I was that learner too (From News Shopper)

I was that learner too

12:35pm Thursday 10th July 2008

• Print
• Email

I had a lot of sympathy after reading the story about learner driver Teresa Clarke who has just passed her test after 27 years.

Apparently the 62-year-old has gone through 20 instructors, spent £15,000 on 12 driving tests and had 450 hours of lessons.

Seven years ago I was in the same position after passing my driving test.

I’m not saying now many tests it took me (for risk of never living it down in the office) and I didn’t ever work out how much I had spent, it would have been too depressing.

I started learning while at university, when I was about 20, and I passed about six months into a new job as reporter, around two years later.

I think I had about five different instructors and I must have gone through several boxes of tissues after each failed exam.

Even now I constantly curse the people who smugly tell me they passed their test first time as it was a real struggle for me.

The only other thing which caused me as much stress was my 100 wpm shorthand exam but after plugging away at that I passed it second time around.

It wasn’t that I was a bad driver (though others may disagree) but the minute I got in the car with my examiner on the day of the test I became a bundle of nerves and everything I did in a normal driving lesson went out of the window.

I can’t even tell you what happened on the momentous day when everything came together and I heard the words “you’ve passed”.

But I can tell you that I tried many things including hypnosis, which I am sure played its part.

Mrs Clarke said she kissed her instructor, I don’t think I did that to my male examiner but I definitely thanked him profusely then stopped, thinking he might change his mind.

There are times I wanted to give up but I was so determined it wouldn’t beat me and I am sure that’s what has got Mrs Clarke through too after all those years.

Well done to her and to all the others who are finding it a struggle, let this be an inspiration that you will get there, however long it takes and you will be a better driver for it.