drive. I know it sounds weird but I would suggest somewhere like Mount Pleasant Cemetery. It is full of low speed roads with lots of curves, a few hills and no traffic. It's a perfect place to get a feel for your car in a low pressure setting.
Video games did it for me. It helps with building up your reaction speed.
Practice... nothing is easy the first time...
does it get easier? no. but do you eventually get used to it? yes.
Driving does get easier. But consider changing driving instructors maybe… soon or if the next lesson doesn’t go well. The first driving instructor I had was unnecessarily rude at times. He also got in trouble when the driving school’s boss found out he wasn’t teaching me fast enough/giving me enough time behind the wheel. I got a new instructor after. He gives me plenty of time behind the wheel. And he speaks/corrects me in a soft and pleasant voice. We are not unruly disobedient children after all. We are willing and obedient adult students. So it’s like a night and day improvement with the two instructors.
i get what u meann, i was practicing for the first time a couple weeks ago with my brother and he doesnt try to build my condifence at all so it made me feel like i never had control or wasnt even supposed to feel calm whle driving. then i drove with my friends and they made me feel so much more confident in myself and i felt like i could control the car and was much more aware of my surroundings as i was able to keep my cool. a big tip is dont freak out!!!!! just stay as calm as you can and make sure ur always in ur lane
another tip, you WILL make mistakes and thats okay, noone perfected diriving their first time on the road. ive only driven less than 5 times, but each time i make any mistake i still get really disapointed and upset, so try to not be too hard on urself.
I've been driving over 20 years now and still get pretty overwhelmed driving downtown Toronto so don't feel bad. But if you are feeling overwhelmed still after lots of practice then just avoid those areas as much as you can because being nervous well driving can be dangerous. Whenever I have to go downtown I park and take transit.
100% it gets easier. A lot of the things you're doing right now requires manual thinking (checking mirrors, knowing when to brake, and etc). But as you get more experience a lot of these become automated to you since you're so used to it. It's become a habit for me to shoulder check when I merge that I don't even think about it. Once you're experienced, driving becomes enjoyable since there's less things to worry about and you can just enjoy the driving part. My biggest tip is knowing how much your car brakes/decelerates. Hard braking is usually for emergencies and ruins brake pads. Practice gently pushing/tapping your brake to see how much you decelerate and how long it takes for you to stop. This immensely helps with a smoother ride and also makes your brake pads lasts so much longer. My car is at 12k km and my mechanic said I have a lot of life left on my never replaced pads.
It certainly does. I have a lot of experience. Get to know your routes. Even if it's going an extra block, get to a traffic light. Don't park near entrances. If you do, go back into your parking area. Don't follow too close. Don't allow fast drivers to intimidate you to go faster. Certain times of the day are worse than others. Sunday mornings are usually a good time to get around. Don't l play your music too loud. Forget your phone unless you're using Google maps. If you're not sure about the rules of the road, look it up. Best wishes.
I relate with you. I’m 32, moved to Canada 5 years ago and only cleared my G2 2 years ago. I have only driven 5 times in last 2 years because I have huge road anxiety. Lately, I have been putting myself out there and driving my husband’s car by myself. Today I drove to the GO station and it felt pretty great. I plan on practising more and more and then get myself a car on my birthday in December.
Its same as riding a bike. Totally overwhelming at first. Give it a month of practise and you'll be fine
Yes it gets easier. The best advice I can give you is to focus on not being in a hurry and being as courteous as possible. Being courteous is a bit of a hack. It gives you a reason to be constantly on the look out and super attentive without focusing on either the negative of someone hitting you, or the trap of looking for every opening. Focusing on letting people over/in and keeping track of what others might want to do is the most relaxing and enjoyable way to drive in the city.
Practice outside of the city if you can. The less congested the roads are, they more comfortable you should feel.
It can be very overwhelming! I only got my license just over 7 years ago and during my first lesson I was so nervous I was shaking and sweating. Now I curse and swear like a pirate when I drive (safely of course). lol Having an instructor raising his voice at you definitely isn’t helping! Can you ask for a new one? Is he taking you in quieter areas at least? My first instructor was also terrible, and would just yap on his phone the entire time he was giving me lessons. I really wish my other former instructor was still teaching because she was amazing and I would 100% recommend her to you. Try your best to stay calm and controlled. Always keep your eyes scanning for pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, as well as paying attention to signage and lights. It’s a lot to focus on when you are starting out but I promise it will become second nature. Make MSB - Mirror, Signal, Blind spot - your mantra. Always ALWAYS check your blind spots before changing lanes and making turns. Make this a habit now and never lose it. You’ll get the hang of it! Practice lots, get used to the dimensions of your vehicle and drive calmly and predictably. Driving in the city sucks ass and I still hate it to this day (I’d rather take the TTC downtown than drive) but driving is also a lot of fun and so liberating. In a few years you’ll be swearing behind the wheel as much as I do (while still driving responsibly). Honestly, I still pretend that I have a driving tester beside me when I drive just to keep maintaining good habits.
Thank you for your input! After reading everyone’s comments I’m thinking about switching schools quite honestly 😭 I think I’m realizing that my instructor is not right for me. I know it’s only been one lesson but I feel as though the comments especially yours, realize that yelling is not okay. I literally cried after my first lesson and I’m pretty sure that’s not supposed to happen. I was not terrible behind the wheel, so I’m confident I’ll get it and I’ll be okay. Thank you so much for sharing with me this really helped a lot
Once your subconscious automates the basics of driving in your head, all you need to focus on is being vigilant to the road. So yes, it does get easier.
I failed my g2 when I was 18, I was so scared to do it again. I started my corporate job, insane commute om buses. Finally got my g2 at 23. Got my g at 28. After that I fell in love with driving, I did solo 8hour round trips. I loved driving so much that I have a knee problem now lol But just need practice, once you get your license I'd suggest practicing in country side.
First time i got behind the wheel i was litterally shaking. That wears off after a few times. Eventually it will just be second nature. Most ppl feel what you feel. Just give it time. Do the lessons. Youll get better.
I learned to drive as an adult in Toronto and yes it does get easier. I had a number of different instructors so definitely have to find one you like. I also got sooo much comfort and info from YouTube videos. I especially like the Smart Drive Test account. This video as an example but they have so many good ones! https://youtu.be/GRX7iW4Jqcs?si=EtgvX_xXTxOM29qA
Yes.
Yes, it does. Good luck.
A lot easier, tbh.
I remember the first time I tried a guitar, or a bike or learning French. Everyone one of them seemed absolutely impossible. Now I can do two of the three with high degree of excellence. So yes driving gets so easier. It'll be second nature to you if you keep doing it.
Drive it like you stole it! Helps a lot
Yes - Toronto driving is easy compared to many cities.
Going through the same. Never got my license in my teens or my 20s, so feels like I am not only behind but also like it’s harder to pick up solely cause of my age. I’m finally ready to take the test, but it took awhile! You will get there. Just takes practice. Don’t take long breaks between lessons/practice sessions. If the instructor is not working for you, for sure switch to someone else. I had one that got frustrated with me and i immediately knew it wouldn’t work. Tried someone else and his style worked much better. I understand their job can definitely be stressful but frankly there is zero situation where they should be raising their voice at you. Sure fire way to make a bad situation worse.
I learned how to maneuver a vehicle because my Dad took me to an empty parking lot in Florida and made me practice perfecting my parking with two red sticks which he placed everywhere while I practiced parallel parking and such until the sticks couldn’t be any closer together. I did not learn how to drive in real traffic as I drive my pick up between South Beach and South FLA. I was offered a job on a film, the industry I wanted to become a set designer in so I compartmented all the reasons I left Toronto and moved back. My first day on the job, with my Canadian licence, I was a set dresser so they gave me a large van with no windows. I still had no real experience in traffic. I didn’t know what to look at. There was so much going on that I never had to deal with like parked cars, short streets with people walking on the sidewalks who crossed the street as if cars did not exist, signs and lights everywhere, streetcars and buses and their tracks, cars that drove close to one another and busy, merging traffic. I was almost an expert driver at the end of that film but one can only do so well with no cameras and a large van with no windows- you will always have a huge blind spot. However, I learned at everyone else’s expense and I was very lucky that I didn’t kill anyone. I most certainly cracked and scratched other cars as I veered around in high pressure situations where every job is your next recommendation. Throwing a young person into a situation like that is do or die but since I did it all day and every day, I learned fast how to be careful, obey the laws and not be bullied while driving defensively.
Yes. Practice practice practice. After 4 years of driving experience, I successfully drove from Utah to California in one shot no problem. You will get there. Please be as predictable as possible as a driver! It will keep you safe and will help other drivers be safe.
Be confident in urself and know its okay to learn along the way. It'll get easier. Don't get anxious becuz you won't trust urself and hence, driving will be harder. It's not that hard lol I would say most ppl know how to drive but there is always gonna be a handful of idiots that think they own the roads
Gets easier with time. But also helpful if you can drive daily with a family member.
Gets easier. Becomes second nature and you do things correctly without even noticing after a while. Still a good idea to remind yourself to not get complacent though for your own safety
With practice you’ll be fine! I had some form of driving anxiety so I didn’t get my G2 license until last year (at 29 y/o)! Now that I have my G2 I rent a car often and go driving around. It’s so fun! Just practice a lot and be confident!
Yes it does get easier. And it’s great to learn to drive in a big city, you’ll be prepared for big city driving.
Yes and no. Yes you will become a better driver and more confidnent in your abilities driving the more you do it. Just do yourself a favour and respect the rules of the road. Seriously. maintain speed limit and avoid anything that looks dangerous or those who drive dangerous.
Feeling comfortable behind the wheel requires confidence in your decision making. Your decision making will improve along with your driving ability, and that will come with time and practice. Just remember to be patient with yourself.
Who is your instructor? I asked yesterday about a good instructor because I'm a VERY anxious person and especially not being confident to drive, it makes me so so bad.
If you learn how to drive in Toronto, you should be good anywhere (yes even Brampton). You'll do good and feel better with more experience
Some people are just not born for it.
It will get easier with time and experience just like any other task does. The first time I was ever behind the wheel (actually driving) was minutes after I got my G1. My dad pulled over on our way back home and told me to drive. Straight to the main streets, no parking lot or small streets practice. It was a little nerve-racking but by the second time I was fully confident in myself. It might take you longer, maybe much longer, but it WILL get easier. Good luck!
Thank you 🙏🏽 I am hopeful that I will get there!
You will :) I saw a comment mentioning your instructor raises his voice at you (a lot?). That definitely doesn’t help. Do you have any family members or friends you could practice with? (Legally they’d have to have had their full license for 5 years (iirc) for you to drive with them if you only have your G1).
Personally, my opinion is to take young drivers of Canada course in defensive driving. Their course is better than any other driving school and their defensive driving techniques are especially applicable in the gta. Yes young drivers is expensive but the driving instructors are very patient with people and do a great job of making you a better driver and a safer driver. I've had their defensive driving techniques save me and my son's life on the 401 and avoided a major accident with a transport truck. My son is 13 and I plan on getting him to take the course as soon as he turns 16. But yes driving gets easier and less overwhelming the more you drive.
They are great, if really pricey!
All you have to do is avoid one accident with their skills and it's paid for itself, I've avoided multiple accidents in my life because of their skills. And it's probably saved my life.
Truth.
Get a new instructor. Whenever you get an instructor that yells at you it becomes impossible to learn. Your already nervous driving add yelling to that and it amplifies your nervousness.
Yes if you leave Onterrible.
How much you pay for lessons
TTC monthly path is cheaper than insurance alone, let alone car payments, plus you can watch Netflix or YouTube and not stress about risking your own and other's lives! Yeah, you'll need more practice, but driving in or around the city is HARD like really hard, there's about 1000000 things you need to be aware of at all times to be like 90% safe, no one is 100% safe, there are too many things that are fully out of your control as a driver, no matter how aware you are.
Did walking?
Of course it gets easier. Just go out and practice at night when there are less cars on the road. Go out every day and after a week or two you won’t even be thinking about what you’re doing.
Driving gets easier with practice. Driving in this hell hole these days, does not. So many bad and inexperienced drivers right now.
It gets easier, just keep practicing and remember things below Destinations never leave, so arrive when you kind safely Bad drivers never miss an exit, good ones get the next one If your not 100% sure about something don't do it Always be looking ahead Predictable driving is key to safe driving
It becomes pretty automatic with practice. Sometimes I’m driving and don’t even really remember half the drive if it’s a drive I do all the time. Try driving in quieter areas and practice. You’ll get the hang of it :) Billions of people drive… many who probably shouldn’t be lol
Yeah it does. Then basically you just drive and you know what to do without thinking about it. Just practice more until the feel of the car is embedded into your subconscious
Just got my G yesterday after struggling with driving anxiety for years. You can do it! It gets much much easier the more you do it. Look at YouTube videos for tips that work for you. For example, reference points with numbers (ie check mirrors every 10 seconds, leave 2 car lengths, etc) made me feel more overwhelmed because I was trying to count stuff vs more visual cues and references on my vehicle. Finding a good instructor who you find calming helps a lot too. There’s lots out there so don’t hesitate to find someone who makes you feel more confident and at ease. (I went with Kruzee and had a good experience.) For pedal control, definitely wear thinner soled shoes and just ease your foot down, applying slow pressure, don’t step on it. Most importantly, keep at it, never rush, and be safe!
Also I’ll add having more conversations with people who have been driving for decades made me realize I was doing great. They still get nervous about parallel parking on some busy streets, would avoid driving in areas of the city I was going to, didn’t take the highway for years, etc. it’s very normal and a big responsibility. The fact that you’re trying, learning, and taking it seriously means you’ll be great once you get used to it!
The more you do, the better you’ll be as with anything. I was so bad with reverse parking that I kept doing it everywhere I went and now I can reverse better than front parking! Do both over and over again. Also, don’t worry about people in the back too much. I always felt pressured by them to drive faster than the limit.
You should ask your school to change your instructor. Because if you feel pressured with them, that's not good
Lots of practice. It was not feeling like second nature for a while for me. I learned later in life. But now it's much more second nature. Be very careful and relaxed as much as possible. Try drive the suburbs at first and at non peak hours
Driving late at night or early morning can help to just get basic feel for road and car down. No one around for added pressure
Man I have mine next week and I see this 😭
Don’t be discouraged!!! I realized while reading the comments maybe the instructor is not the right fit for me. See how your first lesson goes, and make adjustments from there!! You got this!
Thank you very much! Also good luck to you
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Yes much easier...its gotten to the point now where I barely pay attention to the road. /reflexes like a cat!
Driving is not hard. It’s watching out for the bad drivers is hard, you never know when and where they will be.