13/08/2026
I started learning to drive when I was six months pregnant. I began with automatic lessons and practiced for about two months. However, my pregnancy and giving birth meant that I had to put my driving lessons on hold.
After seven months, I decided to continue with my driving lessons. I went back to learning automatic and practiced for a little over two months. By then, I had gained some confidence and was becoming more comfortable behind the wheel.
However, my husband encouraged me to learn how to drive a manual car as well. He felt that it would be useful because I could drive his car, and manual cars are generally more affordable than automatic cars. So, he enrolled me with his previous driving instructor.
I then started learning manual driving and completed 15 hours of lessons, which took around three months. It was a completely different experience from learning automatic, and I had to learn new skills such as clutch control, changing gears, and finding the biting point.
In addition to my lessons with my instructor, I also have private practice sessions with my husband during the weekends. These extra sessions have given me more opportunities to practise what I have learned during my lessons and become more familiar with driving in different situations.
Looking back, my driving journey has not been straightforward. I had to take a break because of pregnancy and childbirth, then start again, and eventually switch from automatic to manual. Despite all the stops and changes, I have continued to practise and work towards becoming a confident and independent driver.
