u/fayemoonlight

The lack of lifeboats had nothing to do with the huge loss of life. They didn’t have time to launch the ones they had — technically.

There was more than enough time to save more than the 700 who did survive, but it was the abysmal evacuation process which doomed everyone. There is no reason for Titanic to have the same survival rate as the Empress of Ireland which sank in 14 minutes.

Obviously the lifeboat laws were woefully outdated and would inevitably be the main cause of a huge loss of life in the future, but that wasn’t the case for the Titanic.

I understand it makes for a snappier headline, and was possibly the main overhaul in maritime law after the sinking, but I find it surprising that documentaries and YouTube never point out how the lack of lifeboats were not the main problem.

I have been sat at my laptop since 9:30 looking for a new test with an auto refresher. It is now 14:45. I am losing the almost non-existent remnants of my fucking mind.

Great that the rules have changed but the effect will take a while. Until then, you have to spend even more time and money trying to get a fucking test over, potentially, a small mistake.

OMFGGGGGG

My normal instructor and my instructor near my test site have both told me I drive very well. The latter has only known me for 3 days and said so. He said as long as I keep my nerves down, I’ll pass easily as I know what I’m doing.

Just had my final mock test. Failed within like 5 minutes. Not my worst drive tbh, but not good considering my exam is less than 36 hours away. I used a right signal for leaving the roundabout (never ever done that on that roundabout which I’ve driven on umpteen times now. I’ve done it like twice in my entire driving journey), and didn’t get into the right hand lane quick enough as I didn’t hear the navigation.

It’s not an excuse but my ADHD makes sat navs so difficult for me. Inattentional deafness kicks in so I genuinely don’t comprehend what the sat nav is telling me. I also cannot judge distance so 300 yards is essentially Mandarin to me. The instructor told me to only start taking action when I’m less than 100 yards away. What I didn’t know is that when a sat nav tells you things back to back it’s because it needs to be done immediately. I never have the sound on when I use my sat nav so I didn’t even know that was a thing. Idk. Excuses still I guess.

I’m in this weird place now where I’m still committed to passing so I’m still anxious. I’m still confusingly confident in myself too. I also feel defeated though. I kinda want to cry, but I also want to spend the next 7 hours just driving. I’m frustrated and petrified too.

I’m 27. I’ve performed solo in front of 400 people, done all my exams, did 22k words in a week for my final exams at uni, successfully done sales pitches, led meetings, blah blah blah. I’m not trying to brag, I’m trying to show that I’ve managed to accomplish, what should be, equally as nerve inducing things without feeling this awful. I don’t understand why 40 minutes out of my life feels so utterly horrifying.

(I’m not even getting into the money thing either. £225 for this current instructor alone. Car needs more petrol and I’m gonna pay for this stupid driving test route app (£13) just for 36 hours. Bro, I can’t anymore)

Oil change reminder (not a warning or anything) has come up on my test car. It’s saying it needs changing in 1400 miles. Does this need to be done before my test (Wednesday)? There are no warning lights or anything, just a message when you start the car and turn it off

Test is on Wednesday. If I don’t pass then it is what it is, but I’m really sick of everything. I have another lesson today and there’s no part of my being which can be bothered. So much money and so much stress. I’ve only been doing this since January too.

I just feel so overwhelmed. I hate myself for waiting this long to learn (I’m 27). It would have been far less money if I learnt at 17, and the only stresses I had then were my A-levels compared to now where I already have so much going on as it is.

Sorry, just kinda feeling sorry for myself and so stressed

Edit: Failed mock test with 3 serious and 9 minors. Instructor said that it was actually good as it was my first one with him. Most of his students have 8-9 serious but still pass. I’m not that fussed tbh as so many people have failed multiple mocks and passed first time with no issue. I’d rather screw up now than next week, and see what I need to improve upon.

The 3 were a missed signal (which he said could be a minor but he was being strict which I want), clearance (Bain of my fucking life again despite not being an issue for months), and move off hesitation. The missed signal was because it went off early and I didn’t reapply. He’s not that bothered as I always correct it usually. Clearance — yeah, lol. Move off hesitation was because cars had to stop for me to move off. I waited as cars were on the opposite side. I should have just gone. Oopsies.

I’d say it’s a toss up between Poppy and Elliot.

So many people have a passionate hatred towards Poppy that it’s actually quite concerning. Many others fiercely defend her, and it’s sometimes hard to have a middle ground. She is unreliable and seems to cause so much drama, but she is still traumatised to the max, and essentially under the control of her abuser for eternity. I’d be difficult if I were her too.

Elliot is also one where people seem to land on sympathy or hate (proud member of the latter). For so long we weren’t sure what to make of him, and I think a lot of people grew attached to the idea of him being a genuinely good a guy. After CH5, he was a good guy who went too far, but started out with genuine intentions nonetheless. For others, the more you look at the evidence the more it becomes apparent that the guy was evil from the start, and there’s nothing redeeming about him.

Even with characters like Leith and Sawyer, a lot of people just love to hate them. No one questions their morality, we know what they are and that’s it. With Poppy and Elliot though, the game kinda wants us to see them in a sympathetic light and a lot of people outright refuse to do so causes controversy.

Had my final lesson today with my normal instructor. I’m doing my test in my hometown. I’ve tried twice to get an instructor there. One didn’t show up, the other made me feel so bad I considered quitting. I have a third waiting to get back to me but I’m not sure if I can be bothered.

I’m doing the test in my boyfriend’s car and I drive the car a lot. When we go back to my hometown, I’ll be driving everywhere. My normal instructor told me it would still be helpful to get more lessons up there as the instructor could show me the routes and where most people screw up.

I was on board with this until my first ever mock test today. I wasn’t familiar with the area at all, but I passed with no issue. I’m really trying to not be overconfident here, but I also cannot be bothered to spend even more money than I have, especially to drive another car which I may not even be comfortable in.

Any advice?

My last two lessons have been almost perfect. Parking was perfect, placement was perfect, improved confidence, doing roundabouts well most of the time, etc. There’s always something which will go wrong though.

I still stall at least once whilst driving after almost 40 hours. With my instructor I may not stop in time for a zebra crossing or pick the wrong lane. Stupid things which are easily correctable but are also majors.

With my boyfriend, I sometimes get confused with indicating on a roundabout. I know exactly when I’m supposed to and whatnot, but my brain will sometimes short circuit and I get confused. I have an awful habit of touching the curb with his car too as it’s a longer car. It hasn’t happened for a few weeks, but it has happened at least 5 times now.

I also stall at least once with him, but, again, stupid stuff. To get into the car park of our flat, you have to go down a steep hill, and of course go up it to get out. The going up is what gets me as there’s also a bend at the top, and you have to wait for the gates to open. I always end up stalling or messing up as it’s so fucking convoluted. Other times I may forget I’m not in first when setting off (rare but does happen), or I’m in 3rd and not 1st.

People also love to drive like dicks around me when I’m in his car (and only in his car. Everyone is actually nice when I’m in my instructors’), so I have had to slam on the brakes several times due to cars not giving me space, getting far too close, or just being shit in general.

I feel so much more confident and really feel I have chance with my test. I’m just annoyed that I can’t keep a high level of consistency that I’d like. I’d like to be constantly at a 9/9.5. My boyfriend says I’m there but, he’s my boyfriend. Love him dearly but I fear there may be bias. Instructor says he has full confidence in me passing first time but, again, I feel like I could be doing better.

Anyone else had a similar feeling?