The Student Room Group

is driving like riding a bike.... you never forget?

for my second year at uni i have decided to buy a car and travel into uni after spending my first at the halls
hoping to save a bit on rent... and spend it on insurance instead

the probelm is i passed my test over 2 years ago and havnt driven since!!

iam hoping to get a car at some point over the next month or so, iam really not feeling confident in my driving. i dont want to spend all this money on my first car and right it off in the first wek or so.

tbh i have no idea why i havnt driven since i passed my test, i could easily have driven my dads every now and again so that i wouldnt be in this situation but i never did...

has anyone ever taken such a long break from driving before and had any problems returning to the wheel??
Reply 1
Yep, I didn't drive for a full year, same situation as you. For the first 2 minutes you're a little slow, and you'll probably make a couple of mistakes (I rolled down a hill at a set of traffic lights) but after 2 mins I had to remind myself to slow down for a speed camera and after 25 mins I was driving on the M25 no problem! Just take a drive late evening when the roads are quiet so you can concentrate on getting to grips with the car rather than the stupidity of other drivers.

Oh... and I had my girlfriend's parents in the car first time and they're the most critical people ever! Probably made me more nervous than anything :smile:. Just don't head straight down for the Magic Roundabout (I waited 15 minutes, though started in Watford which is an evil place to drive anyway!).
Reply 2
Id say the only difference is all bikes are pretty much the same to drive. Getting into a different car you have never driven can seem strange as the cars size, the brakes and power will be different
Reply 3
yes
Reply 4
It may take you a little while to adjust if you've had a long break from driving, but it doesn't take long to get back into it :smile:
My mum hasn't driven for about 18 or 19-ish years becuse she never enjoyed it, but recently she's started trying to get back into it, and even after a hugely long break like that, she's fine again now after just a few practice sessions on quiet roads.
I wouldn't worry about it too much :wink: but if you are concerned about wrecking a new car, then just do as much driving as possible in quiet roads at first to get back into the swing of it, before hitting out on the motorway..