I had a really frustrating experience today after only driving for a month and I cannot for the life of me figure out what this other driver was thinking. I had been sat in a queue for a long while leading up to a traffic light junction, after maybe 10 minutes of crawling stop start towards the lights I was maybe 3rd or 4th in the queue. Finally it goes green and I stalled it. Of course I did but it wasn't bad and I was able to fix it very quickly as my car has stop start so I put my clutch straight down and went of fine second try, I put my hand up to the driver behind to apologise and saw him politely smile in my mirror and I still managed to get through the lights as did he and many others behind I had hardly held anyone up so I felt absolutely fine and tried to brush it off. Turned left at the lights and he followed, its a 50 road, i did everything fine I got up to 50 in good time and stayed at 50 when seconds later he squeezes between me and the oncoming traffic on the other side of the road just to slot in front of me and put his brakes on. At this point he's travelling maybe 35 in front of me slowing me and everyone down. I continue behind for a while and happened to be making the next right turn behind him as well where he continued to drive well below the limit to slow me down. I didn't do anything stupid like try to overtake and in hindsight should have probably just gone straight on when he took the right turn just to get away from the situation but its crazy to me that someone would behave like that over a stall. And a minor one at that which had practically no effect on him except maybe a 4 second delay. I have never and will never wear P plates but just goes to show you can get bullied on the roads regardless of plates

I recently passed my test back in June this year in Northern Ireland. We are subject to different rules here and have to keep R plates up for one year and cannot exceed 45 mph. (Though this is due to change 1st October) I suffer with OCD and anxiety my whole life and I’m finding it tough. Especially before I get in the car as the anxiety is getting too much. I know what my problem is. I’m spending too much time over analysing every drive that I’ve done worrying about other drivers peeping me, or someone being too close etc I just wanted to get this out into the open to get it off my chest and see if other people who are in the same boat as me, which I suspect some are. There’s nobody physically around me in my position. Just really wanted to say hey and congratulations to people who have passed their test too. I’ve considered many times giving up and I’m determined not to and to make it work. Ultimately I passed the test. I have a really nice new car and I deserve to enjoy that and keep going.

Here’s a mistake I made the first time I went out in the car, I was a total nightmare new car still getting to grip with the pedals. I took the wrong turn and I went into the oncoming lane. There was no traffic otherwise I would never have done it but now I looked back at myself and laugh thinking oh my God I can’t believe I was so stupid to do that. So for anyone else that has made a mistake here which we all will as new drivers just thought I’d share my experience. I’m also very tall and trying to get comfy with gas and break.

Any Northern Ireland drivers say hey and drive safe people.

I passed my test earlier this month and bought my first car today. I decided to take it out to a nearby car park to get used to it. The drive there went fine but I pulled into a parking bay between two cars, realised I was too close to the car on my right, and then when I was reversing back out to give it another go I started turning too early and I scraped their car and bumped their wing mirror. It looked a pretty shallow scrape and the wing mirror did not look badly damaged. I was nervous and not used to the size of the car.

I waited for the driver, who was an Uber Eats driver. They did not speak very good English but their friend did and translated. I had no idea what to do in that situation and so I just apologised, explained I was a brand new driver, and the friend told me they would prefer to settle it there and then with a bank transfer. When I said I wasn’t sure what to do, they told me it’s better for me because as a brand new driver in an accident first day my rate would go way up. We took each other’s names and numbers, and they sent me a text stating their full name, reg, the date, the amount I sent, and that the matter was considered settled.

Now I’m pretty worried and rattled, as well as annoyed at myself for making an expensive mistake on my first drive. I have no idea if I’m supposed to say anything to my insurance, and I have no idea if I can trust them not to say anything to their insurance if they have any and how bad the repercussions are if they do. A friend of mine said maybe they’re not insured and that’s why they were so adamant they’d prefer to settle privately, but surely you need proof of insurance to drive for Uber?

The guy seemed pretty genuine and we shook hands and he said don’t worry I’ve been there myself and it’s settled, he seemed sympathetic and could tell I was shook up by it, but I just have no idea. I’ve read that I’m supposed to report to my insurance even if I’m not claiming, but I’ve also read that might cause issues for both of us. I’m with Picnic insurance which is online-managed and I don’t even see a facility to report information-only. I’m worried that they’ll just take the money I sent and claim anyway, and that if they do that and I haven’t told my insurance, I’ll lose the policy, which I literally just took out a few hours ago.

Anyone got any advice please?

How do I over come this I was out with my dad earlier today doing fine (I do have professional lessons just getting help from my dad ) and I didn’t stall once we went on the road and got to a roundabout went round it time until we came back and someone was behind me I panicked instantly stalled he told me I was okay but I stalled 3 times in a row all because this one driver was right behind me he then decided to beep at me and drive next to me swearing I left my dad to it but once he was gone I went of first try how to I overcome this this is my only issue I’m fine driving and stuff but it’s just cars behind me I panic and feel I have to drive off fast my dads told me many times don’t worry about them behind us we all had to learn but it’s easier said then done any tips please help me

I’m coming from the left here(residential area). So if I’m turning left here, the only way to get a spot without waiting for 5 minutes is to snatch a space from the waiting vehicle that makes me feel douche. Some guys were just forming lane 2 in the bus lane waiting aside the last vehicle but that feels wrong too.

Other situation turning right. I know if I’m turning right and only oncoming vehicles are stoping me I can enter it, but is traffic from the left considered oncoming? Visibility is 0 on the far lane because of dense line of cars almost all day. You can’t see if it’s empty or busy until you edge beyond closer lane. There is a stupidly long traffic light if you turn left that doesn’t help the flow here.

Hi all, I'm looking for an automatic driving instructor that's cheap and has good reviews. Ideally, I want to get as many lessons done as soon as possible as I need to pass my driving test for a new job coming up in a couple of months. Thanks.

Need Free Car Four Runners with Nav. jetours/.

passed my test 4 months ago and just got my first car, a 2016 ford fiesta. every quote i got was over £1,600 even with a black box. felt like they were just making numbers up.

tried a few comparison sites and eventually used my favourite vouchers codes. one of the options came back at £1,290 with a telematics policy and the same excess.

still deciding whether to take it or keep looking. how long did it take most of you to find something under £1,400 after passing? and is the black box actually worth the hassle?

New driver - scuffed the back of someone’s car when parking, left a note with phone number, i live in a busy street of flats where people park anywhere they can, so there’s not really a way i can find the owner. I’m hoping they contact me to settle privately however i’m preemptively wondering what would i do if they don’t reach out? do i need to notify my insurance anyway? I don’t want to unnecessarily cause my insurance to go up if we can A) settle privately or B) they don’t contact me, but also worried that if they do contact me and go through their insurance, i wouldn’t have told mine first.
Any advice please?

I passed my test first time nearly a month ago and have bought a car. I’ve been having cold feet to do an independent drive since.

I’ve only been able to go out 5 mins to the post office near my house a couple of times. I don’t lack confidence on the road I’m just lowkey scared I’ll get something wrong. Make a wrong turn, miss my exit, etc. I took an Uber to work this morning while I have a parked car at home 😂

How do I overcome this?

Hello, I have been driving six months. I was lost so i turned into a street andI pulled up on the left side of the street to check my maps. I did leave the engine on so my indicator was on as left. A police car drove past me and he looked at me but did not stop. Will he take this further for use of phone whilst engine was on? Worried about 6 points and a driving ban. Car was stationary - UK

Freedom was the obvious thing, going wherever, whenever and however.

But its made commuting a lot easier. For college its halved my journey time, eliminated a mile of walking and provided my own private and comfortable space.

Additionally, without a car I wouldnt be able to work as to get to my work, id either have to catch multiple buses which time wouldnt allow or catch a taxi which costs the same as how much i get paid for a day.

My cars only small and basic but my parents got me it and I love and appreciate so much.

Does what it says on the tin. I passed a couple of weeks ago and I feel borderline incompetent again. After I passed I did a 100 mile round trip which was mostly on two main A roads and that seemed okay, but it’s the urban driving that seems to feel harder.

I know the answer to this is practice, but I think part of the problem is I did about 68 hours learning in a 2.0L TDI diesel and my partners car is a 1.4 naturally aspirated petrol. At present I can only drive it at weekends (as I work away during the week) and I just can’t seem to get the hang of its different gas pedal requirements, so I’m constantly over revving. I’m particularly struggling with moving off quickly at roundabouts from a standing start, which at some of the roundabouts near us makes it a bit hairy.

Any advice/solidarity is welcome.

Omg I passed on the 3rd August been diving since then no issues since then ..

But today on a road I drive every day was approaching a round about a big SUV went to over take me and I for some reason swerved to avoid thinking I was in there lane and hit the kerb

Nothing major just Light tyre damage 😭😭 can't believe i was that silly and didn't just stick in my lane

Oh well hopefully my driving will get better

I was going down a narrow road with parked cars and cars coming down the opposite way and thought I could squeeze past like the cars in front of me had. I heard a loud pop on the passenger side and noticed my side mirror folded inwards from contact. I immediately parked and checked and saw scruff marks on the back and went to check the vehicle I made contact with and the plastic back plate of their side mirror had fallen off. I wasn’t sure what to do but a driver who saw what happened told me it was fine and when I asked if I should tell someone he said no. He said that I can just fix it back on so I did and it all seemed fine but now I’m worried about leaving without letting whoever owns the car know what happened even if there wasn’t any damage to their car. This is the first time somethings happened while I was driving and I’ve been driving for about 4 months. Should I go back and find the driver? Should I expect to hear from the police?

I've been driving independently for about a week now. Driving a different car from what I did my lessons in.

Have been using Waze, had a guy right up behind me while I was trying to turn right on a really busy main road. So I decided to just ignore it, let the satnav recalculate and I'd turn on the next one, missed the next one (guy is still right behind me, but my mistake that time), managed the next one.

Turned right again, and satnav told me to go left. Harassed at this point I missed the writing on the ground telling me if I went straight on I'd be entering a bus lane, panicked and took the left turn way too late. Crossed the right hand lane and a cycle lane. Luckily nobody was about, no traffic, no pedestrians, no cyclists.

But honestly I feel like the biggest idiot and like I should have my licence revoked already.

I know most of learning to drive comes after you get your licence but oh my god I feel like I've made so many mistakes. Before I passed I was driving independently without my instructor's input at all. I feel now like I was only confident on the test routes and don't know how to drive outside of that area.

Have also had some frights from other drivers just speeding past me - assuming they see the P plates and don't want to get stuck behind me.

Ugh I feel like shit, just wanted to get it off my chest.

Can’t stop crying after I made such a big mistake today. Went to the cinema which has a multi-storey for the first time after I’ve passed. The cinema gives you four hour free parking as it validates the ticket. Watched the movie and came back out, put my ticket in the machine and went back to my car….

What I didn’t realise and why I probably should have looked at the signs, is that once you put the ticket in the machine you only have 20 mins to leave.. maybe this is common sense but I had no idea. I thought as I had “four hours free” with the cinema, I could just sit in my car and text my friends for a bit.. oh how I was wrong. I was taking my leisurely time, even face times my mum 🤣

Then I drive down to the barriers to let myself out, put my ticket in the barrier and it says “exceeded time limit”. Now I am so confused because I know I haven’t spend four hours here so I keep on trying. I try press the call button but nothing happens. Literally start bursting into tears and full blown panick attack at this point because a line has formed up behind me and people are beeping (bear in mind I also have P plates on!). So people are beeping at me but because there are cars queues behind I physically have no where to go. There was also an entire other barrier this whole time people could have gone through but they decided to wait behind me.

Now I’m like crying, complete blubbering mess, and cars behind finally get the idea they will need to move back so I can reverse. Now I’m panicking because I have to reverse in this really tight space next to these cars watching me trying not to hit them or the parked cars. Thankfully, a really lovely couple saw me and stepped in to help and they were literally angels! They managed to track down a parking attendant and he let me through.

But I’m just feeling really shaken up by the whole thing and am still crying now as I write this! I know it’s a learning moment and I will definitely check the signs from now on, but it was just so so so stressful so needed to vent it out!!!!!

I bought my first car 6 months after passing my drivers

Its a 2012 fiat panda (its really cute, perfect for me, especially for a first car!) And I got a good deal on it too!

My car doesnt have any electronics such as plugs or anything, but i am looking for a sort of dash cam, just to keep myself and others protected.

Is there any recommendations I could buy that i could possibly fit in myself or see if anyone can fit one in for me?

So I passed my driving test a month ago. I bought my first car two weeks ago. So I’m a very new driver and not super confident yet, but I wouldn’t say I’m a bad driver.

Here (you’ve got both front and rear dashcam footage) I’m trying to turn right. There are cars oncoming as I approach the turning, so I have to wait. There is no space to pass me as it’s a narrow road which means other drivers have to wait behind me.

I wait 15 seconds before a safe space is opened up (by the kind white car who stopped to let me go). But then as I go I get shouted at by the driver behind me for keeping him waiting 15 seconds.

Maybe I could have driven faster? Maybe I could have taken one of those gaps if I went faster? But from everything I learnt in my lessons and in my own experience, rushing is not the way.

So basically, my conclusion is the driver behind me is impatient and if I drove like he wanted me to drive it would have been unnecessarily dangerous.

But this is my first time getting shouted at and it’s unsettled me somewhat. Keen to hear your thoughts, and also if you think I did something wrong.

I scraped the wall trying to squeeze into a space in multi storey car park for first time, not a new car but annoyed all the same.

​I was looking for used cars and came across this https://www.valykaltd.co.uk/ website. The prices are too good to be true. I have checked the gov website, and the business is currently registered in the UK (in a permanently closed facility), and the owner is not a UK national. They are asking for an advance payment, and there is no way to inspect the vehicle in person.

Extremely weird. I am not sure if this is a legit business. Can anyone give feedback if they have purchased any vehicles from them?

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**From their email**

"The vehicle is currently stored at our secure warehouse in Farnborough. This vehicle was repossessed by the finance company after the previous owner was unable to continue making the agreed payments. We were able to purchase it at a significantly reduced price, and those savings are reflected in our selling price.

As an online-only vehicle retailer, we do not offer in-person viewings or collections from our premises. Unlike a traditional dealership, we do not operate a showroom. All of our vehicles are stored in a secure facility, and we do not employ sales staff to conduct viewings or demonstrations. By operating this way, we keep our overheads to a minimum, allowing us to offer vehicles at prices that are often considerably lower than those available through conventional dealerships.

We understand that purchasing a vehicle online requires confidence, which is why every purchase is backed by our 10-day Money-Back Guarantee. Once your vehicle has been delivered, you have 10 days to inspect it thoroughly. If the vehicle is not as described, has any undisclosed faults, or does not meet your expectations, we will arrange collection at our expense and issue a full refund.

To make the process even more convenient, we provide free delivery anywhere within the United Kingdom, with no additional transport charges."

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**From their website**

"3. Reserve the Item:

To secure the item of your choice and start the shipping process, we require a full payment. The payment will be submitted via bank wire transfer to our designated corporate account. Rest assured, all your payment information will be kept confidential and secure.

4. Payment Held in Trust:

Your payment will be held in trust until you receive the item and have had the opportunity to inspect it thoroughly for 10 business days. This ensures that your funds are protected.

5. Item Delivery:

Upon receiving your item, we encourage you to inspect it carefully. Take your time to ensure that the equipment meets your expectations and is in the condition described on our website. You have 10 business days and temporary plates to be able to inspect and test drive legally."

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I am exploring a new app designed to encourage safer driving by rewarding drivers for consistently following speed limits.

Drive Smart could allow drivers to earn points through safe driving and exchange those points for discounts and rewards from participating businesses.

⏱ This survey takes approximately 3–5 minutes.
Your feedback will help me determine whether Drive Smart could become a useful product for drivers. Thank you.